Lode Runner first arrived way back in the days of the Commodore 64, when graphics meant little and gameplay was all. Lode Runner has had many revamps since, with the Xbox Arcade version taking a more classic approach with lovely shiny HD graphics.

 

Lode Runner has you play as a treasure hunter constantly risking life and limb to get the goodies. Each level is presented as a single screen platform game so you can see all of the gold and routes available to you. All you are armed with is a blaster that can shoot the ground to the left or right, you can also climb and traverse across ropes plus with a handy backpack, any fall is stopped short of death with an automatic blast of hoverjets.

 

 

The levels are based in environments like underground mines and ice caverns and have robots and other baddies that patrol them and hunt you down, they will try to second guess your movements and cut you off, though you can't kill them directly with the blaster but instead you can shoot the ground below them, causing them to fall into a trap and become immobilized for a short period of time, which then allows you to run over them and steal any gold they have collected. The baddies are not your main enemies in this game however, the 80 levels are so well designed that they border on cruel. With no jump button for your treasure hunter you really need to think a few moves ahead when running around the mines. The blaster makes things easier as you blast certain blocks that get in the way, all blocks do regenerate so you need to move fast before you lose a life. Only once all of the gold has been collected from the level will the exit show itself.

 

The overall package is very impressive as along with a challenging main mode you also have a puzzle mode that removes the enemies but throws some really mind numbing level designs your way to solve. These modes can also be played online or local, making for some fun teamwork moments. The icing on the cake though is the level designer which is very easy to use and even better still is that it also allows you to share your levels online.

 

Those of you familiar with the original Lode Runner will feel instantly at home with this version, but don’t expect the blocky graphics of the past. Of all of the remakes this game has had, the Xbox Arcade version has to be one of the better ones, offering the same gameplay that made the original so great but with lovely new HD looks and a few up to date ideas.