Xbox 360: Lode Runner Review

Xbox Live's Arcade service serves as an outlet for indie game developers to get their content seen by more people, as well as a reminder of the old school greats in video games. Lode Runner is one of those retro kings of yesteryear.

The premise is simple, and very addictive. You're main goal is to collect all the gold in a level. After climbing ladders and avoiding enemies who like to hate on you're mad treasure snatching skills, find the exit(usually in the form of a door) and get ready to repeat the process on a new level.

Sounds like Donkey Kong, no? No! Unlike Mario, our faithful hero isn't doing this to save some pre-Peach era Nintendo women. He's putting his life on the line for booty of the yellow, shiny variety.

Unlike the turtle hating plumber, this game's hero can dig holes to trap his foes in. Who needs a magical floating mallet when you are equipped with a hand cannon that makes holes in solid freaking rock? Nobody, that's who!

Another reason this game isn't necessarily a Kong clone: The gold fiend you control in this game can't jump. Yes, he's the Woody Harrelson of platforming video games. Normally the omission of sure an essential feature would be cause for alarm. But this what made Lode Runner an instant classic in the 1980's.

What's the major update with the live version? The HD visuals mostly. Game play is the same, the side scrolling POV is the same, even the increasing annoyance factor of the tougher levels feels as it did all those years ago. It's a carbon copy of the original ports, but with a face lift and with more levels overall.

The most disappointing areas would have to be the selection of tunes chosen for the game, and the online multiplayer. None of the music tracks are anything to write home about.They don't really do anything to suck you into the atmosphere, nor do they get in the way. It's just very bland and indifferent.

Online game play makes everything better. That statement is true only when the feature is playable. Playing online was neigh impossible because of all the lag that I experienced. Seems like a temporary server issue that will be fixed sooner or later.

Overall, Lode Runner on Xbox Live Arcade is a great game. If you never played any of the other releases in this series, I would recommend giving this version a try. The level editor gives this thing a metric ton of replay value.