Lode Runner [Model HFC-LR]

ロードランナー © 1984 Hudson Soft.
(Lode Runner)

Lode Runner is a platform game, portage of Broderbund's classic originally released in 1983 on the Apple II.

The goal of the game is to infiltrate fifty different treasure rooms and to recover all the gold along the way in order to activate escape ladders. The task would be easy if only robot guards and other obstacles wouldn't try to prevent the player to lay his hands on all this loot. Although our hero doesn't have the ability to jump, he comes equipped with a laser drill pistol and can dig holes in the ground to trap his enemies (one button digs to his right, the other to his left, regardless of which direction he faces). However, these holes fill in again after a short amount of time, instantly killing anything trapped inside at the time (including the player). But before they do, any enemy trapped inside a pit will get stuck and will act as a cap, allowing the player to safely run over him. Interestingly, in some cases, guards can also carry gold and must be trapped in a pit in order to recover their loot and activate the escape ladder. To add depth to the gameplay there are also solid walls that can't be drilled into, trap doors, ladders that lead to higher platforms and hand bars to cross over gaps.

Lode Runner also features a level editor where the player can create his own stages, and a two (not simultaneous) player mode.