When I was a kid back in the 80’s, my first gaming system was actually a computer, an Apple ][+ to be exact.  I played a lot of games on it, especially ones like Spare Change and Aquatron.  Another one of my favorites was Lode Runner.  When this game was brought to the Famicom (Japanese Nintendo), it was one of the first third-party games to sell a million copies!  So Lode Runner certainly has a legacy with both me and the rest of the gaming world.  And now you can download and play a new version of it on the Switch and PC (reviewed on Switch here).

In Lode Runner, the object is to collect all the gold in each stage. Run up ladders, shimmy across ropes, and jump down to platforms below to collect it all. You’ll also have to avoid enemies roving the levels. You can drill through blocks and fall through them to make an escape, or trap enemies in the holes you’ve drilled. Just don’t get trapped yourself! If an enemy picks up one of your gold pieces, you’ll have to trap them in a drilled hole to get them to drop it so you can retrieve it.

This new version of Lode Runner has “Lodes” of modes!  (sorry)  The main adventure mode has around 50 levels, and then there is an Extra mode with even more stages with brand new enemies and such.  There’s also a two-player co-op mode and a Classic Mode with levels and graphics that look like the version of Lode Runner I used to play.  Although if you look close enough, you can still tell it’s using 3-D graphics.

Best of all, you can design your own levels and try out other people’s creations as well!  Making levels is super easy (although I do wish they were bigger).  Not only that, but you can also design your own characters and item graphics, too!  Although that is a bit more complicated.  I’ve played many different versions of Lode Runner over the years and I’ve always found the series especially fun.  And this new one is no exception, as it’s very addicting.  If you enjoy old school arcade style puzzle platformers, you’ll definitely want to check this one out!

Kid Factor:

If you or enemies get trapped in a wall, they just dissipate in a flash of light, but that’s about as violent as it gets.  Reading skill is helpful for the text, and younger gamers might have trouble with the harder levels.  I grew up with this game and turned out OK, though, I think.  Lode Runner Legacy is rated E for Everyone.

Tags: Game Reviews