Lode Runner
Developer: Tozai Games
XBLA - 1200 MS Points
Free Lode Runner Contest Link:http://www.freezecracker.com/forum/index.php?topic=2979.0My Video Review:[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5bN-sqvDt4k[/youtube]
My Text Review:To old school video game veterans, Lode Runner just hit its 25th year anniversary. To many unaware gamers, many write this off as some metrosexual pacifist Mega Man knock off that just came out.
With $15 being the new $10, can this old school remake attract both old and new fans alike?
Certain graphics look like a 14 year old from DeviantArt had a Photoshop filter seizure, and the main gameplay graphics aren't exactly unique or appealing compared to the other Arcade games released recently, but don't let that fool you into taking a look into the actual gameplay.
To begin with, let's go over the main mechanics of gameplay.
You're this little blue dude here and you've got to avoid the yetis, robots and evil mages to grab all the gold in the level and take a mad dash for the exit. The only thing you have to protect you is an arm cannon, which can only shoot diagonally down, and can only destroy destructible blocks of which your enemies will fall down.
One hit is all it takes to get mauled, but thankfully the baddies' AIs aren't sophisticated.
The intensity and challenge of the level relies entirely on the layout of the level. The developers have put these levels in easy to hard order for the most part so the learning curve for newcomers is easy to pick up.
A big question is, sure it might be easy to pick up, but is it fun?
Yes, this game has something for everyone to enjoy. To warrant a $15 purchase though? You'll have to try the demo for that.
Action lovers will latch onto the Journey and Hang On mode. Intellectuals will enjoy the Puzzle mode. Socialites will appreciate the co-op journey, co-op puzzle and last man and those artsy I LOVE APPLE PRODUCTS will like the Level Building mode.
Practice Mode will teach you all the basics.
Journey Mode is an adventure storyline based on action and quick timing.
Hang On is survival, collect as much gold as possible before
Puzzle is based on strategy and ability to interpret different situations.
In Multiplayer, you have Co-op Journey, Co-op Puzzle and Last Man.
Co-op Journey and Co-op Puzzle are 2 player modes completely different levels from single-player based around teamwork to get to the top.
Last Man allows up to 4 players to go at each other for the highest survival time after a set amount of rounds. In other words, great fun screwing your teammates over. If you die, then you turn into a baddie, which compensates for this.
The most redeeming part of this game is the Level Editor, which lets you use any of the tools you see in the game to create your own level.
The method of distributing levels is crap, though. In order to distribute them, you have to join a lobby and sit idly for people to come in and trade levels. It would have been a much better idea for a server to hold these levels and have some sort of a rating system.
However, in order to play someone else's level, all you need to do is join a lobby and you'll download it quick for some multiplayer mayhem.
The achievements for this game are simple, most of them you pick up through normal gameplay, but there are a few fun ones like you can't use your arm cannon or all the enemies have to pick up the gold for you. If you like achievements, you won't be pulling out your hair with this, but it's not a cakewalk either.
Overall, this game is very simplistic fun. At first, I didn't like the game at all due to how annoying it was going into co-op mode immediately. However, after Journey mode, I have most of the basics down which makes co-op mode much more enjoyable. There's a ton of stuff to get you to come back, with over 5 game modes and a level editor, this is a game everyone can come to appreciate. Even more, this game makes the perfect candidate for a game anyone can just pick up and enjoy.
I give this game a 8.5 out of 10.
