This is probably the most addicting game that I ever played as a child.
The game play occurs on a flat 2 dimensional grid where you control a little load runner guy that runs everywhere, climbs up and down ladders and slides across hanging ropes in the air. The object of the game is to collect all the gold without being tagged by any of the other enemy guys that are floating around. If an enemy passes over a piece of gold, he can pick it up.
This is probably the most addicting game that I ever played as a child.
The game play occurs on a flat 2 dimensional grid where you control a little load runner guy that runs everywhere, climbs up and down ladders and slides across hanging ropes in the air. The object of the game is to collect all the gold without being tagged by any of the other enemy guys that are floating around. If an enemy passes over a piece of gold, he can pick it up. In order to get the gold back, you have to burn a hole in the ground and make the enemy fall into it. This is also the proper thing to do when an enemy
is approaching you from the direction you want to be going. After you burn a hole in the ground and the enemy falls into it, he will drop the gold piece, if he is carrying one, and you can run over him just like if his head were the ground.
The graphics are extremely simple, but that is perfect because there is already too much going on anyways. Any extra eye candy would probably distract from all the enemies coming at you from all different directions. Each level is reminiscent to a cave or cavern complete with ladders and ropes attached to the other side. Some levels resemble some sort of image or monument like a skull or a castle, but most are just a series of ledges and bridges and such.
There are at least 99 levels in the game if not more. I don't remember what happens when you win the game, or if it is even possible to do so. I guess you could say the levels get progressively harder, but they all can be extremely difficult at times. Each one possesses its unique challenges and puzzles. The puzzles designers were very creative with the limited amount of space and materials that they had within the game.
I remember that there was some sort of cheat code for extra lives...so the fun of the game for me wasn't just what level you could get to before you died, but rather what level could you get to before the sun started to rise again.
All around, lode runner is definitely one of the most incredible single player video games known to man. Complete with its own challenges, increasing difficulties, and surprises.
