Lode Runner
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| Lode Runner

Ah, the halcyon days of 1983, when we first saw the likes of Spandau Ballet, shoulder pads, Roland Rat, and Lode Runner, a devilishly addictive platform puzzler that became a worldwide hit.

The game has appeared on numerous computers and consoles in the intervening years, and now we can play it on our phones, too. But like any sane individual, you'd hesitate to plonk down your cold hard cash for a game that's over 20 years old. Is Lode Runner as good as we remember, or is it another sorry case of half-baked nostalgia?

It's been given a graphical makeover, but the core gameplay remains the same. Players control a little figure who must collect all the treasure in a level while avoiding the robots chasing after him. Each stage is made up of several platforms, with ladders and hanging bars suspended in the air that offer multiple paths to completing your task. Most importantly, players can dig holes into floors and temporarily trap the robots.

Best be careful, though. Your little fella can fall from great heights and not be harmed, but he can't jump. Also, he can get trapped in the holes he creates. If that happens then you'll have no choice but to forfeit one of your three lives, and that's not fun.

There are 80 levels in the game, which become progressively more difficult in terms of problem solving and reaction time. You can tackle the levels in any order you choose, which is helpful when you become stuck in one particular stage.

Meanwhile, the controls themselves are responsive enough, and though the collision detection between player and robot might occasionally frustrate, the fact that you're given infinite continues will help take the edge off.

If you're a die-hard retro enthusiast, you can still revert back to the warts 'n' all original version of Lode Runner, complete with stick-figure sprites and beep-beep sound effects. The differences between the 'Original' and 'New' versions are purely cosmetic, so the option is there as a means of comparison more than anything else. Funnily enough, the 1983 version has lost none of its quirky charm, and in this instance the nostalgic affection is entirely justified.

Most unusually, the game also comes bundled with a level editor that enables you to create 15 additional levels of your very own. This is a brilliant conceit, simple to learn and use. Unfortunately, you're not going to be able to share these unique creations – which is surely the point – without physically passing your phone around.

Lode Runner will make a welcome addition to any software library, and we recommend it without hesitation. It works so well as a mobile game that it's virtually indistinguishable from its big screen counterparts, and the basic premise remains as strong and as engaging as it did way back in 1983. Alas, we can't say the same for Spandau Ballet, shoulder pads, or Roland Rat.

Lode Runner

A platform classic that plays just as well as it did over 20 years ago
Score
Bulent Yusuf
Bulent Yusuf
Bulent Yusuf is a ladies man, man's man, and a man about town. His endless barrage of witty anecdotes and propensity for drink makes him a big favourite on the dinner party circuit. He likes writing, he likes gaming, and with Pocket Gamer he gets to do a bit of both.