Lode Runner

Lode Runner broke the mold for platform/ladder computer games when it came out. Not only did it include 150 different levels for the player to tackle, it also included a complete level editor that allowed players to continue the fun long after the 150 levels were beaten. What started as a side project for Doug Smith while he attended college, became a phenomenal success after Brøderbund bought the rights to publish his game for the Apple II, on which it was developed, as well as just about every other system that could handle it.

Lode Runner captured many players' imaginations, as well as their dollars, so it went on to great commercial success. The first sequal to appear was Championship Lode Runner which contained 50 of the most difficult levels designed for the original by fans, and intended for play by experts only. Following Championship, many sequels and ports, including an arcade version, were developed to cater to new and old fans of the series alike. Even to this day, the license is still alive with developments like a version of Lode Runner for the Nintendo DS.

Irem developed many arcade versions of Lode Runner. Most of the levels consisted of the original 150 levels distributed among the various arcade versions, while some levels were entirely original. Although Hudson Soft brought Lode Runner to the NES first (and is still the current development license holder in Japan), Irem brought two of their arcade inspired ports to the Famicom Disk System under the names Super Lode Runner and Super Lode Runner II

The story

Lode Runner has been presented in such a variety of ways that the premise changes from version to version, but the object of the game is always the same. Simply put, you are a (police man, criminal, treasure hunter) who is attempting to (recover, steal, gather) all of the (loot, boxes, gold) from the (crooks, security guards, island natives). You're pretty much free to make up any story that you like.

Controls

Joystick

Move your player throughout each stage with your system's joystick. Pushing left or right makes the player run to the left or to the right. If there is a wire in the direction that they player is running in, he will immediately grab the wire and begin to shimmy across it. Pushing up or down makes the player climb or descend ladders. Pushing down while holding a wire will cause the player to immediately release the wire and fall down.

The fire button, or buttons, can be used to dig holes in the floor. The type of controller you have determines how the fire button functions. If the system you are playing on has only one fire button, then the player will dig a hole in the direction that he is facing. So if for example you wish to dig a whole to the left, you must be facing left before you press the fire button. Likewise for the right. If the system you are playing on has at least two fire buttons, then one fire button (typically the one on the left) will dig a hole to the left, and another (on the right) will dig a hole to the right. These two fire buttons will dig holes in the manner regardless of the direction that the player is facing. Be aware that holes are dug rather quickly, but not instantaneously. You can be killed while in the process of digging a hole if you start too late.

The Cast

The player

Regardless of your identity and purpose, you must grab all of the items contained on a level before you can activate the escape ladder that takes you to the level beyond. You can run, climb, and suspend from a wire. In each level, there are a number of opponents bent on stopping you. Collision with any of them is fatal, but you have one weapon at your disposal: the ability to dig holes. You can dig them either to the left of you or to the right. Holes remain in place for a period of time and automatically refill themselves. Use the holes to get enemies off of your back, or to drop from one platform to another. Be aware however, that you can become trapped in your own. Unlike the enemies, you can not pull yourself out so you are doomed to wait until you get crushed when the hole refills. It is also important to realize that you can put yourself in a hopeless situation by trapping yourself in a spot from which escape is impossible. On such occassions, each system has a button that you may press to instantly end your life and begin the level anew.

The enemies

Regardless of whether you're the good guy and they are the bad guys, or vice versa, your enemies persue you relentlessly. They attempt to find the quickest route to your location, and will only stop when they find themselves trapped or up against an impassable obstacle. If you dig a hole between you and your enemies, they will fall in to them helplessly. Unlike you, even if there is no floor beneath the hole, they will become stuck while you can fall harmlessly through. They will remain in the hole for a short period of time until either they decide they've had enough and pull themselves out, or the hole begins to fill itself back up, crushing the man inside. Unfortunately, filling the hole back up just redeposits the crushed man somewhere towards the top of the stage, and their pursuit resumes.

Interestingly, in the NES versions of the game, developed by Hudson Soft, the enemies in the game bear a striking resemblance to the modern Bomberman character of today. Hudson Soft, the developer of Bomberman, has confirmed the link between the two games, siting Lode Runner as the inspiration for the Bomberman character.