I first played Lode Runner back on an old Commodore 64 on a pirated 5 ¼ floppy disk. My parents had bought the computer for me so I would “have a computer to learn things” and they very painfully did not understand that the C64 was essentially a game console. Even better, they bought it used with a huge collection of pirate software, so I got to play a ton of games. One of my favorites though, was Lode Runner, a game it honestly never occurred to me I’d be playing again 35 years later!
Lode Runner is a simple game that’s deviously challenging. Just gather the gold, avoid the enemies, and climb to the next level. Easy, right? Well, if you didn’t game in the 80s, you might not be aware just how hard games used to be. I never finished Lode Runner and not for lack of trying. Levels get faster and harder with more enemies and convoluted levels that require you to be fast on your feet to solve or die repeatedly trying. You can dig holes in the environment and if the enemies fall into them, you can then use them as a bridge and run over them to the other side to make your getaway. It’s a clever game and on top of that, it also included one of the first level editors. This was probably my favorite pastime until I managed to find Racing Destruction Set for the C64, but that’s for another story.
Lode Runner Legacy from Tozai Inc. hearkens back to the days of the original Lode Runner. Thankfully you now use a Dualshock 4 controller instead of a single button joystick, but the gameplay hasn’t changed significantly. Gone are the original 8-bit graphics, replaced with excellently chunky voxel artwork (in case you aren’t familiar with voxels, there’s a highly specific article here). Gameplay however, remains virtually unchanged and you’re left with a host of new levels and game modes to complement the gorgeous graphical update!
The main mode available in Lode Runner Legacy is Adventure mode, offering a whopping 50 stages! Not only do the stages get progressively more challenging, they are also ranked, both in the amount of time it takes to complete them and fulfill the requirements and online in a leaderboard system. Normally, I hate leaderboards, but playing Lode Runner Legacy in Adventure mode, I found that I was absolutely entranced by the leaderboards, managing to score as high as 13th worldwide (for perhaps a few hours) on one of the levels! It’s all executed in such a subtle and non-competitive way that the whole ranking system ends up being charming rather than forced and much more approachable.
As you play Adventure mode, you’ll unlock several other modes as well, including Extra mode (with 20 extra levels and new enemies), Puzzle Mode (with another 50 levels and a new style of gameplay, more laid back), and even Classic Mode, which offers a mind-boggling 150 additional classic levels! Even classic Lode Runner has been remastered here, replacing the original Commodore 64 graphics with a 2D/3D look. Same levels, updated to flat voxel format. It looks classic but flashy and plays identically to the original, which is a big win in my book! Of course, that wasn’t enough for the geniuses at Tozai, so they also added a Craft mode, allowing you to make your own levels just like the original Lode Runner and then share them with players around the world in World Levels mode! You wanted more Lode Runner Legacy, though, right? Well, finally, there’s a split screen co-op mode that allows you and a friend to use two controllers to take on levels together in ways that can’t be done with a single player! To be fair, I didn’t have anyone to play local co-op with, so I didn’t actually get to test this version of the game, but judging by the quality and care that’s been put into the rest of the release, there’s no way it isn’t fun!
Now, for those who are used to modern games, I don’t want you to get the wrong idea. This is most assuredly a retro collection made in a retro style and faithful to the original source material. In other words, it’s hard. Not just moderately challenging, but in the later levels, actually difficult. There are no free rides in Lode Runner Legacy. You must solve the level to move on to the next and that may take several tries, or in one case for me, over 20 because I just kept screwing up. For those not versed in classic games, all the gameplay in Lode Runner Legacy will feel dated because it’s so different from any modern game, more of a vintage arcade feel than anything else.
You get out what you put into a game like Lode Runner Legacy and that’s definitely the case here. If you have the patience, like a bit of action and puzzle solving, and have a bit of patience, this is an incredible offering with a wide range of modes and excellent playability. If you’re expecting to be led by the hand or just continue until you get through, chances are you might get fed up relatively quickly. For $12, the sheer amount of gameplay here (300 levels built in and who knows how many more available in World Levels mode) is an absolute bargain. Add that dash of nostalgia for us old fogey players and this is a winning release across the board, bridging the generation gap and creating a fresh, fun update to a timeless classic. There’s even a physical release from Strictly Limited Games! Remasters don’t get better than this folks, so don’t miss out on this one!
A digital copy of Lode Runner Legacy was provided by the publisher for this review. It was played on a Sony 55” 1080p TV using a PS4 Pro. Lode Runner Legacy is also available on the Switch and for the PC on Steam! Now go check out some other Commodore 64 classics, such as Space Taxi, Epyx Winter Games, Racing Destruction Set, Impossible Mission (also available for the Switch now), Boulder Dash (available on multiple platforms including 3DS now), Archon, and H.E.R.O.!