Lode Runner
Name: Lode Runner
Programmer(s): Doug Smith
Publisher: Brøderbund Software
Year: 1983
Description: Lode Runner is a level platformmer maze game where you play a character who's only goal is to collect all the gold hidden through out the maze and open up a latter to climb to the next leve.. Also running around in the maze are three to five bad guys who's goal it is to stop you. Your character has a gun however, he can only dig holes with this gun. Similar to Apple Panic as you dig holes the bad guys will fall in, and also like Apple Panic after a few seconds the hole will begin to fill in.
There is almost no AI to the enemy characters. When one does fall into a hole you're able to run over them without being captured. If the enemy falls into freshly dug hole he will be able to climb out after a few seconds. Hoewver if the hole is a few second old and an enemy falls in the hole will fill up and the enemy will then be buried... a few seconds later a new enemy will fall from the sky to take his place. (or is it the same enemy just reincarnated?) Enemeys who fall into holes with no bottom get stuck while your character will fall through the hole to the level below. If you're character falls into a hole with a bottom the hole will close up and you loose a life.
Lode Runner's maze/puzzle aspect is what makes the game. The orignal game had over 200 different mazes to solve and stats off simple enough but got more and more difficult. Most mazes require digging multiple holes to get to buried gold. If a bad guy runs over a gold bar they will pick it up and carry it requiring the player to dig a hole to trap them in. As the bad guy falls into the hole they drop the gold.
Lode Runner was one of the first games that I can remember which had a sequel and "expansion packs", the first being Championship Lode Runner. It was also one of the first games which included a level editor/creator. By adding these features Broderbund extended the life & reach of this game with user generated content. There were BBSes dedicated to Lode Runner games and home brewed expansion packs were everywhere. Lode Runner was ported to the NES and also a version was built into a coin op arcade machine and variants can still be seen in games today.
A couple levels played of Lode Runner
Miner an early Lode Runner
Overview
"Lode Runner" is a puzzle-platform video game first released in 1983 by Brøderbund. Its straightforward gameplay combined with challenging puzzles has cemented it as a classic in the gaming world.
Gameplay
The player controls a character navigating through levels, avoiding enemies, and collecting gold. The levels are composed of brick floors, ladders, and hanging hand-to-hand bars. The player can dig holes into the floors to trap enemies or use them as a method to reach different areas of the map. Enemies trapped in holes will eventually escape, but if an enemy is in a hole and another floor is dug underneath, the enemy will fall through, and the hole will fill in.
The goal of each level is to collect all the gold and then reach the top of the screen, avoiding or trapping the pursuing enemies. The game features 150 levels, providing hours of engaging content.
Graphics and Sound The graphics in "Lode Runner" are simple and adhere to the retro aesthetic of its era. The visuals are clear, and each element of the game is easily distinguishable. The sound effects and music are minimalistic but serve their purpose well, adding to the game's atmosphere without being distracting.
Difficulty
"Lode Runner" can be quite challenging, especially in the later levels. The puzzles become more intricate, and the enemies become more relentless. There's a fine balance between action and strategy, requiring both quick reflexes and careful planning. Players who enjoy problem-solving and tactical thinking will find "Lode Runner" particularly appealing.
Controls
The controls are straightforward and easy to learn, with directional keys used for moving the character and specific keys to dig holes. However, the game's difficulty can make controlling the character under pressure a challenge, which adds to the game's excitement.
Replayability
With its many levels, "Lode Runner" offers high replayability. Players often find themselves returning to master levels, and the level editor feature, available in some versions of the game, allows for creating and sharing custom levels, further extending the game's lifespan.
Conclusion
"Lode Runner" is a timeless classic that blends action and puzzle-solving into a captivating experience. Though it may look dated by modern standards, its elegant design and challenging gameplay have allowed it to endure as a beloved game for many. For those interested in gaming history or looking for a cerebral challenge, "Lode Runner" is a must-play.
Rating: 8/10
Its legacy and innovative design deserve recognition and applause, but its simplicity and dated graphics may not appeal to everyone in the modern gaming era. Still, it remains a crucial piece of video game history and a fun, engaging experience for those who appreciate classic gaming.
A fantastic Lode Runner port with thousands of levels can be downloaded for free from Spoonbill Software http://www.spoonbillsoftware.com.au/apple2.htm
A great article about the history behind Lode Runner http://entropymine.com/jason/lr/misc/ldhist.html
A Load Runner FAQ :: Lode Runner FAQ
Lode Runner Documentation from Corrupt Computing
** DOCUMENTATION FOR **
*** L O D E R U N N E R ***
*** PLAYING THE GAME ***
You are a Galactic Commando deep in enemy territory. Power hungry leaders of the repressive Bungeling Empire have stolen a fortune in gold from the people by means of excessive fast food taxes. Your task? To infiltrate each of 150 different treasury rooms, evade the deadly Bungeling guards, and recover every chest of Bungeling booty.
** TO START **
After booting, the program automatically begins a self-playing demo of three different levels of play. Watch them to get a sense of game play. To begin play, press any key (except RETURN) or push a joystick button. Your player will start to flash. Move you player or push a joystick button to begin game action.
KEYBOARD COMMANDS JOYSTICK COMMANDS
I = move up Up/Down/Left/Right k = move down Button 0=dig left J = move left Button 1=dig right L = move right U = dig left O = dig right
** GAME PLAY **
To complete a level, you must
collect all the gold chests in a
scene. When you succeed, you may
then climb a ladder to the top of
the screen and enter the next level.
You will also gain bonus points and
earn an extra life for each level
you complete. You start with five
lives.
You will use your laser drill
pistol to drill pits and passageways
through brick floors. You may dig
through fissured bricks only, not
through solid surfaces, and holes
must be drilled all the way through
to be effective. If a Bungeling
guard falls into a pit and gets
stuck, it will become safe (for a
moment) for you to run over him;
also, he will release any gold he is
carrying. Any holes that you've
drilled will fill in again after a
period of time, and guards caught in
them when they refill will die and
be replenished by new guards at the
top of the screen. Be careful:
Guards can climb out of pits that do
not close up around them. Your
player, however, cannot climb out of
pits and will die if trapped in a
pit that is only a single brick
wide.
You will notice that gold chests
carried by enemy guards cease to be
visible. If you have picked up all
the visible gold on the screen and
the ladder leading to the next level
has not yet appeared or you cannot
reach the next level by climbing to
the highest part of the screen, one
or more of the guards is still
carrying gold. You must trap the
guards in a pit and pick up their
gold. If an enemy carrying gold
falls into a "dead end" that he and
you are unable to leave, you will
not be able to get that gold chest
safely. If stuck in a "dead end,"
press CTRL-A to continue (see below)
** SCORING **
Points
Completing a level..............1500
Picking up a gold chest..........250
Trapping an enemy.................75
Enemy dying in a hole.............75
** HIGH SCORES **
If you achieve a new high score, a high score list will appear on the screen at game's end. Type in your initials then press RETURN. Note: You can use the left and right arrow keys to make corrections before pressing RETURN.
** SPECIAL KEYS **
CTRL-A = aborts man if stuck without
means of death or escape.
CTRL-J = sets game to joystick
control.
CTRL-K = sets game to keyboard
control.
RETURN = displays current high score
list.
CTRL-R = terminates current game
(enter demo mode).
CTRL-S = toggles sound ON/OF.
<-- = slows down overall game
speed (press repeatedly).
--> = speeds up overall game
speed (press repeatedly).
CTRL-X = flips x-axis on joystick.
CTRL-Y = flips y-axis on joystick.
ESC = freeze action until ESC is
hit again.
** CHEAT KEYS **
CTRL-SHIFT-N = advances a level
(CTRL-SHIFT-6 on //e)
CTRL-SHIFT-P = adds additional lives
per players
(CTRL-SHIFT-2 on //e)
Using either of the two "cheat keys" forfeits your high score attempt for that game. So does beginning a session at any level other than the first (level 001).
*** MAKING YOUR OWN GAMES ***
The Game Generator ("Edit mode")
lets you design, move, erase,
playtest, and save to disk your own
unique Lode Runner games-with no
programming knowledge required! You
may also use this editor to access
directly (then play) any of Lode
Runner's 150 different game screens,
an well as to erase high scores and
prepare new data disks for use in
saving your own game creations.
Don't panic. It's all remarkably
easy.
The following chart summarizes the steps involved in making your own games. Detailed instructions are given in the sections that follow.
HOW TO MAKE YOUR OWN GAMES: SUMMARY
+----------------------------------+ ! ! WHAT TO DO ! HOW TO DO IT ! !--!-------------------------------! !1.! enter !press CTRL-E from ! ! !"edit mode" !demo mode ! !--!------------!------------------! !2.!place inited!(see "initializing! ! !data disk !your data disk" ! ! !into drive ! ! !--!------------!------------------! !3.!design your !use I-J-K-M keys ! ! !game !to move cursor; ! ! ! !use 0-9 to make ! ! ! !shapes ! !--!------------!------------------! !4.! save your ! press CTRL-S ! ! ! game ! ! !--!------------!------------------! !5.! play your ! press CTRL-S to ! ! ! game ! "quit" game ! ! ! ! generator ! ! ! ! press P to "play"! +-----------------------------------
** ENTERING EDIT MODE **
First you must enter Edit mode. If you are playing a game, press CTRL-R to end. the game, then press CTRL-E (for "Edit"). If you are starting from the self-playing demo mode, simply press CTRL-E. The Lode Runner Board Editor screen will appear, allowing you to enter the following single-key editing commands:
E (for "edit")
P (for "play")
I (for "Initialize")
C (for "clear")
M (for "Move")
S (for "Score")
These commands are explained in the instructions below.
** INITIALIZING YOUR DATA DISK **
Before designing your first game
board, you must prepare a Lode
Runner data disk on which to save
your creations. Enter the Edit mode
(if you haven't down so already) and
press I for "Initialize." Remove
your Lode Runner disk and insert a
blank disk of your own into the
drive. Press Y (for "Yes") in
response to the screen question
("Are you sure?") When the disk
drive stops whirring, your data disk
is ready to use, and you can use it
to creat and save 150 different
boards without reinitializing. Note
Use this I command with caution as
it erases the entire data disk! By
the way, the program will prevent
you from initializing (and erasing)
your Lode Runner master disk.
** DESIGNING YOUR GAME BOARDS **
Now that you have an initialized data disk, you are ready to create your own games. From the Lode Runner Board Editor screen, press E (for "Edit"). You will be asked to type in the number of the game board you want to work on (001-150). For your first board, use 001. Type in the number, then press RETURN. The selected screen will appear.
NOTE:Whenever you type in board numbers in response to prompts in the Board Editor,you must type the entire three digit number before pressing RETURN (i.e. 3 must be entered as 003, 47 as 047, etc.) You may use the forward and back arrow to skip over digits or to make corrections before pressing RETURN.
The process of designing your own boards is simple. There are nime basic shapes that make up all Lode Runner game boards. Each of these shapes is controlled by one of nine number keys (1-9). Zero (0) makes a blank. To design a game screen, you simply move the cursor around the screen with the cursor movement keys and place the shapes where you want them by pressing the appropriate number keys.
Remember: You MUST have an initialized data disk on hand if you are going to save your creations to disk; you cannot use the Lode Runner master disk for this purpose.
IMPORTANT: SEE TIPS ON SAVING YOUR CREATIONS BELOW. YOU MUST SAVE YOUR GAME EACH TIME YOU QUIT THE GAME GENERATIOR, EVEN TO PLAYTEST.
** CURSOR MOVEMENT CONTROLS **
I = up a line
M = down a line
J = left a line
K = right a line
** LODE RUNNER SHAPES **
0 = blank 5 = blank
1 = diggable 6 = ladder that
floor appears after
2 = undiggable gold.
floor 7 = gold chest
3 = ladder 8 = enemy
4 = hand over 9 = player
hand bar
There are a few practical limitations regarding the number of objects you can use:
YOU MUST HAVE ONE "PLAYER" ON YOUR GAME BOARD FOR YOUR GAME TO PLAYABLE i.e. NO MORE, NO LESS THAN ONE LODE RUNNER COMMANDO (Shape #9) MUST BE INCLUDED IN YOUR GAME BOARD DESIGN. OTHERWISE, WHEN YOU TRY PLAYING YOUR GAME, YOU WILL BE RETURNED TO DEMO MODE.
You may have 1,2,3,4, or 5, enemy guards (Shape #8) on a board. no more than five, no less than one.
The other shapes 1-7 also have numerical limits, though you are not likely to exceed them. If you do the program will simply ignore the excess.
From within the game generator, you may also view adjacent Lode Runner boards by pressing the forward or back arrow keys.
** SAVING YOUR CREATIONS **
When you finish designing a screen or when you want to play test it or take a break...
YOU MUST SAVE THE BOARD ON YOUR INITIALIZED DATA DISK BY TYPING CTRL-S (for "Save"). IF YOU DO NOT SAVE THE GAME ON A DATA DISK, THE BOARD WILL BE LOST WHEN YOU EXIT THE GAME GENERATOR!
** PLAYING YOUR GAME **
After you have saved a board (using CTRL-S), type CTRL-Q (for "Quit"). CTRL-Q returns you to the Board Editor screen. From there simply type P (for "Play") and RETURN to play the game board you've created.
** OTHER EDIT MODE COMMANDS **
The other single-key commands available from the Board Editor (CTRL-E screen) are as follows:
P(lay) - Lets you select any game board you desire. After pressing P, you will be asked to enter the three digit number of the level you wish to play (001-150). Type in the number and press RETURN. Note: If you attempt to enter Play mode using a disk that has no level 001, control is returned to demo mode. To resolve this, enter Edit mode and create a first level.
S(core) - Clears high scores from the disk; you stat hish scores over again with a clean slate.
C(lear) - Erases a game board from the disk (blanks the board).
M(ove) - Copies a board to another level number.
Note: you cannot Clear, Move, or edit the game boards on the master disk. These functions are available for use with a data disk only.
** TROUBLESHOOTING **
Whenever there is a disk error, the game will return to demo mode. If this happens, check to see if Lode Runner master disk is in the disk drive and if the drive door is shut. If this doesn't resolve the problem, check to see if you have a level 001 on your game disk. If not, creat one.
Playtest your own board creations to make sure they are beatable. If you want to refine or improve them, simply return to editor.
Remember, as mentioned in "Game Play," if a player becomes stuck in a "dead end" with no way out, press CTRL-A to Sacrifice that "life" and resume play.
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Documentation entered into text file by:
Mr. Binary's assistant
Corrupt Computing