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Lode Runner (1983)

Brøderbund Software, Irem

Amstrad CPC · Apple II · Arcade · Atari 8-bit · Atari ST/STE · BBC Microcomputer System · Commodore C64/128/MAX · Commodore VIC-20 · DOS · FM-7 · MSX · Mac · NEC PC-6000 Series · PC-8800 Series · PC-9800 Series · SG-1000 · Sharp X1 · Windows Phone · WonderSwan · ZX Spectrum

3.26 from 126 ratings

290 members have it in their collection · 5 playing now · 38 backlogged · 21 wish listed

Lode Runner is a 1983 puzzle video game, first published by Brøderbund. It is one of the first games to include a level editor, a feature that allows players to create their own levels for the game. This feature bolstered the game's popularity, as magazines such as Computer Gaming World held contests to see who could build the best level.

Details

Developers
Brøderbund Software, Irem
Publishers
Banpresto, Brøderbund Software, Irem, Microsoft Studios, Sega Enterprises, Ltd., Soft Pro International, Software Projects, Sony, SystemSoft
Genres
Platform, Puzzle
Themes
Action, Science fiction
Series
Lode Runner

Release dates

  • Oct 30, 1983 (Full Release) (Japan) PC-9800 Series
  • Dec 01, 1983 (Full Release) (Japan) PC-8800 Series
  • 1983 (Full Release) (North_America) Apple II, Atari 8-bit, Commodore C64/128/MAX, Commodore VIC-20, DOS
  • 1983 (Full Release) (Europe) MSX
  • Nov 01, 1984 (Full Release) (Japan) FM-7
  • 1984 (Full Release) (Japan) Arcade, NEC PC-6000 Series, SG-1000, Sharp X1
  • 1984 (Full Release) (North_America) Mac
  • 1984 (Full Release) (Europe) ZX Spectrum
  • 1985 (Full Release) (Europe) BBC Microcomputer System
  • 1989 (Full Release) (Europe) Amstrad CPC
  • 1989 (Full Release) (North_America) Atari ST/STE
  • Apr 20, 2000 (Full Release) (Japan) WonderSwan
  • Jul 10, 2012 (Full Release) (Worldwide) Windows Phone

Related

Remakes

Ports

Featured in lists

NES by KiingShady · 39 games · 0

Rating distribution

5 stars
10
4 stars
43
3 stars
46
2 stars
24
1 star
3

Community All Reviews Statuses

ApramPepo

Review ApramPepo 4/5 · Mar 14, 2024

I can see this game may have been a trend back then.

I wasn't alive back when this game dropped, but I can see the appeal of it, and how a lot of people can come to enjoy it, be it in the arcade or at home. it is incredibly addictive and fun all-rounder puzzle platformer. took me a while to get used to the controls, but I absolutely loved it! I …

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I wasn't alive back when this game dropped, but I can see the appeal of it, and how a lot of people can come to enjoy it, be it in the arcade or at home. it is incredibly addictive and fun all-rounder puzzle platformer. took me a while to get used to the controls, but I absolutely loved it! I did play clones of this game when I was a kid, but this game still holds up fairly well throughout the years. I would recommend playing it sometime, but you will start enjoying it once you get a grip of the controls and the Gameplay pattern.

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pants

Status pants Apr 10, 2023

Astounding playability and longevity for a game of this vintage. That, plus being one of the most important games of all time results in a rating of 5/5. https://loderunnerwebgame.com/game/, probably the best way to play it. Wanna tear my hair out, but still can't get enough.

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scoopings

Review scoopings 2/5 · Apr 25, 2022

Disappointing, Yet Important, Early Platformer

Look: 5/10 Awful look to this, even for a microcomputer game from '83 heh. Hard to even differentiate the enemies from your character (at first).

Sound: 6/10 Functional but forgettable. Kinda liked the end-of-level jingle I suppose.

Play: 7/10 Super responsive controls that made the game playable for a bit. And I like how gravity is so forgiving here, kinda …

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Look: 5/10 Awful look to this, even for a microcomputer game from '83 heh. Hard to even differentiate the enemies from your character (at first).

Sound: 6/10 Functional but forgettable. Kinda liked the end-of-level jingle I suppose.

Play: 7/10 Super responsive controls that made the game playable for a bit. And I like how gravity is so forgiving here, kinda felt like I was parkouring ha. Other than that, been there done that for a lot of this.

Feel: 7/10 Unlike Space Panic, I like that you just build up the ladder and move on--cuz I've never enjoyed the "trap to kill" Panic clones gameplay, personally. Also, an undeniably important game.

Attachment: 6/10 May be an important game but I was disappointed. Moving on. (Plus, it doesn't help that I'm grumpy today ha.)

Completion: Completed Level 2 Playtime: ~15 mins

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fanofgames

Review fanofgames 4/5 · Nov 5, 2019

lode runner is good*

lode runner is a best-in-form kind of game. an eidolon of western games. the hybrid of arcade action and quick-on-your-feet puzzle mechanics is really phenomenal. the dudes running after you... the gold... the digging... simple to grasp, hard to wield.

HOWEVER, although i do not wish to write a "buyer's guide" style review of a 35 year old video game, …

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lode runner is a best-in-form kind of game. an eidolon of western games. the hybrid of arcade action and quick-on-your-feet puzzle mechanics is really phenomenal. the dudes running after you... the gold... the digging... simple to grasp, hard to wield.

HOWEVER, although i do not wish to write a "buyer's guide" style review of a 35 year old video game, i must address the asterisk in the review title. certain ports of lode runner, and in fact the ones that these days are easiest for a gaming public to attain, are not good. if you are playing a version of lode runner where the screen scrolls to follow your character, the titular lode runner, you are not playing a good port. the nes version and the turbografx 16 version are poor. they go against the vision of lode running. if they are the only version you have access to, i recommend not playing. the computer versions are much better (i endorse the macintosh version and the apple ii version. i cannot speak to others, i have only played the four i mentioned). the screen does not scroll. you are able to soak in all of the information at once. find one of the good versions. run on.

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