Game Profile

This upgraded edition to the famous Lode Runner series includes a 5-player versus mode. Gold funds have been stolen from the Time Machine Research Center, and the group responsible used a time machine to escape and hide the gold throughout time. The center sends an elite team of "Runners" to go and retrieve the gold.

In addition to the familiar Puzzle mode, the game features Battle mode, where up to 5 players can compete, and Edit mode, where you can create your own original stages. Read More »

You can enjoy Battle mode in a number of different ways. Be the last one standing to win in Survival. Grab items from enemies and escape to win in Escape. With 4 players, you can separate into two teams to do battle in Tag Match.

Game Review

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Review

USA Mon, 23 Apr 2007 by Damien McFerran

This upgraded edition to the famous Lode Runner series includes a 5-player versus mode.

Lode Runner is strange little title - it's been around for ages, has a cult following but never really seems to break through to the mainstream. This Turbografx 'Battle' edition was produced by Hudsonsoft and graphically is a step up from previous..

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User Comments

Don-Bon

1. Don-Bon United States 01 Apr 2007, 07:06 BST

Wow, this one I passed completely. I have never even heard of this game. Is it any good?

diablos79

2. diablos79 United Kingdom 01 Apr 2007, 19:31 BST

I had the original version of this on my japanese master system, its addictive but can be very frustrating. Personaly i say give it a miss, just not worth the points.

Steve

3. Steve United States 23 Apr 2007, 16:07 BST

Lode Runner's a property that's been around since the Apple II's and early IBM PC's, and every now and then it likes to poke its head up and say "Hey, remember me?!" I'm glad to see the original being released on the VC for a new generation of gamers to experience, as LR features some very unique and entertaining gameplay. What's more, I'm glad to see the TG16 version retains the ability to create your own stages. It's always fun to throw something together and see how your friends tackle them, and it gives the game even more replay value. I've never played a multiplayer LR, so I might have to pick this one up and see how well it translates to a party game.

Jeremy

4. Jeremy United States 23 Apr 2007, 16:33 BST

I'd rather get the original Lode Runner if it's going to come out for the C64 VC... do you think that one will come out? If not, I'll just get this.

Audiorage

5. Audiorage Spain 23 Apr 2007, 19:20 BST

I remember playing this game on the gameboy.
It has an addicting gameplay and I had a good time playing it
although I was never good at it. I always died because I fell in my
own holes.
Might download it.

Steve

6. Steve United States 23 Apr 2007, 19:24 BST

From the look of it, this is an exact replica of the original PC versions of Lode Runner, but with better graphics and more features. I'd be surprised if they released it for the C64 (I actually didn't even know this was ON the C64!) even if they could get the license to do so.

link64

7. link64 United Kingdom 23 Apr 2007, 20:06 BST

A friend of mine had Lode Runner The Legend Returns for the pc which had a level editor and a 2 player mode does anyone which version is better.

20by20

8. 20by20 United States 23 Apr 2007, 21:47 BST

Finally, a Japan-only release on the US Virtual Console. Lets thank Nintendo, for I know that we all want some more imports soon. (*cough*Alien Soldier*cough*

Cowmansr

9. Cowmansr United States 24 Apr 2007, 20:09 BST

Lode Runner: The Legend Returns has better graphics, and it has fun 2-Player levels, but I can't really tell you which one is more fun, since I haven't played this one. The 5-player mode sounds interesting, and I'd like to hear more about that. If that's any goo I might buy this.

link64

10. link64 United Kingdom 25 Apr 2007, 19:33 BST

I just checked out a video of this on youtube is it me or is the music Similar to legend of the mystic ninja.

Matthew

11. Matthew United States 27 Apr 2007, 08:38 BST

Lode Runner - The Legend Returns for the pc is a much better game than this version of lode runner. There really isn't any coop in this game at all, only lame battle modes. But if you liked the single player version of lode runner and you want it on your tv than this game is for you.

Be warned!! There are no bombs or keys or any cool items to grab on to like the pc game. The only weapon you have is to dig holes and thats it.

parap

12. parap France 03 May 2007, 14:02 BST

My dad had the first (?) version of Lode Runner on its Apple IIc. Does anybody know if this game is the exact copy ? I remember he can't go over the level 49... I don't even know the number of levels the game has.

(I'm not talking about the multiplayer mode of course)

Thanks !

Mr.cow

13. Mr.cow United States 18 May 2007, 20:20 BST

my friend got this (we have never played lode runner games before) and it is totaly fun the 5 player is really good too

SKTTR

14. SKTTR Germany 12 Jun 2007, 02:04 BST

Lode Runner was released on every home computer, pc and has been ported to many consoles.
There is also a Lode Runner 64 (N64). I personally would prefer the C64 version, I think it's because you can see the whole screen at once. in the turbografx and nes version you cannot see the whole screen. you have to know the level first before you can solve it, and then must escape from them while getting all of the gold that's lying around. digging holes to let them fall in and run over them and collect their gold. it's simple and fun.
but the levels soon get very puzzling and it's all about digging holes. 5 player also adds a lot.
"Classic": 4 stars

Kevin

15. Kevin United States 25 Jun 2007, 21:00 BST

I had Lode Runner for NES and loved it. The Create level feature kept me coming back for more. I stayed away from buying this until I found out this one has the feature as well. It did not disapoint!

Wolfman

16. Wolfman United States 28 Jun 2007, 03:35 BST

I must say that as a fan of the puzzle genre, I wasn't sure what this incarnation of Lode Runner could present differently.

The answer? 5 player battle. Genius.

If you like to piss off your friends, this is a great way to do so, even if they're a bit slow to pick it up at first.

Fearnavigatr

17. Fearnavigatr Sweden 30 Jun 2007, 12:39 BST

I once had 600 points to spare. Having heard good things about Lode Runner from an earlier generation, and the interesting fact that this game was previously unreleased in the west, I decided to give the newly released Battle version a download. I was severly disappointed.

I can easily play and love older games, but this one didn't appeal to me at all. I probably just stink at it really bad, but attempting a level dozens of times only to fall into the same hole and get stuck at the same place over and over again does not help me enjoy it.

I'm going to be fair. It's a classic game, and I'm a young gamer. If you like those basic and very challenging puzzles from way back, you should certainly check it out. If anything simpler than the average N64 game isn't your cup of tea, avoid. Personally I'm gonna stay slightly below the middle.

Jay

18. Jay United States 05 Jul 2007, 21:16 BST

Battle mode is hilariously anger-inducing. It's worth the 600 points for this mode alone (but make sure you figure out the hole-digging rules so you don't get frustrated).

However, the puzzle mode is equally great if you like action + brain-twisters. And Hudson's graphical revamp means this is the best-looking Lode Runner I've ever played. The Bomberman cameo is very amusing, too.

Mr.cow

19. Mr.cow United States 19 Jul 2007, 05:29 BST

this is great love it if you get like 3 friends or more it is great you start to get stiles of play it does have a slite lerning curve do to the fact that there is like nothing like it out there so just try to to give it like 1/2 an hr. and you will start to love it, it is well werth your 600 points so get it right now

Mii be you

20. Mii be you United States 31 Jul 2007, 19:32 BST

I wasn't sure to download this game or not.(But I did!)
I loved the battle mode feature. It caught my attention.
(Don't ask why!) But I also loved the edit mode! I love getting creative with that kind of stuff. Great game!

Daniel

21. Daniel United Kingdom 03 Aug 2007, 01:56 BST

Does it have to be 5 player battle or can it be 2-3-4 player as well ?

Dazza

22. Dazza United Kingdom 03 Aug 2007, 08:07 BST

2-3-4 players also like Bomberman

Lost Heaven

23. Lost Heaven Portugal 19 Aug 2007, 20:50 BST

I also played Lode Runner on the Gameboy and it was a good surprise. If you like puzzle games this has a very interesting gameplay. It can get pretty hard sometimes, but that's a good challange in my opinion. I'm very curious to know how the multiplayer works out!

Pocketim

24. Pocketim New Zealand 07 Sep 2007, 00:09 BST

I posted a review on this game on the VC forms if anyone wants to read it
http://www.vc-forums.com/showthread.php?t=962&page=3

Mii be you

25. Mii be you United States 11 Sep 2007, 00:05 BST

I like pocketim's review. But some of the levels are too hard so I cheated and got to the last level and boy was that hard so I cheated...again.

jackaroo

26. jackaroo Spain 15 Sep 2007, 13:17 BST

I played this on Gameboy on one of those 100 in 1 game things (Which is basically the same 10 games over and over again). I couldnt do the first level until recently since its a challenging puzzler. I may give this a shot at some point. It looks good and just the way i remember it.

Mii be you

27. Mii be you United States 14 Nov 2007, 20:51 GMT

There's something I don't understand about this game. This is a Japan only title, but it dosen't cost extra points here in North America.

koolkitties

28. koolkitties United States 21 Dec 2007, 21:46 GMT

To Mii be you, this game was released before import games were regular. Note how there's no red dot icon next to it at the shop.

I love this game. It seems like Lode Runner's equivalent to Bomberman 93. The graphics are great and colorful, the puzzles are mind bending. (I still haven't figured out level 3) The battle mode also adds a lot to the game., but messing around with the level designer alone adds a hell of a lot to this game.

Maxime St. Rasse

29. Maxime St. Rasse United States 10 Jun 2008, 17:23 BST

this game deserves more than 3 stars... maybe the original nintendo version deserved 3 stars but the multiplayer in this is so much fun... it takes awhile for everyone to get the hang of but once people understand how to not dig themselves into holes you start noticin everyones different strategy on how to get the gold... i got this just to give it a try and it quickly became an obsession among all my friends

Mario64DStyle

30. Mario64DStyle United States 13 Jun 2008, 20:50 BST

Me and my friends picked this up out of the blue, thinking a 5 player option was nice.. We were Extremely confussed on the objective of multiplayer mode at first.. but after a good hour of figuring every tip and trick out, we became really addicted

Ricardo91

31. Ricardo91 United States 23 Jul 2008, 06:48 BST

I didn't know what this game was really, I just downloaded it because it was Lode Runner, which I originally played at one my school's PCs. It was fun, even though I kept falling into my own holes.

This was one of the first VC games I got (I've only had my wii since last July.) The battle mode is good fun (Though it pales in comparison to Bomberman.), and the puzzles are challenging, though occaisionally very tedious. (Curse you, level 15!). Thankfully, you can skip over them. And I love the level editor. I spend a lot of my time w/ the game fixing up my creations and thinking up new ones. It's a nice game, but there are probably better puzzlers to find at the wii shop. 3/5

ZBomber

32. ZBomber United States 03 Sep 2008, 04:12 BST

The multiplayer on this game is fun for awhile.. the single player isn't bad either. If you're havin a few friends over this game is fun to play for an hour or two, but I dont think I'd be able to play it much more than that because it can get repetitive after awhile. 4/5

WindOnFire

33. WindOnFire Australia 19 Sep 2008, 09:22 BST

@mario64DStyle: Same as me :p

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