I am a fan of Lode Runner, back to the 8bit computer days. Like Boulder Dash, it is one of the classics I have acquired multiple times over the years. I saw that it was coming to XBox Live Arcade, so I decided I would get ahold of the demo, to check things out. The demo showed promise but really didn't hint at what is new. However, after playing around with the demo, I decided to take the plunge with the game. My main concern was that they wouldn't add any new environmental elements and make the game go off in new directions. The videos and hints didn't show this. Fortunately, this concern is wrong. They did update it, in a logical manner, adding element to it. I figured I would use this bit here to lay out what I found new in it. Bear with me, I may miss some stuff.
First, before I continue, I would like to discuss the price it is going for now. It is at 800 credits. There was concerns it might come out at 1200 credits, but nope, 800. Ok, well onto what is in this that is new. Oh yes, and the game DOES COME WITH A LEVEL EDITOR! Also, like classic Lode Runner, it appears the board is FULLY displayed on the screen (no scrolling to cause things to make planning harder).
The Modes. The game features multiple modes:
* Practice (this is your tutorial mode that lays out all the elements).
* Journey (just like your classic Lode Runner)
* Hang On (challenge level. Get all the gold before you get killed, and I guess advance on to next level. Not sure if drilling works on blocks, but I know it is HARD).
* Puzzle (Collection of puzzle levels)
* My levels (where you get to play your creations).
The Environments. The game introduces new elements in here: Mine, Ruins, Frozen, Volcano, Mechanical.
New Play Elements. There are a bunch of these (how you define a bunch is whether you would consider myself being accurate here):
* End of level blocks. Rather than the ladder to the top, you end up with the board changing to get to exit block area.
* Hidden enemy. There are hidden in a block. You did a certain block, it pops out carry a Diamond. Dig a hole into block to get the enemy and fall and recover the diamond for points.
* Energy balls. Collect 3 of these and get an extra life on a level. I found they tended to be in between level bonus areas.
* Gold nuggets have facings on them. They aren't just on the ground, but can hang from the side of blocks, meaning you can dig a different block to get them to fall. And yes, they do fall when unsupported now.
* Bombs. Can pick these up (they tend to respawn) and you can then drop them to blow up normally indestructable blocks.
* New block types. Besides the usual ones of Diggable and Indestructable (and trap door ones), you find new block types that are dependent on the environment player is in. These are listed by environment:
- Mine: Stalactites Blocks (Dig top and they fall wiping out all below, except for indestructable, I assume). These appear also on other board types to), Teleporters (two linked areas you go in one and pop out the other side.
- Ruins: Double Blast Blocks (Dig these blocks twice to make they disappear. They do reappear, but add an interesting way to mess up normal digging timing).
- Frozen: Snow Blocks (Dig one Snow block and it causes a chain reaction of all snow blocks adjacent to disappear).
- Volcano: Lava Blocks (can't walk on these, but can drop a stalactite on them to make them safe to walk over temporarily).
- Mechanical: Trick Blocks (your trap door blocks have returned. This time you walk over, they disappear), Anti-Trick Blocks (the opposite of Trick blocks. Walk over an apparently empty area and they appear and stay on the screen).
Multiplayer Modes (yes, you can play others locally or over Live. I believe up to four players at same time):
- Co-op Journey. Classic coop where you play through the Journey mode with other.
- Co-op Puzzle. Jointly solve puzzle modes together.
- Last Man. Battle Mode (vs other player). Bomberman meets Lode Runner.
All and all have to give an early thumb's up for this.
