It's night time and the moon sets a dimmed light on the path you decided to choose. Each of your steps lift a tiny cloud of dust as you confidently approach the cliff's end. The camera slowly rises for the viewer to gaze at an urban landscape inhabited by imposing buildings emitters of a slightly yellow light. You've been searching relentlessly for them and you now breath the same air as your enemies. The repressing Bungeling Empire will repay what they've unrightfully taken from your people. Being a highly trained Galactic Commando soldier you set out to recover every gold piece that was stolen from the “loving people”. Bounded by luck and confidence you have found their hidden stash of gold. But you will need more than luck and confidence to escape the dangers ahead.
Even though one could argue that there really isn't that much of an atmosphere to Lode Runner itself I find the premise to the game to be quite exciting. In fact, it does a wonderful job at giving a valuable meaning to the player's actions. Unlike games like Apple Panic or Boomer's Adventure, Lode Runner comes with a very interesting moral quest to give back what has been stolen from “the loving people” by an oppressing government known as the Bungeling Empire. I'd say that this desire to communicate something meaningful to the player also transcribes itself in the actual gameplay experience. Whereas games in general have a very violent centric way of dealing with certain situations (killing enemies in numerous ways) Lode Runner offers to simply put aside your pursuers in holes that they can escape from (they can eventually die from being buried, but one could argue that it's the environment responsible for the death). This mechanic emphasizes the fact that you are not there to shed blood and avenge your “loving people” by waging death, but only there to take back those very important pieces of gold. Another thing worth mentioning is that the laser gun the player carries isn't a tool tailored for killing but rather as very special shovel to quickly dig up those holes. That's probably something to think about.
Lode Runner is a game mostly about strategy and timing where the developer wants you to always think ahead before acting. In that sense, the A.I. almost feels like its reading your movement patterns and subtlety takes them in account to corner you on either the side of the screen. Being able to foresee and quickly establish strategies is the core skill required for you to play this game. Digging is also an important part of Lode Runner as you need to swiftly dig your way to certain pieces of gold
On a more technical note, the game is also tailored around this idea of pixel precise movement where every move you make feels natural and very sharp. The end result is a dynamic and stimulating experience where you don't feel constrained by the game controls. Some critic might venture into the path of saying Lode Runner is not a flashy games in terms of graphic and that its almost visually unappealing. I wouldn't go that far. I think there's a reason for the game to be made this way and I will assume it is so that the players focus on the interactive experience rather then other possible visual or auditory stimulus.
On a more technical note, the game is also tailored around this idea of pixel precise movement where every move you make feels natural and very sharp. The end result is a dynamic and stimulating experience where you don't feel constrained by the game controls. Some critic might venture into the path of saying Lode Runner is not a flashy games in terms of graphic and that its almost visually unappealing. I wouldn't go that far. I think there's a reason for the game to be made this way and I will assume it is so that the players focus on the interactive experience rather then other possible visual or auditory stimulus.