LodeRunner review by Cheryl Booth (Cheryl) Aximsite.com

Testing Environment
I tested Lode Runner on my Axim X5 Advanced running PPC 2002.

Installation
Lode Runner was installed first to my CF card, then to RAM. The game ran flawlessly from both locations.

Playing the Game
I don't know about everyone else, but I have not played Lode Runner since, well, since....let's just say it's been a LONG time! I took a few minutes to check out the help section so I could refresh my memory of how the game is played. I usually skip reading the directions, but thought it would be a good idea to refresh my memory on how Lode Runner is played. While the help section was good, after starting a game I found that there is a built in tutorial in Lode Runner. The first three levels give you a chance to learn your way around the screen. I really liked the tutorial as I don't like to play games where I have to read a lot of instructions before playing.

Speaking of learning your way around the screen, one of the things that is nice about this game is that it allows you to control your "runner" with either the stylus or hardware buttons. That was good thinking on Ballshooter's part as most people have a preference. The drawback with using the hardware buttons is that there is no option to reconfigure them. You are stuck with using the directional pad to move and the home button to dig with. There is a menu button in the bottom left hand corner that allows you to change the background of the screen - another neat idea, IMHO. You can turn volume and/or sound effects on or off. I was surprised to find that you can choose what level you would like to start on . The demo will let you choose a level between 1 and 10 while the registered version allows you to select from level 1 to level 50. It kind of took some of the fun out of things knowing that if I couldn't or didn't want to beat a level I didn't have to. I could just pick another one to play.

The basic objective of Lode Runner is to collect the treasures and avoid the guards in each level. The only way to avoid those guards is to dig a hole so they can fall in it. They will remain in the hole for 5 seconds. The hole closes up after 10 seconds. Anyone still in the hole when it closes dies. No problem for the guards because another one appears very soon after. But the "runner" loses a life.

First I played using the hardware buttons, which worked surprisingly well. No problems maneuvering around the screen. Stylus play took a little getting used to, but overall was pretty good. You tap where you want your "runner" to go. If you want him to go to another level, you have to go to the ladder and then tap the top of the ladder. Digging is done by tapping the area that you want to dig. I did run into problems when digging holes. I had a tendency to want to dig in the wrong place (bottom of a ladder) and the game wouldn't let me.

There's nothing special about the sound effects. There are three different music tracks that play in the game. Kind of nice not to have to hear the same music over and over and over again.

While playing I did find a couple of things that Lode Runner is missing. There is no high score board for this game - either in the game or on the Ballshooter website. There is a point system in this game, so I'm not sure why there wouldn't be a high score board. It just doesn't make sense to me. The other thing I really had a problem with was getting stuck on a level. You start the level with the items that you need to complete the level scattered around the screen. If you use one of them in the wrong spot or by accident you cannot finish the level. To get out of the level you have to commit suicide by digging a hole and falling in or restarting the level via the menu button.

Closing Words

Lode Runner has come a long way since the old days, but it has still not reached its full potential for PPC gaming. While the graphics and sound are good, there is room for improvement. I would also like to see some sort of a high score board implemented.

Pros:

• Competitive price
• Good graphics
• Good sound
• Game play via stylus or hardware buttons
• In-game tutorial

Cons:

• No high score table
• The ability to select which level you want to play removes some of the 'fun" of the game.
• It's possible to get stuck on a level with no exit.