| Graphics: |   3 |
| SFX: | 3 |
| Music: | 3 |
| Gameplay: | 4 |
| Challenge: | 4 |
| Replay: | 4 |
| Overall: |  3.5 |
| Genre: | Classic/Puzzle |
| Reading ability: | Not required |
| Company: | T&E Soft |
The Game:
My family never had a computer in the early 80's, and even my friends who did never had Lode Runner. I think I may have played this only once or so as a kid, but the memory never stuck with me as it did playing other similar games like Donkey Kong, Congo Bongo, Kangaroo, or Popeye.
Lode Runner Twin is essentially the same game as the original, but with cute anime-type characters in a sugary dessert wonderland. The main screen shows a closeup view of your character, but there is a "radar screen" of sorts at the bottom center of the screen to give you a full view of what's going on. You control either the boy or the girl collecting candies and avoiding the little devils. You can dig a hole to the right or the left of your character in which to trap your enemies. Eventually the hole will close, and if you can trap a devil in the hole and time it just right to close up when they're still inside it, you will get bonus points. But be careful, you too can fall into these holes. Once you collect all of the goodies, a ladder at the top of the screen will appear and you will then climb up to exit the level.
The game offers several play opitons: Free Play which I use all the time, Story Mode that's complete with an RPG ambience for those who can read Japanese, and a Battle Mode, which I have yet to explore.
Graphics:
The graphics are a cute, superdeformed version of Lode Runner. Nothing spectacular, but then again, this is Lode Runner, after all.
Sound:
Music is cute and fits the game well. I suppose some might consider the music annoying, but nothing says "I'm playing a retro Super Famicom game" more than the music of Lode Runner Twin. The sound effects are decent, but nothing special.
Challenge and replay:
Like I already mentioned, I didn't grow up playing Lode Runner, so most of the nostalgic appeal of this game is a bit lost on me. It is a nice game to play, and it is a game in my SFC collection I find myself reaching for over and over again. The story mode adds a nice touch to the game.
The Good:
This is Lode Runner with a cute anime personality to it. That's great!
The Bad:
Not much to say negative about the game. Like I said, some may not care for the music, but I don't mind.
Overall:
Other than a story mode, the gameplay is just basic Lode Runner with cute updated graphics. As for myself, I never grew up with Lode Runner, so it doesn't have that nostalgia appeal to me. However, I do love retro games, and it's never too late to start enjoying a classic I missed out on in the 80's. This is a cute, solid game. It isn't the most exciting game, but it has its charm. It's a classic game I find myself going back to whenever I get my SNES out. Definitely check it out if you really love Lode Runner.
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