Play Lode Runner Online Free for PS1/Playstation.
Retro games online like Lode Runner have never been easier to play. Play Lode Runner from the Sony PlayStation now. Released on the Sony PlayStation, this retro classic from its publisher is ready the second you press start — no downloads, no setup.
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| Action | Keyboard | Controller |
|---|---|---|
| D-Pad Up | ↑ | D-Pad up |
| D-Pad Down | ↓ | D-Pad down |
| D-Pad Left | ← | D-Pad left |
| D-Pad Right | → | D-Pad right |
| ✕ Cross | X | Bottom face |
| ○ Circle | Z | Right face |
| □ Square | S | Left face |
| △ Triangle | A | Top face |
| L1 | Q | Left shoulder |
| R1 | E | Right shoulder |
| L2 | Tab | Left trigger |
| R2 | R | Right trigger |
| Start | Enter | Start |
| Select | V | Select |
| Left Stick Up | T | Analog up |
| Left Stick Down | G | Analog down |
| Left Stick Left | F | Analog left |
| Left Stick Right | H | Analog right |
| L3 (stick press) | — | Stick press |
| Right Stick Up | I | Right stick |
| Right Stick Down | K | Right stick |
| Right Stick Left | J | Right stick |
| Right Stick Right | L | Right stick |
| R3 (stick press) | — | Stick press |
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The player controls a character who must collect all the gold pieces in a level and reach the end while being chased by a number of enemies. Its gameplay mechanics are similar to Space Panic from 1980.
The Story Behind Lode Runner
Bratsanos was intrigued by his friend's description of the concept, and he wanted to develop it further. Instead of developing enemy movement routines that were dependent on a specific shape of a game level, he developed an universal processing loop that would interpret a level, including the positions of the player and collectibles, and move the enemies according to the dynamically changing situation. Through the end of the year, he refined that version, which was black-and-white with no joystick support.
A port for the Macintosh 128K followed in January 1985; it runs on machines up to OS 6 and can be used on System 7 with a patch. It was too primitive for an acceptable commercial product as Broderbund wanted detailed pixel-level movement. However, as with many US localizations, the NES lacked the tape drive, making it impossible to save levels created on the US release.
How Lode Runner Plays
However, exceptions to this rule arise when the player digs from the position of standing on a ladder, or hanging from a hand-to-hand bar, which makes it possible to repeatedly dig and descend one row. Holes dug by the player fill in after a short delay. There are 150 levels in total, which progressively challenge players' problem-solving abilities or reaction times.
The player can also trap themselves in pits from which the only escape is to abort the level, costing a life. The player can dig a hole only on adjacent sides and may not dig directly beneath. After collecting all the gold, the player must reach the top of the screen to advance to the next level.
Why Players Still Load It Up
With the "easy-to-use game generator", the magazine concluded that "Lode Runner is one of the best games available for the C-64. It was Broderbund's second best-selling Commodore game as of late 1987, and sales had surpassed 300,000 copies by August 1984. By 1985, the game was still selling well.
In 1993, the Spectrum version of the game was voted number 37 in the Your Sinclair Official Top 100 Games of All Time. Computer Gaming World praised Lode Runners unusually easy-to-use level editor and the strategy necessary for an arcade title, describing it as "one of the few thinking men's arcade games". PC Magazine gave the game 16.25 out of 18 points.
Lode Runner — Frequently Asked Questions
Can I play Lode Runner online for free?
Absolutely. The full game loads in the player at the top of this page and runs right in your browser — no installs, no plugins, no waiting.
Do I need a controller to play Lode Runner?
No. Keyboard controls work out of the box (see the controls panel), and any USB or Bluetooth gamepad is detected automatically.
Who developed Lode Runner?
Development was handled by its developer, with its publisher publishing the release.
Where can I buy the original Lode Runner?
See the "Other Places You Can Get This Game" section below the article for legitimate places to buy real-world versions.
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