Lode Runner 2 MAC CD classic collect gold puzzle adventure arcade game sequel Type: Game Platform: Mac Publisher: Presage Released: 1996 Media: CD When you've been a prisoner of the Macintosh for ten years, the release of a 3D Lode Runner game comes as welcome news. I lived, breathed, ate, and drank Lode Runner Returns during stolen moments between playing Myst and SimCity 2000 and actually doing my job. In fact, I'm not ashamed to admit that I still occasionally fire up my mom's old Apple II to play the original. Gameplay in Lode Runner is simple. You run around each level collecting all the gold and try to avoid being killed by wandering monks. Your default tool is a hydraulic pack that lets you temporarily dig away the block of ground in front of you. The block reforms after a few seconds. This talent is extremely useful in dodging monks (you can run over one if you get it to step into the hole) or temporarily killing them (they always regenerate, so this tactic is helpful, but won't rid you of your pesky robed enemies). A combination of skillful digging, dodging, and collecting opens an escape portal to the next level.Lode Runner 2 is a welcome change from all those card and board game ports - not that I don't love a good board-game port, I just like a little action with my puzzle solving. Instead of moving linearly through the 144 levels of Lode Runner Returns, occasionally pausing to watch the movies, acquire new power-ups, and change backgrounds, Lode Runner 2 lets you choose which world you want to start and any level therein. There's even a handy set of tutorial levels that familiarize yourself with the power-ups, bombs, and maneuvers you'll need.The 3D world also paves the way for a wide variety of bombs. Several different bomb configurations let you blow up different configurations of blocks - and monks, should they be in the way. If you get caught in the line of fire, you're toast. Those who remember the different power-ups gathered as you progressed through Lode Runner Returns will be disappointed in the lack of a few (I really miss the hangman's noose and the goo), but the new ones work well in this environment. One especially fun power-up is the beach ball, which turns you into a one-runner monk-killing machine.Each playing area is suspended in space, which definitely gives you a feeling of vertigo, especially when swinging hand-over-hand. Fortunately, you're protected from falling into space all the time by forcefields; you can only jump or fall from corners.The gameplay is exactly what you'd expect from Lode Runner and, thankfully, hasn't been "improved" or succumbed to feature-itis. Just transforming the world from 2D to 3D has opened up vast possibilities in solving the tricky puzzles and getting the gold. And, as with the original, the name of a level often provides a hint to how it can be solved. I'll be the first to admit that most people's game-playing fingers are more nimble than mine, and old habits die hard. My poor brain was so locked into the 2D Lode Runner world, I had a hard time making the switch to 3D - and many of the levels require you dig in unusual patterns, not just straight lines to get gold and bury monks. Once you adapt, however, the fun begins.Not missing is the all-important level editor. Here, you can build your own puzzles and try them on your friends. I was never very good at building levels, but I'm looking forward to hunting around the Internet to find some new single-player levels to play. All in all, Lode Runner 2 is a great game. I plan on digging my way through all 75 levels, then bugging my coworkers to play with me through all the multiplayer levels. Pity themFor Mac (Power Macintosh: OS 9 or Below) [*Please review compatibility/platform sections in 'What You Get']
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