LODE RUNNER is the greatest video game ever created.

[Flying Spaghetti Monster]

In all the ways that matter, I think the greatest video game ever made was Lode Runner (1983) .. I prefer the c64 version. Your character is a stick figure, and the bad guys are stick figures of different colors. You run around collecting chests. Are you the good guy, or a thief? Does not matter. Your only weapon is the ability to dig holes. You can dig to escape, dig to trap the enemies, or dig to get the treasure locked in a chamber. Reflexes. Timing, Patterns. And being able to think on your feet. These are the most important element of ANY video game and Lode Runner has them all. In fact, when they updated the game with better graphics, the game lost all of it's charm. Each level of Lode Runner is completely different. Some levels have only one solution, in terms of what order you must recover the chests. The creator of Tetris called it the greatest puzzle game he had ever played. It was one of the first games to come with a level creator. Pound for pound, I stand by it as the greatest video game ever created

 

[Santaman]

I don't agree, there are many great or incredible games, Wolfenstein, Doom, Star Control II, Unreal Tournament 1999 GOTY Edition, Mechwarrior 4, Borderlands, Saints Row The Third, Dune II, Command and Conquer to name a few.

 

[Flying Spaghetti Monster]

I don't agree, there are many great or incredible games, Wolfenstein, Doom, Star Control II, Unreal Tournament 1999 GOTY Edition, Mechwarrior 4, Borderlands, Saints Row The Third, Dune II, Command and Conquer to name a few.

Yes, it's an opinion. All opinion. Plus my phrasing is important: "pound for pound".. meaning the greatest considering the resources available. From the deceptively smart AI of the enemies, to the variety of levels to the myriad of different skills needed to complete different levels, all wrapped in a very simple game where graphics and story are not only not needed but would also distract from the essence of it... that was the basis for my opinion.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

I've always been fond of the Unreal series. Although I was creeped WAY the fuck out by one of the monsters in the original (the one that throws knives at the player).

 

[XCV330]

there is no greatest video game of all time.
it may be one of the better ones from the 8 bit era

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

I do miss Wolfenstein as well. I always cracked up when I heard a Nazi guard do that exaggerated AAAAAAIIIIEEEEEE!!!! when shot.

As for Lode Runner - is it really true that some levels make you collect the chests in a specific order? Guess I never got that high.

 

[Santaman]

It also depends quite a bit on the person.. I've used computers a looong time, I know the 8-bit era, the Atari ST era, the PC then becomming the dominant platform, so yes, I can appreciate 8-bit games, the old platform games (Duke Nukum etc) and later on the 3D stuff, I still have computers with a VooDoo II and VooDoo Rush card and so on.
Young people nowadays have their own "best" games, even some smartphone only stuff I guess that they might consider awesome.
Who knows what it all will be like in 50 years or so.

 

[Flying Spaghetti Monster]

I do miss Wolfenstein as well. I always cracked up when I heard a Nazi guard do that exaggerated AAAAAAIIIIEEEEEE!!!! when shot.

As for Lode Runner - is it really true that some levels make you collect the chests in a specific order? Guess I never got that high.

yes.. it's true.. it just depends on the layout and how the enemies are moving. Of course, on the early levels you won't notice this, but later yes.

There are also levels that depend on the fact that enemies steal the chests and drop them somewhere. One level has all the chests on a line of bricks near the top of the screen, and you start out at the bottom.. with no ladders to get up there.. what has to happen is that the enemies steal the chests and then fall to the bottom of the screen, and when you dig to trap them, then you can recover the chests.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

yes.. it's true.. it just depends on the layout and how the enemies are moving. Of course, on the early levels you won't notice this, but later yes.

Oh, you mean they're not numbered or anything like that? It's just the layout? That makes more sense.

 

[XCV330]

I grew up in that era too, and though I revisit the games now and then, they don't hold my interest as much. A lot of them were retreads. Everyone was copying anything that came out that looked remotely sellable. Hell, one studio did a compelte copy of Super Mario Brothers and sold it on C64 as The Great Giana Sisters (an interesting story in its own right).

I am always amazed though at how they managed to get so much good code in such a small amount of space, 2k to 4k for most carts of that time, and of course the severe limitations of those games shipping out on cassette for commodore, tandy, bbc micro, etc.

I think after that initial era, the 16 it period really gave developers a chance to stretch their imagination and try out new things. It did not always work but it was interesting. And the music REALLY starts to get good, then.

 

[Santaman]

Yup.. and then came the Soundblaster... before there was the AdLib card but when the Soundblaster came out the music made leaps.. the Gravis Ultrasound.. yeah.. those were the days, .MOD, S3M and of course all the demos.

 

[Flying Spaghetti Monster]

Oh, you mean they're not numbered or anything like that? It's just the layout? That makes more sense.

It's hard to express or articulate what I mean. There are over a hundred levels (not including those you can make by yourself). The level that looks like a castle, for example, you can only complete it if you move through it a certain way, go the trapdoors at a certain time, allow the enemies to fall through the trapdoors at a certain time so you can get past them. This is just an example, and why the inventor of Tetris considered the game more of a puzzle game than an adventure game.

 

[JD]

It might be the greatest game of that era, but I much, much prefer modern character and story driven games like the original Mass Effect trilogy, The Last of Us, or even stuff like the Ratchet & Clank and Jak & Daxter games.

 

[Flying Spaghetti Monster]

It might be the greatest game of that era, but I much, much prefer modern character and story driven games like the original Mass Effect trilogy, The Last of Us, or even stuff like the Ratchet & Clank and Jak & Daxter games.

I understand that but my argument is that you can get characters world-building story-driven stuff from other mediums you can't get the amount of essential video game aspects from any other game on Mineral Resources like you can with Lode Runner. It's like comparing chess too many other board games there been many board games were there stories to it there's more you can do is wait despite your opponent there's ways to steal money from them put make them bankrupt but in its Simplicity chess is the greatest board game ever and will always be

 

[The Lensman]

Is it a great game? Sure. I have fond memories of playing it in the early 80's. The greatest? For me it's not even close to the greatest game.

 

[Santaman]

Maniac Mansion I and II would be near the top of the list for really great and fun games IMO. Or the Monkey Island series.. or Space Quest.. Of course Rick Dangerous.. Commander Keen, Lemmings,.. ye gads quite a many..

 

[Jedi_Master]

I liked the late 90's Lode Runner remake better than the original.

 

[XCV330]

I'd say of 8-bit and earlier video games, Spacewar would have to at least get a nod as among the best. It was first and it was astounding. It still plays well even now. not bad for early 60's coding.

good video of what the original looks like on the oridinal PDP-1 hardware.

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it was the first video game I ever played but much later, maybe 79, in an arcade, with my brother.

 

[Owain Taggart]

Oh man, I loved Lode Runner. Difficult as heck, but so addictive. I think there was a remake in the 90's, but I never played that one.

 

[Flying Spaghetti Monster]

Oh man, I loved Lode Runner. Difficult as heck, but so addictive. I think there was a remake in the 90's, but I never played that one.

Right?
Sprucing it uo with graphics and character designs takes sonethubg away from the game .. but Lode Runner Classic app for the phone keeps the original essense.. give that a shot!