Well it’s got really nice bloo…oh.
Today Lode Runner would seem more like a quick diversion than anything else. I don’t think they’ve priced it accordingly and with the gigantic rip-off that MS Points are in Canada, this is definitely a “no buy” for me. And I loves me some Lode Runner.
Played the demo this morning, got hooked, and bought the full game.
Its a pretty full featured package, lots of content here. There’s the standard adventure mode - a series of sequential levels, a survival mode called Hang On - enemies keep spawning and the goal is to stay alive as long as possible, and a bunch of one off levels in Puzzle Mode.
The game comes with a level editor and allows level sharing over live. It uses a lobby system for sharing, basically go into a room and you can browse and download the levels other people have on their hard drive.
There are also co-op and competitive multiplayer modes . I haven’t had a chance to try these yet as no one was on.
Are the co-op and multiplayer modes also available for local (one 360) multiplayer?
Ok, I bought Lode Runner and I think it’s pretty damn good.
Dave, I have to ask. What was preventing you from pulling the trigger on Pac-Man CE before? So far as I know, it got nothing short of universal praise. It’s an unbelievably deft reimagining of a classic. I paid full price for Pac-Man and felt it was worth it after my first ten games. I don’t know if there’s been a week since I’ve had it that I haven’t played it at least a couple of times.
My secret shame? Almost all the achievements I have on it were earned by my ex.
Lode Runner is highly recommended based on the great tutorials and the few pretty cool Journey level’s I’ve played so far (mine environments). I really like how the levels transition and how you have to think on your feet most of the time. Haven’t played multiplayer or used the level editor yet, but watched a couple of neat youtubes of it (multiplayer, level-editor).
Edit: This unsourced Wikipedia quote (about the 1983 version) is hilarious: “Computer Gaming World reported that the animated characters in Lode Runner were ‘borrowed’ from Choplifter, an earlier Brøderbund title.[3] Smith claims the characters were so not borrowed, but because the characters are only 7x10 pixels, there are inevitable cosmetic similarities”.
Edit #2: 
Well, all the PSN exclusive games I can think of are from small developers being funded by Sony. Square Enix isn’t exactly dependent on anyone else for capital to develop XBLA/PSN scale games. And I only brought up the jRPG sales because it would seem strange to me for them to be making any more exclusivity deals for the 360, timed or otherwise.
There are a bunch of independent devs not funded by sony putting up content such as Tik/Creat, Frozenbyte, PomPom, Pelfast, Tiki, and a couple more (including my studio in the near future [wink]).
I think it came out during down time for a broken 360 or when I was super despondent about turning it on and finding out it broke… again. As good as it looked, I hated the idea of having it be unplayable because my 360 wasn’t working.
That’s still my biggest barrier to buying stuff on XBLA. The fact that sometime in the future, Lord knows when, I’ll have to fix it again and this time I’ll be completely out of warranty and it’ll cost me whatever highway robbery charge they’ve got going right now to do that.
I really don’t have that fear with the PS3, Wii or PC.
Wow, I love Outrun.
Never played any of the previous games. The track design and overall feel is that great 3D Sega arcade thing they used to do. You’re always swooping everywhere, and it’s beautiful.
And I love how it’s one big track that forks a bunch of times, into distinct regions. One minute I’m flying over the Golden Gate Bridge, then I’m in a jungle, then I’m at a space shuttle launch. It’s short but each time you play you can take a different path. It’s a structure I’ve thought about for a long time, and Outrun turns out to be the best argument for it I’ve seen.
It’s kind of sad that the points debacle with Lode Runner has put a blemish on what otherwise is a fantastic game.
OutRun 2 is driving like you’re in the movies. It’s hands down my favourite racing game of all time, and it’s barely even a racing game.
Even if you love the XBLA version I totally recommend tracking down OutRun 2006: Coast 2 Coast on Xbox/PS2/PSP (especially PSP) - it’s the OutRun 2 arcade tracks (as in Online Arcade) plus a whole new course and some awesome mission-type stuff. To have this game in your pocket is a thing of wonder.
Moore
1615
What debacle? Totally worth 1200 points to me.
edit- oh, that, didnt notice.
Still love Outrun. This is the first racing game besides Mario Kart where I actually can drift reliably. I guess I never really “got” it with Ridge Racer and the others. Think I need to give Burnout Paradise another play.
But about drifting! I don’t really get how to STOP drifting. Sometimes it works fine, but a lot of the time I end up doing this wibbly-wobbly fish tale overcompensating back-and-forth thing after a drift. Other times, my car seems to “want” to stop drifting as soon as I get out of a curve … which has started to make me paranoid that the track has “drift flags” built in, to help you continuously drift, or stop drifting, at certain places. Which made me feel kind of shitty.
Can someone clarify this for me?
AHHHH! IT’S TRUE! OUTRUN’S TRACKS AUTOMATICALLY EASE YOU OUT OF A DRIFT ACCORDING TO INVISIBLE FLAGS! LIFE IS BULLSHIT!!
Basically you need to actively drift and then hold off on the way out of the corner (just make sure the camera’s in the right direction and keep accelerating) and you should be okay. It’ll click!
Thanks for the protip, but seriously, try this: When you’re careening around a long turn, you know, drifting, as the turn is ending and your natural inclination is to realign yourself to the road and go straight, TRY TO KEEP DRIFTING! Like, try to maintain your curve such that you would plow into the wall. You will feel some invisible force fighting your input, straightening you out to the road!
Seriously, tell me if I’m crazy!
Yeah this just in: Outrun’s a shitty simulation of driving. Doesn’t stop it from being fun though.
