Released in 1985 by Hudson Soft for the NES, Championship Lode Runner is a notoriously challenging puzzle-platformer designed for players who have already mastered the original game. Instead of gradually introducing mechanics, it throws you straight into fifty grueling levels filled with complex gold-collecting puzzles and relentless guards.
How to Play
Your objective is to collect every pile of gold in a stage and reach the exit ladder at the top of the screen. You cannot jump; instead, use the Arrow Keys to run and climb, and the Z and X keys to dig holes to the left and right. Trapping guards in holes allows you to safely walk over them, and if an enemy falls into a hole while carrying gold, they will drop it for you to collect.
Tips
- Guards will instantly respawn at the top of the screen if a hole closes while they are trapped inside.
- You can dig through multiple layers of bricks by staggering your holes, allowing you to reach otherwise inaccessible areas or create complex traps.
- Pay attention to the timing of your digging. Bricks take a few seconds to regenerate, and if you are caught inside when they do, it is an instant death.
Leave a Comment / Review: