Written: 11.27.06
Acquired: 9.1.06
Status: CIB
Price: $8

*Cue movie trailer voice guy*


ENTER A UNIQUE WORLD...

WHERE LIVES WILL CHANGE AND A NATION WILL CRY... or something


*End movie trailer voice guy*

[Hey, how much does he cost us anyway? -Ed.]

IS IT AN RPG? SIM?


NO!


It's....


LODE RUNNER TWIN (of course)


Lode Runner is like an old trusty friend to some of us. You may not call this friend every week, or even every month, but whenever you do, it's like you guys never left

Thanks to T&E Soft, Super Nintendo players have a version to call their own. And while the mechanics are similar, the look and atmosphere is distinctly different

You can forego the map if you wish for the full monty and a tougher challenge

HEY THAT'S NOT JACK PERIL!

Indeed it's not. Say bye Jack
and hello Justy and Liberty,
two anime-esque chaps.
There is a story mode
(complete with password),
free play and a couple two
Player split-screen modes

THE MORE THINGS CHANGE....

The more they stay the same. Let's see how our protagonist fares in the first level:

Ninja mask!? No, just
the odd gum-blowin'

Your goal is to collect all the candy wrappers. Only then will a ladder magically appear to whisk you to the next level

The baddies quickly attempt to gang up on you, but like your ancestors you too can cave in floors where applicable, and walk safely over their head as seen below

Gone are cannibalistic monks... in its place SD trident-wielding devil lackeys

Ah, our hero gracefully glides his way to safety, leaving the baddies in the dust. EAT MY SHORTS YA FILTHY SWINES!! [Have you your medication yet? -Ed.]

Rope-sliding feels spot-on and oddly becomes quite enjoyable to execute

Almost to the end...

1 more candy to go! Hey... what's that oil-y thing dripping from the ceiling eh?

"What manner of witchcraft is this?!" That drippy thing is a new bad guy forming. Have at him!

You might have rid of that one, but notice his buddies quickly gaining ground. Now the magic sound effect blares off, indicating you've nabbed all the goodies. A ladder-to-the-next-level now awaits... of course... on your way there it's not 100% peaceful

The following bit is easy, but it's these fun little moments that add tremendously to the game's value and appeal

YOU WON'T TAKE
ME ALIVE!

                        Drop and he'll follow accordingly

As soon as you land, make
your way toward the ladder
and slide across the rope

                                                      Home free!

CLOSING THOUGHTS

I love retro games. It's the spirit of the age you know, the zeitgeist -- looking forwards by looking back. Or something like that. Heck, I just might be an old codger. I remember when games were rationed, you know

If you can overlook (figuratively speaking) the annoying music, what you have here is a nice variation of a classic theme