Lode Runner Classic And MOGA Take Gamers Way Back

When it comes to retro gaming, any old title can flash back to the eight-bit console era. But going back 30 years? Now that’s retro!

Tozai Games is taking a true trip back in the video game time machine with “Lode Runner Classic,” a newly remastered version of the platformer that originally released in 1983 for the Apple II computer. All 150 levels of running, climbing and block-blasting return, playable in any order, on Android, iOS and Windows Phone 7 devices.

“When the first Lode Runner came out on the Apple II, the last thing I expected was that the game would be alive and kicking on a platform as advanced as today’s smartphones more than 30 years later,” said Douglas E. Smith, the game’s original creator, in a recent press release. “It’s really gratifying to me that so many people are still interested in the game.”

Android users should take note that the version on Google Play has been specially optimized for use with MOGA. The mobile game controller connects with Android phones and tablets using Bluetooth to offer dual analog sticks, action and shoulder buttons. And while that’s more buttons than a game like “Lode Runner Classic” uses, it’s still a great option to have, and the library of MOGA-compatible games has grown to more than 100 titles.

Of course it wouldn’t be right to do a game like this in the 21st Century without some new features, so Tozai whipped up new Expedition and Time Atttack modes. There are also options to magnify the action or change the game speed, plus Facebook integration so players can compare high scores against worldwide competition.

How about it GameSiders? Do your gaming days go back as far as “Lode Runner” and the Apple II? Let us know in the comment section!