Championship Loderunner
Platform: Commodore 64
Gametype: Undefined
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A follow-up to the original Lode Runner, with identical gameplay. This package contained 50 of the most challenging levels ever designed, and was intended for expert players only. It did not include the level editor, you had to play through the levels in order, but a save-game option was provided (although you lost one life every time you restored).

Trivia

Several computer magazine staff members (such as Computer Gaming World's Roe R. Adams) contributed level designs.

Successful completion of Championship Lode Runner provided the player with a victory code, which could be written on a special card included with the game (photocopies were not accepted) and mail it in for a free certificate. I still have mine, framed and everything.

A hint book was available, sold separately, but it didn't include a solution for the final level.

You weren't allowed to play the levels in Championship Lode Runner out of order. But if you had the original Lode Runner, you could boot it up and swap in the Championship Lode Runner disk to use the free-life and level-skip features. (However, you didn't get the victory code at the end when you did it this way.)

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Description from the packaging:

The world's 50 most challenging levels.
Special screen titles for each completed level.
Chance to earn a special Lode Runner Champion certificate.

"So you thought you could retire to a peaceful life in the country after your last lode-running adventure, eh? Well, forget it, Ace. You just unretired. We need you. Your planet needs you. And we know you can't resist a good challenge.

"You know all that stolen gold you recovered from the Bungeling Empire? Bad news. They've stolen it back and stashed it away in 50 of the most elaborate, complex, heavily defended Treasury Chambers you'll ever encounter. The Empire has enormous respect for your lode-running abilities, and they've taken great pains to make sure you don't embarrass them again.

"It's your job to find every last ingot of stolen gold, to prevent the Empire from financing their cruel scheme for galactic conquest. Only a Galactic Commando of your incredible skill and experience could even dare attempt such a mission.

"Merciless Bungeling guards will stalk you, surround you, relentlessly hunt you down through fiendishly tricky labyrinths. Blind alleys and dead ends confront you at every turn. Bottomless pits wait to swallow you up. It's not a pretty sight.

"Piece of cake, you say?

"Well, perhaps we should tell you: The Bungeling engineer who designed these chilling chambers went in for a little test run... and never came out.

"We don't really expect you to succeed, either. But we know you're going to try.

"Isn't that right, Ace?"

The original Lode Runner is one of the most popular programs of all time, winner of Most Popular Program of 1983 for the Apple Computer from Softalk; 1983 Apple Game of the Year from Video Game Update; 1983 Best Overall Computer Software- Arcade-Style Entertainment from Billboard; and 1984 Arcade Awards Computer Game of the Year from Electronic Games. Now play coin operated Lode Runner by Irem Corp., in your favorite arcade.
