Lode Runner's Rescue
Lode Runner's Rescue is a 1985 action game developed by Joshua Scholar for the Commodore 64 and Atari 8-bit family as a follow-up to Doug Smiths's "Lode Runner". "Lode Runner" was published by Broderbund, but the sequel was published under the Synapse Software name, a company acquired by Broderbund in 1984. "Lode Runner's Rescue" uses isometric projection to give a 3D feel. Reception. "Lode Runner's Rescue" was positively received by press, including "Ahoy!", "ANALOG Computing", "Atari Explorer", and "Commodore Magazine" which described it a surprise hit. The characters however appear  to be based upon John Tenniel's illustrations from Alice's Adventures in Wonderland which gave rise to several criticisms regarding the title. For example, Greg Williams of "Computer Gaming World" praised the Atari version's graphics but asked "How likely is it that a game with girls, mice, cats, and magic mushrooms should be called "Lode Runner's Rescue"? It's a nice game but, frankly, if that game began its life with the Lode Runner name attached to it, I'm the Mad Hatter". It speculated that the publisher put the series name on an unrelated and independently  developed game. Roy Wagner reviewed the Commodore 64 version for "Computer Gaming World", and stated that "this game also has the much favored option to create your own screens with an icon screen editor. An excellent game in all respects".