Goldrunner

Goldrunner is a vertically scrolling shooter where it is possible to fly back and forth freely as in Defender. The player steers a golden spaceship equipped with two laser cannons, flying over huge ring worlds whose structures must be destroyed. The ship has a speed booster to accelerate.

Rich Teverbaugh of Antic in November 1988 praised Goldrunner II's "flawless execution" and "twist" unusual gameplay. While criticizing the skimpy documentation, he concluded that it "is a worthwhile addition to the library of any gamer who yearns for something different".

The immediate follow-on, Goldrunner II, offered a similar aesthetic to the original title. A third entry in the series was planned, entitled Goldrunner 3D. This was to mark a departure from the traditional 2D scrolling shooter format with a radical new look and gameplay. Trailed as early as 1989, the project suffered significant delays however, finally seeing release under Ocean as Epic in 1992.