Original Story: At this week's Consumer Electronics Show, developer Tozai Games pulled back the curtain on its Xbox Live Arcade reimagining of Douglas E. Smith's classic pit-digger Lode Runner.

Tozai, which is said to consist of several of the original Lode Runner designers, told Joystiq that the game's polygonal 2D appearance is still at an extremely early stage, though a 2008 release is expected.

Thus far, the game is known to include the series' traditional puzzle-action gameplay, several new multiplayer modes for two to four players, and a history of the Lode Runner franchise. It is currently unknown if it will feature a custom level editor, as past editions of the game have.

To learn more about the Lode Runner and its magical grave-producing wand, check out my review of the NES Virtual Console edition.