Gem in the rough!
THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST RPG/ADVENTURE/MULTI GAMES EVER RELEASED!
Product Description
Editorial Review
The arcade version of Gauntlet Legends is a cult favorite--a four-way hack-slash-and-burn-everything-in-sight binge through a fantasy world full of monsters. It's almost like Lord of the Rings without the bothersome plot.
A lot of people were probably awfully excited when Midway decided to bring Gauntlet to the PlayStation, and for the most part their game is intact. The world of Gauntlet is colorful, littered with treasure chests that can be unlocked with keys gained from slaying beasts. The four main characters are back--Valkyrie, warrior, wizard, and archer--with the promise of hidden characters as well.
Unfortunately, the PlayStation version of this game lacks a four-player mode, which will certainly disappoint fans of the coin-op, but two-player mode can be fun. The real weakness of Gauntlet Legends is its one-player mode, which becomes old rather quickly, so players should have someone ready to join in. --Robb Guido
Pros:
* Fun two-player mode
Cons:
* No four-player mode, to the disappointment of fans everywhere.
GameSpot Preview
Those of you too lazy to travel to your local arcade will be happy to hear Atari Games' new Gauntlet game is coming home for the PlayStation and Nintendo 64, and it'll be an upgraded version of the coin-op to boot.
If you haven't played it yet, the game is a modern 3D take on its classic '80s arcade series with gameplay much along the same lines as Gauntlet and Gauntlet 2. Many of the original elements have returned, such as lobbers, chests, food, monster generators, and Death, and there are still four basic character classics (warrior, valkyrie, magician, and archer), but now each has a different look and general power depending on what color scheme you choose for it. Red has a fiery barbarian theme, blue has an electrical energy about it and a royal air, green has a forest flavor and an acidic bite, and yellow has a sun-worshipping Egyptian feel.
Each character also has a special move, or spell, which can be used once his powerbar has built up. New power-ups include three- and five-way shots, invulnerability, X-ray vision, and time stop, and can be built upon each other instead of canceling each other out. Characters build up experience and continue levels and use gold to buy strength, items, and the like at end-level shops.
There are four main worlds to the game (mountain, castle, forest, and pyramid), followed up by two final boss levels. Each world is composed of five to six main levels and has one to two secret rooms each. The first of the two boss levels can't be opened until the bosses (dragon, chimera, djinn, and spider queen) from each of the four worlds are destroyed, and the second can't be accessed until 13 hidden runestones have been collected.
New features for the console versions include additional player characters (one male and two female); new sound effects, enemies, worlds, and bosses; a storyline (told through CG sequences on the PlayStation); a 3D map function; and a deathmatch mode where players will beat each other up for points, treasure, and gear. The PlayStation version will support two-player play, while the N64 edition will have the full four-player simultaneous support. --Joe Fielder
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