Gauntlet Legends Review

Cool Magic
Open Areas Rather Than Just Dungeons
Lots to Explore and Find

Dark Levels
Repetitive Gameplay
1 Player Game Tough

Think of this game like a violent treasure hunt. You pick one of four characters (Wizard, Warrior, Valkrie or Archer) and set out against impossible odds, all the while collecting keys, potions, meat...you name it. And when I say impossible odds, I mean it. Enemies are everywhere and they just keep on generating, that is until you destroy the generator that creates them. As a one-player game, you'll be hard pressed to overcome the legions of creatures that you face. As a four-player game, it becomes incredibly easy. However the problem arises that inevitably a couple of your party will be impetuous fools with no patience and will have nothing to do with searching out all of the hidden stuff. That means if you want to find everything, you'll probably have to play the one player game or at least pick up some Ritalin for your rambunctious teammates. And there are a lot of things to discover in GL: hidden levels, secret characters and perhaps even a visit by chubby effeminate fitness guru, Richard Simmons. Or maybe not...

Graphically Gauntlet Legends isn't half-bad. The ¾ overhead camera view works well most of the time, as long as you all agree on where you are going to go. Thanks to the extra muscle of the 4 Meg expansion pak, there isn't very much slowdown even with a ton of enemies on the screen at once. That's why the groups of enemies all look the same; it's a heckuva lot easier on the processor. The different themed levels work well and at least bring the 4 heroes out of a stinky old dungeon for most of the game. The color scheme is a little too brown and dark for my liking though. In later levels, enemies blend into the dark surroundings making recognition poor. However the game features dynamic lighting effects which make the area light up when you blast something. This tends to help out a bit. The magic effects are well done giving the game some much needed personality.

The music in Gauntlet Legends is theatrical enough, but tends to become noise after a few hours. The voices are done well, although the guy who tells you everything is a bit over the top. The sound effects of the various weapons and magic are good, especially the big kick-butt magic spells. They've got some meat to their bones.

Complaint Dept. Aside from the repetitive gameplay, GL just doesn't have the same spark that the original Gauntlet had years ago. Maybe it's because the game was so innovative back in the mid 80's... What worked well back then may not cut it now. Do you see anybody wearing red pants, yellow t-shirts and thin black ties today? I rest my case. As a multiplayer game, GL can only succeed on the cooperation of the four members playing the game. Most multiplayer games feature you against your friends and that's easy to get into. GL forces teamwork and I don't know if that is in the 90's child's vocabulary.

The fantasy shtick tends to work well in RPG's, but it doesn't tend to hold up very well in these sorts of games anymore. Golden Axe was probably the pinnacle of the mindless fantasy button mashers. Kids these days would rather play a wrestling or fighting game if they are going to sit there and pound buttons for a weekend. Why? Because they can identify with the characters. Aside from Xena and Herc, fantasy wizards and warriors type stuff is D-E-A-D. If this game featured The Rock and Mankind getting medieval on someone, this game would be flying off of the shelves. The game itself isn't bad, but it will really test your gaming patience and probably start a fist fight between you and players 2-4. "Hey I want to go back and look in that chest." "Forget it, we're going on ahead. I've got to get home sometime today y'know." Try it out but you'll probably agree that multiplayer gaming has grown up for the better.