EPT![[image loading]](http://www.geeky-gadgets.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Gauntlet-2014.jpg)
Chances are if you were about in the late nineties, had a friend with an N64, or had a movie theater near you with a decent arcade in the lobby you played Gauntlet Legends. A quarter (or regional equivalent) devouring cab game where an impressive voice was constantly barking about needing more food, and how the Wizard was about to die. I own(ed), I am actually not sure if my N64 copy is laying about my parents' place these days, a copy and while entertaining Gauntlet Legends was not a game you kept in your N64 for long. A sign of the era, putting in the Gauntlet cartridge was usually followed up with, "Fuck this, lets play a wrestling game instead," or, "hey, there are five better games in a stack just over there."
![[image loading]](http://static.giantbomb.com/uploads/original/12/124274/1852771-579px_gauntlet06dl_select_archer_1normal.png)
Nothing cut and pasted here, and look at all that useless information in the character boxes, it was a different time.
To best describe it for those who've not played this version I'd adapt a line from Mallrats:
It's this dungeon game rip-off thing. It's supposed to be for kids.
Trying to capture the 90s youth market with a staple of 80s video games.
Trying to capture the 90s youth market with a staple of 80s video games.
Gauntlet Legends and Gauntlet (2014) are both re-imaginings of the 1985 title Gauntlet, and the essential format has not changed. Four heroes, a Mage, an Archer, a Valkyrie and a Warrior take on hordes of monsters in an effort to get to the end of the Gauntlet for some mythical prize/relic. Each class has different abilities which kick some serious monster ass.
![[image loading]](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/2/22/Gauntlet_screenshot.png)
Rip roarin' 80s fun
- Wizards have typical spells: chain lightning, a massive AOE spell or two involving fire, and in an odd, linear beam that seemed pretty useless.
Valkyries get a shield, have a charge, and can throw said shield Captain America style for AOE. They wield a spear
Archer has a sniper shot on right mouse button, normal arrows on left, and a bomb for AOE which you can place on an Arrow after you get past the first level.
Warrior has an ax, and does and does a spin attack for AOE. If you are thinking of Diablo II style Barbarian you are in the right wheel house.
![[image loading]](http://www.fullcleared.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/new-gauntlet-trailer-reveals-gameplay.jpg)
Explosions, things going boom, and towers spawning monsters
Truth be told, I spent most of release night playing as the Elf/Archer/Questor, his actual name I shit you not. Let's touch on that quick, what the hell kind of a name is Questor? All characters technically have names, and they aren't inspired; Merlin, Thor, Thyra, the Valkyrie gets the most original attempt of the lot, but Questor is right out. I guess they couldn't think of a famous Elf name that didn't have ludicrous licensing fees. I am looking at you Lord of the Rings trilogy.
What can I say I am a sucker for ranged DPS, but I played mainly the elf, my other friend played mainly as the Valkyrie and it was pretty much what you expect. No one was trying to reinvent the wheel with this game, that being said certain things are pretty broken from what I can tell, The Valkyrie's shield has no time limit on how long it can be held up, and is uninterruptable in most of the cases we came across in the first five or six levels. What does this mean? Ranged DPS+Valkerie+Corner/Doorway=most rooms are easily cleared.
Warriors and I never got along, so suffice it to say you hit like a Mack truck and have aggro out the ass. The company made an interesting choice with the Wizard, it is the only character with multiple button combinations to execute spells; I suppose it makes some amount of magical sense. On a keyboard and mouse, though executing combinations like Right Click, then shift, then Left Click to cast chain lightening is a bit much. It is just out of line with how simple the other classes are comparatively speaking. It may be better with a game pad, but I just bought the game, I didn't want to go looking for my Logitech business. I wanted to play. So most of the time with the Wizard was spent asking why the fuck things weren't casting, or cursing that I did the wrong spell. May be worth it on the controller, he has some pretty awesome AOE/Crowd Control.
![[image loading]](http://static.giantbomb.com/uploads/square_small/4/49405/1096260-bluewizard.jpg)
I really just love pixel art, this shit looks awesome.
The game play is par for the course, they do an excellent job spacing out loot and food for players, but also allow you the opportunity to mess with your friends denying them health and gold and allowing you to pick up a portion of their cash when they invariably die and wait to respawn.
The main critique I have at this point and time is that levels can feel a bit samey. This is a complaint I've heard as I perused through the negative reviews on Steam, and elsewhere, but I can tell you why even this critique is pretty much bullshit. Gauntlet is not a game you buy to play alone and grind out level with pugs, you buy it to sit on a Skype call and shoot the bull with your friends for a few hours.
When that is the case, you don't want something that will stop you talking, or require a terribly large amount of mental faculties, you want a game that requires just enough attention that you can have fun and a conversation. There are some issues with balance of course, but this is where Gauntlet succeeds admirably. It is a more social experience, much like its predecessors; four friends, sat around an arcade cabinet or NES laughing and pushing one another to make the other fuck up and die in the game.
You're not going to have your mind blown by mechanics or novelty, but with the right group of friends you will have a shit ton of fun. You may even break my world record. PM if you want to add my steam and want to do a bit of Gauntletting.
As always thanks for the read TL.
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/3mKvXgh.png)
I know you're jealous. I should have tagged this as a brag blog.
