Gauntlet
Reviewed by The Aardvark
This game has a special place in my heart...it was the first NES cartridge
I owned, and I am still addicted to it today!! Gauntlet is based on the
arcade/PC classic, and unless you've been living under a rock I'm sure you
know what it's like. The NES version has a few twists, including a
save/password system, a "quest" that you have to solve, and the ability
to up your powers with special potions. This version can be played by one
or two players, but not four like Gauntlet II.
The quest of the game is simple; some evil guy named Morak has taken
over your land, and your job is to find his vault and take the magic orb that
gives him his powers. To do this, you must find a secret 8 letter "code", each
piece of it hidden in special rooms. If you manage to get to his vault (and
that's a big if..this game is tough), you will have to fight....The Guardian, a
horrible monster!! There are over 100 rooms for you to find your way through
to save your land from the hideous, nasty Morak-dude.
Graphics 7 Out of 10
The graphics were descent, they could have been a little more detailed, and
it would have been nice if your character was larger so he was easier to
see. I'd say the graphics are average for NES.
Music and Sound 8 out of 10
Sound effects were so-so, but the music was pretty good. There was
something about the music - and there was a bunch of different tunes - that
was kind of maddening, it sounded right for someone lost in a huge maze.
I really liked the harpsichord effects, they sounded real and like music
from some castle-place a long time ago.
Game Challenge 10 out of 10
This game was a constant struggle to fight off monsters, keep your life
points up, find potions and keys, and find the right path through to all of
the clues. It was hard to find the clue rooms because many rooms had more
than one exit, and not all lead to the right path to a clue. Just finding an
exit was sometimes hard because they were often hidden in a wall, or
sometimes you had to trigger a series of trap floors to find them. It's a
good idea to write down your password EVERY time you get through a
treasure room successfully, if you get on the wrong path and miss a clue
room, you can't turn back.
Game Play-Fun 9 out of 10
I really love this game, it's neat being able to choose different characters,
and it's fun to play alone or with someone else. My favorite is the wizard
because he's got powerful magic and shots, but everyone is different.
Frustration
1) The ending is kind of.....tacky.
2) It's hard to find your way to the clue rooms...there should be some kind
of hint in the game about which exits to take.
3) The Warrior stink in this game, he is so slow he is pathetic and I never
play him.
Replayability 8 out of 10
You can play this game through 4 times at least, one for warrior, Valkyrie,
elf and wizard. I found that I still enjoy playing it even though I know where
things are....this game really is more of like an arcade game than anything else,
so it's fun to play for the sake of playing!!
Game Value 10 out of 10
I got this game as a present, along with an NES console, when I was 9 or
10, I figure my parents must have payed $35-$40 for it. Nowadays you could
probably get it pretty cheap, or play a emu/rom, but I would buy it again.
Overall 8.8 out of 10
A lot of people don't seem to like Gauntlet as much as Gauntlet 2, but I know
I love it!!