Gauntlet II
Game by (Mindscape)
Reviewed by (Tuxedo Mask)
(tanooki@flash.net)
(http://nwjb.vintagegaming.com)
Size: (262k)
Save: (None)
Released: (1990)
Works with: (Original Gameboy)
****************************************************************************

Opening Snide Remarks: For this game I couldn't really call them snide
remarks as this game shocked me when I played it.  This game though limited
to two of four allowed players in the arcade shouldn't get hit for that as
it oddly has all the rest, and I do mean ALL.

****************************************************************************

Gameplay Descripion: Have you played Gauntlet II on the original arcade unit
from Atari?  If you have then you know what to expect here.  Basically you
get to play the role of a Warrior, Valkyrie, Wizard, or Elf and go through
a giant seemingly endless labyrinth known as the Gauntlet.  Along your way
you will come across Ghosts, Grunts, Sorcerers, Wizards, the occasional
Dragon, and even more...including Death himself.  In order to survive you
will have to use potions, find keys, pick up many items, and eat all the
food you can as your health will slowly tick away beyond what traps and the
many monsters will beat out of you.

Liked: The game at it's time was pretty much a new concept that even today
rakes in the quarters and has inspired a new game in the arcade and on the
current consoles.

Hated: My only gripe, no battery or save feature for the 100s of levels
involved in the game.

****************************************************************************

Graphics Description: The graphics are much like the arcade though lacking
the many colors that were on screen.  Also like the arcade you can get a
great amount of characters on screen attacking you without any real slowdown
which is quite nice for its time.  Each character, enemy, monster generator,
and other tidbit has its own special look which even differs among the power
levels of the beats.

Liked: The great variety of graphics in the game and allowed on screen.
Hated: Can say I really hated anything, though the Gameboy could never
handle all the beasties on screen the arcade did.  But oh well, its not like
I could keep feeding more quarter so its a fair tradeoff.

****************************************************************************

Sound/Music Description: Now here's one of the gems of this Gameboy game.
This game captured all of what Gauntlet II essentially did in the arcade.
To be more clear, this one has all the voices from the arcade game, even the
not so common praise you get from splattering the rarely appearing Dragons.
Not only are the voices in, they I believe were sampled from the arcade as
they sound the same in quality essentially.  Now onto the music, it sounds
close to the arcade, and is also as sparse as the arcade as well.

Liked: Ooooh the closeness to the original. :P~
Hated: The samples came at a price, the game does slow a bit when a sentence
such as "I have not seen such bravery" is said.

****************************************************************************

Play Control/Game Design: This also is as tight as the arcade as you can
creep around wall, dash between, around or through enemies, and shoot in
between the gaps in walls.  You can fire and run in 8 directions which
allows for alot of freedom in movement which is essential for survival.

Liked: The ease of movement allowed to attack and move.
Hated: Nothing really, it works well.

****************************************************************************

Improve: The only real improvement here would be a Gameboy Color release in
which you have the original color version captured as well as humanly
possible on the Gameboy.  Also a password/save feature, or a way to earn new
credits to add more life into your game would be greatly welcomed.

RIYL: If you liked this, try a game like Smash TV it feels like this too.

****************************************************************************

Final Words: During this era I hadn't seen too many near arcade ports on the
NES or Gameboy for a long time, but this one fit the bill.  If you are a
Gauntlet junky(or fan of games like it such as Smash TV) do find this game
if you can, it's well worth it.

****************************************************************************
Score
Gameplay: 5 of 5 stars
Graphics: 5 of 5 stars
Sound/Music: 4 1/2 of 5 stars
Play Control/Game Design: 5 of 5 stars
Personal Opinion: 4 1/2 of 5 stars
Total: 24


Final Score: 96%

****************************************************************************

Currently Known Codes: (None)