Developer: M2 Publisher: Tengen Release: 1993 Genre: Action
My adoration for the original Gauntlet is something to be studied. I loved the first title in the arcade and NES despite the fact I was absolutely terrible at the game. But that is due to its design to suck quarters rather than a lack of skill. And while the NES port was decent for what it was it was less than desirable. Yet despite that I spent an ungodly amount of hours on that game, both solo and with a friend. Gauntlet IV is a robust version of the arcade classic that goes above and beyond to deliver what is probably the definitive version of the game in my opinion.
Gauntlet IV is both a port of the arcade game and a sequel. If you are wondering where is the third game you are not alone. There are actually two versions of Gauntlet III, one for the Atari Lynx called Gauntlet III: the Third Encounter and Gauntlet: the Final Quest for the European PC market. Both titles are obscure and could do for a re-release but I digress. Gauntlet IV not only contains a faithful adaptation of the arcade original but a variety of modes that add unheard of value, especially Quest Mode which could have been an entirely separate game in itself.
There are four modes in Gauntlet IV allowing you to play how you like. Arcade mode is a port of the original in all its glory. You collect treasure and items as you journey through ever more complex mazes in search of the exit. Previous versions of this game have all been compromised to an extent. They either reduce enemy count to maintain performance or alter level layouts. That is not the case here as it is almost perfect. One bonus of Gauntlet IV is support for both 4-player adaptors for the Genesis for the full arcade experience. I have never experienced the game with four players so cannot comment but it is awesome the option is there.
Battle Mode and Record Mode are both geared toward competitive multiplayer. Record Mode is an alternate version of Arcade based on getting high scores with a few exceptions. You can save progress with passwords, have 99 credits, and you technically have unlimited health. But you lose 500 health it costs a credit. The scoring system is more advanced and keeps track of various parameters with the goal being to see how far you can make it before losing all credits. It is essentially a score attack like the arcade classics of old.
Battle Mode is exactly as the name sounds, a deathmatch with up to four players. You can use your quest mode character or even equalize stats between players for a fair match if you like. But the goal remains the same: either kill every player or force them in to an exit. My time with these modes was minimal growing up. They are nice bonuses but personally Gauntlet is all about teaming up with friends to deal with chaos, not competition. Quest Mode does so with aplomb.
The true meat of Gauntlet IV is the all new Quest Mode. This RPG adventure has a story and purpose behind your progression. In the game world player’s venture out to solve the mystery surrounding an ancient castle. But to enter they must break the four elemental seals protecting the castle with a barrier. The general premise remains the same: you still travel through multi-floor dungeons collecting gold and items. But now you earn experience and level your stats as you see fit as well as buy equipment. You can tackle the four primary dungeons in any order with some being harder than others. You can save progress with passwords which is critical as this is a lengthy beast to tackle.
Instead of random collections of levels with nothing in common each of the four towers has 10 bespoke floors. The floors are interconnected through various exits and progression will force you to shuffle back and forth between multiple floors, utilizing teleporters and activating trap tiles to open parts of the map. It breaks the conventions of the series in that you want to move forward not backward but it is mandatory. The level design is strong as each tower presents unique challenges. It is amazing how much adding a few simple RPG mechanics transforms the game. Whereas before you dealt with enemies as a matter of course now you do so to become stronger. The impact of raising stats is always tangible and makes the inevitable repeat forays in to each tower tolerable. This is still Gauntlet after all which means it is not easy.
Despite the amenities added to help progression Gauntlet IV will still test your skills. As much as you would like to clear each tower in a single trip it is near impossible. You need the gold to buy gear and it comes slowly with the best equipment being exorbitantly expensive. Enemies hit hard and it is soul crushing to warp out and start over. At least the layouts never change and you can clear out floors, leaving them devoid of enemies on repeat trips. It makes it all the more satisfying when you finally succeed and beat the end boss of each tower and get one step closer to your goal. I credit Gauntlet IV as the reason I took to the following Gauntlet Legends games so much. So much of what they do began here and was expanded which why those titles are so great.
In Closing
What an awesome game. With its variety of modes and nuanced gameplay Gauntlet IV has something for everyone. The arcade mode is great, the quest mode is fantastic; both challenging and engaging and the soundtrack is exceptional. And if multiplayer is your thing the game has it in spades. It is an absolute crime this game has not been re-released. This is an essential part of any Sega Genesis library in my opinion.
