Introduction

The Gauntlet series hasn’t changed much in the many years it has been around, first appearing on the Atari in 1985. The game then and the game now both supported 4 simultaneous players, each being able to select the race of their choice and travel together around the map killing off any enemies that stand in your path. The newest in the series, Seven Sorrows, remains the same as the past, just with better graphics and more in depth gameplay.

Gameplay

Gauntlet Seven Sorrows is one of those games that you invite all your friends over to play, beat the game and move onto something bigger and better. There isn’t a heck of a lot offered. You begin the game selecting one of 4 characters types each with no real variation in skills or attributes, your options being Human, Elf, Dwarf and Valkyrie. You are then taken to a weak opening sequence where a beautiful story should be awaiting, WRONG. There can’t be much said for the story since there really isn’t one, but even though there isn’t a story, the game still isn’t half bad.

Midway offers you the ability to upgrade your character to your own desires buying combinations with earned in game treasure. Keep in mind the more friends or should I say thieves you play with the harder it is to upgrade as your so called “team� beats you to the treasure chests and take all the glory. There are hidden upgrades every so often spread throughout the levels making your characters either upgrades in armor or weapon, drastically changing the appearance of your character(s). Beware of “Death� as he can appear when you least expect it and give you a hard time while you try to remove him. Special moves can be deployed with the D-Pad, although they must be purchased, they are well worth the money.

They only other problem I found with Gauntlet Seven Sorrows is not being able to leave your team and wander about, it is the 20th century, they could have at least let the screen split apart if you walked to far away rather than just running into an invisible barrier like an idiot.

Graphics

Considering the era this game was created I was expecting some well needed graphic enhancements and I must say I was sadly disappointed. All the characters look as they did back on the N64. They are rendered a lot more human like then they used to be, but you can’t even zoom in to see the detail when an upgrade is found. They also could have put even the slightest bit of effort into the cinematics. The cinematics make you want to hurt something, each being merely 2D images moving about the screen while a story is being told in the background. At best you can skip by them. Special effects when say something is destroyed or an event is activated leaves you wondering what it is you even set off to begin with.

Sound

Gauntlet has a fairly decent soundtrack, although the sound effect area was lacking. Each character only has a few sayings and if you plan on playing the entire game in one sitting, I can assure you, you will be annoyed.

Overall

Gauntlet is a good game for a night with the gang. There isn’t much a replay value as there aren’t any unlockable items that make the game any greater the second time around. I do not recommend a purchase of this game, unfortunately, but you can always rent the game, beat it and get rid of it before the room taken up in your precious game case becomes depleted.