Gauntlet Legends

"The only other great 64 hit besides this game was when I threw the 64 out the window when I found out GL came out on Playstation!"

On what was, in my opinion, a pretty crappy system compared to the Playstation, this is it's salvation. And even that was ruined when Gauntlet Legends came out on Playstation! But enough that horrible, good-game-less system, we're here to talk about the greatest N64 game ever! Gauntlet Legends! What's funner than having an incredible amount of baddies come out, while you are busy trying to do away with the first line of enemies that flew at you! Huh! Zelda 64! I think not!

Alright, first let's talk about it's graphics. They can be a little blurry, but all in all they are pretty nice. Considering the fact that despite every level is virtually a dungeon, yet still it doesn't have quite the dismal and depressing look as any other games dungeons, they are pretty good. The detail isn't high quality, but the camera angle is high above so that is pretty much impossible.

The sound's pretty good, but the music is virtually nonexistant, thanks to loud sound effects. The sound effects get the job done, but they too are a little low key and quiet. Considering the fact that the game is non-stop action, they really is not a lot of screams and sword clings.

Gameplay is really where this game shines. You wander around your level, looking for door-opening switches, and more enemies to distinguish. Your enemies come out of doors, or holes in the ground, and will continue to pour out in masses until the hole or door is destroyed. Like I said, the camera is far overhead, at an angle. To attack close up all you have to do is press the joystick towards the enemy when you are close. To attack from long distance press A to use a long distance attack. There are also some high-powered attacks that charge in between uses, and depending on how long you charge is what attack your character uses. And, of course, what adventure game is complete without a plethora of weapons and offensive potions to be picked up and used at your disposal!

The plot in this game is cliched to death, but there is hardly any focus on it at all. It is about a meddling sorcerer who unleases the demon Scorne. And you have the pick of 4 generic characters along with a couple of secret ones to try and put him away for good. In order to put him back, you must go through the levels and find the 13 runes. There are 4 sections, with 6 levels in each. The first 4 are just normal levels. The 5th level is a semi-optional level in which you find a weapon to easily defeat the boss(that resides in the 6th level) in another section. For example, the 5th fire level gets you the Scimitar of Rasha, which can be used to chop off one of the heads of the Castle section's Chimera. Any way, each boss gets you a mirror piece, and once you have all four, the ending section awaits!

Since this game's strength is in it's revolutionary gameplay rather than plot, it's replayibility is high. Also, this is a very fun game to play with friends. It doesn't have the high powered multiplayer strength of say, Mario Party, but if you have a couple of friends that are also interested in adventure games this game has one of the funnest multiplayers I've ever played. In fact, even if you have a far save, your friend can start a new character and be at the same point as you. There's no guarantees he'll survive for long since he'll start at Level 1, but what'd you expect?

On the quickly dying 64, you can probably get this game for cheap. Or buy for the Playstation, although I guarantee it'll be harder to find. Anyway, do all you can to get a copy of this game. Or just go down to you're local arcade and play this game if you are unsure or are broke all the time like me. (Please,PLEASE don't tell me to go get a job, or there's no saying what I might do). Anyway, get this game while you can, it'll hold you off until you finally get that illustrious Xbox, Gamecube, or PS2. Or just be like me, and bother it from a friend who never plays it, then just say you lost it, and keep it forever. Your friend probably has an Xbox, the rich bastard. He needs less games.

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 12/28/01, Updated 12/28/01