Gauntlet: Seven Sorrows

"A game who's biggest downfall was the ridiculous amount of hype it revieved."

Gauntlet: 7 sorrows (GSS) is a hack ‘n slash game that lives up to its predecessors. But that's not saying much. The earlier gauntlet games were simple, repetitive and less than advanced as far as video games go. They survived off of their intense and hectic multiplayer games. Not only does this game live up to its name, but it far surpasses the other Gauntlet games in the series. GSS is a good game over all, but is brought down by the ridiculous amount of hype it recieved.

Game play: 7

The game play is fun but repetitive. As far as most hack ‘n slash games go, it is one of the fastest paced games out there. There are many enemies attacking at once and treasure and keys abound. The game mechanics are very simple and they work surprisingly well in different scenarios. The story is definitely not one of the games shining points, it seems to have been thrown together in a matter of minutes. The game is surprisingly easy, and you can easily dispatch 10 enemies with one slash. Some bosses may prove a little tougher but with the sufficient amount of lives you are given, you should have no problem. You will most likely be disappointed at how short the game is (4-6 hours) but it is worth playing through with all for characters, and while playing with friends, the game can be beaten in far shorter periods. Weapon and armor upgrades can be found throughout the levels, and new attack combos and stat points will be available at the end of each mission. It is a little disappointing in that you can max out your character by the time you are half way through the story.

Graphics: 9

The new Gauntlet is certainly not lacking anything in this area. Character models look great and though the enemy models are repetitive, they are nicely detailed. The special effects look fantastic and even when you are battling with 3 other friends against 20 creatures, the frame rate stays pretty steady. The environments are my favorite part. They look excellent and are filled with vibrant doo dads and vivid colors. No complaints here.

Sound: 8

The sound is pretty good in GSS. Hacks and slashes sound like, well, hacks and slashes. The grunting of your avatar while you fight is abundant but it is nothing that will annoy you and the music isn't bad either. Most of the time you wont even notice the music playing behind all the intense actions and other sounds. Magic spells sound cool and though there is a corny voice that constantly announces when you need food, it is useful.

Replay Value: 8

The replay value for the game is moderately high, which is a good thing after finding out how short the game actually is. You will most likely be able to beat the game with all four different characters before getting bored of it, and once your friends join in, it only adds to the fun. With four people, the game can be beaten in only two and a half to three hours, but you will most likely play it over and over again with your friends.

Rent or buy: Both! Fans of old Gauntlet games or people who love good multiplayer hack ‘n slash games will love this one, however, if you are turned off by the shortness and lack of complexity in the game play, you would most likely want to rent this game.

Overall: 8

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 12/19/05