Ever since Warner Bros. acquired the entire Midway library a few years ago, it’s only been doing bits and pieces with it. Granted, it’s been doing well with those bits and pieces, including a slew of Mortal Kombatgames and movies, a memorable Midway Arcade Origins game collection, and a few other small releases here and there. But one game that’s worth your time? Gauntlet.
That’s right, Gauntlet belongs to the Midway library, and for years, it was heralded as one of the best multiplayer romps out there. Whether fans were enjoying the original arcade games or the Gauntlet Legends and Dark Legacy 3D adventures that came out years later, there was something to be said about its four-player sessions. They still can’t be beaten.
That said, there is a reboot of sorts that came out in 2015 for PlayStation 4/5 and Steam. It took the game back to basics, while at the same time introducing multiplayer features that grounded it in its roots. Yep, thanks to Arrowhead Software, Gauntlet: Slayer Edition was something special. What’s more, it deserves a revisit.
Five Classes To Choose From, Each With Something Cool
Like the original game, there are four initial classes available in Gauntlet. These include the Warrior, the Valkyrie, the Elf, and the Wizard. Each one has great tactical gameplay to their advantage.
The Warrior, for example, can mow through enemies with brute strength. The Wizard can cast devastating spells. The Elf can fire off arrows quicker than Legolas ever could. As for the Valkyrie, she’s precise with her strikes and godly with her specials. There’s also a Necromancer character available as DLC, using the power of the dead to her advantage.
Whichever character player select, it’s great, because they all have positives and negatives. What some lack in long-range attacks, they make up for in brute strength and vice versa. You can also unleash charged special attacks, like bombs and strikes, that leave dozens laid out. They’re also useful in boss battles, though you’ll need to think smart in some cases.
The best part? The multiplayer, of course. Gauntlet: Slayer Edition benefits from up to four players in a session. Not just locally, either. You can still connect with online matches (when they’re available) and take part in a high-difficulty romp for loot and glory. There’s nothing like it – it’s just like the arcade games of old.
It Looks Great and Is Packed With Extras
Along with strong gameplay that carries the spirit of the original games, Gauntlet also has great visuals. They’re not next-gen like, say, Diablo III, mind you. However, Arrowhead did a great job capturing the medieval atmosphere of the classic game world. One minute you’re in a castle taking down an army of mummies. The next, you’re foraging into dark caves to teach monstrous spiders a painful lesson. It looks good for a seven-year-old game and leaves space for four players to run around.
Plus the audio is good as well. There are lots of fun character quips, along with those lovely announcer notes. For instance, if you shoot food, you’ll get some guilt trips from it. The sound effects are good as well, and the music definitely channels classic Gauntlet.
Finally, there’s a lot to do in this game. Along with a story mode, you can hook up for quick multiplayer match-ups, seeing how far you can get. Not to mention the awesome Endless mode, which pushes you to go the limit – if you can. Just make sure to watch out for Death – you can’t stop him, not even with magic. Oy.
Gauntlet Will Slay You For This Price
The best thing about Gauntlet: Slayer Edition? It was cheap. It’s available for just $4.99 for the base game, and $4.99 for the Necromancer add-on if you feel tempted. That’s a splendid price considering the value you’re getting here. All you’re really missing are the classic games. Hopefully, we’ll see those down the road.
For now, we highly recommend taking this journey again. Even for a reboot that years old, Slayer Editionfeels surprisingly fresh. Plus, if it sells enough, who knows. We might just see a return of the Gauntlet Legends games yet…
Want more retro goodness? Find out why we love Batman on the NES so much!
