DESCRIPTION

"Wizard is about to die."

Wait just a minute — we all know that good wizards never die, they just teleport to another dimension! Such is the case with Gauntlet Legends, the 1998 Arcade update to the original 1985 coin-op game that featured four-player simultaneous action set within a fantasy setting. The four character classes (warrior, wizard, valkyrie and archer) have returned in full 3D, but this time they have a few friends! Yet before you can use the new characters, you'll have to first find them during the course of play.

For those unfamiliar with the original Gauntlet and its various home versions, the action involved fighting enemies such as ghosts, demons and sorcerers spawned from square structures called monster generators. An overhead perspective allowed players the freedom to explore the maze-like levels while still being able to see everything around them.

The object of each stage was simply to destroy the monsters in your path as you searched for the exit leading to the next level. Gauntlet Legends takes this simple formula and adds a new story, distinct worlds and even boss characters to fight. Of course, there are still treasure and potions waiting to be found as well as various traps that could spell disaster for even the heartiest of warriors.

In order to help you survive the later levels (Gauntlet Legends consists of over 30 stages), characters can earn experience points that will eventually translate into added strength, speed, armor and health. The story behind the game involves a jealous brother (Garm) of a noble wizard (Sumner) who decided to gather 13 Rune Stones in order to raise a demon.

Once the stones were placed on the floor of Sumner's tower, a hideous monster named Skorn was awakened and promptly consumed its new "master." As one of four intrepid adventurers, your goal is to travel through the worlds making up the Gauntlet Legends universe to defeat the evil demon Skorne and his various followers (a rather unsavory lot of Grunts, Ankle Biters, Suiciders, Bomb Throwers and Death).

To help you fight the good fight, you'll be able to find food, special weapons and power icons that can all be stored in your inventory and used whenever your character needs them. Some of the weapons include a three-way shot, fire breath and super shot, while the power-ups include super speed, invisibility and Anti-Death Power (which allows you to steal health from the normally invulnerable Death).

Also featured within the game are switches, scrolls and Legend Weapons. Switches are simply hidden panels that can open walls or secret rooms, while scrolls can offer your character hints, warnings or a chapter of the story. The Legend Weapons are so named because they will help you defeat the four boss characters on your way to Skorne's lair.

Can you and your friends figure out a way to open up the five Secret Worlds? If so, you'll be challenged to collect a certain number of tokens before time expires. Grab all of them on the level and you'll be able to unlock a secret character! ~ Scott Alan Marriott, All Game Guide