Gauntlet: Dark Legacy
Gauntlet: Dark Legacy adapts the arcade/console game of the same name to
the Game Boy Advance. It offers simpler gameplay, harkening back to early
arcade entries in the Gauntlet series, with unique levels based on a selection
of the other versions’ themes.
Players can select from four characters in their quest to defeat the evil
sorcerer Garm: archer, wizard, warrior and valkyrie, all with a unique weapon
and different ratings in strength, speed, armor and magic. Starting from a hub
world, players must fight their way through five different realms: Mountain
Kingdom, Castle Stronghold, Desert Lands, Ice Domain and Dream World. Each
consists of five levels, with a boss waiting in the final one. Only after all
realms have been conquered will the path to the final battle against Garm and
the demon Skorne open up.
The levels are displayed in isometric perspective and are huge and
labyrinthine. Gameplay follows the classic Gauntlet template: many monsters
have to be destroyed alongside the generators that spawn them while the player
looks for the exit. Keys must be found to open doors and gates, food
replenishes health and potions give an extra powerful magic attack. Piles of
coins lie around and can be picked up, but there is no way to spend the gold
as in other versions. Some timed powerups can also be found, including triple
and five-way shots, rapid fire, speed boost and a reflective shield. Killing
monsters gives experience, with attributes and health increasing automatically
on level-up. The game can be saved to cartridge memory in the hub world.
Gauntlet: Dark Legacy
