Gaming Target - Xbox: Gauntlet: Dark Legacy

Written by Nick Doukas on June 03, 2002

Full Review: It's kind of like Mac & Cheese. You know it's really not that great, but you'll keep coming back for moreЕ

Back in the 16-Bit days, one of the first games I bought for my shiny, new Sega Genesis console was Golden Axe. Having been a big Dungeons And Dragons fan, the brutal hack and slash gameplay of GA was intoxicating. Gauntlet: Dark Legacy, published and developed by Midway, reminds me of the cartridge days, where a simple, repetitive style of play such as this was considered state of the art. With the advent of deep, 3D action adventure titles, where realism in graphics, sound and play mechanics are expected as the norm, a game like Gauntlet falls short. However, if you're a fan of the series (it's been kicking around in various incarnations since 1985) or just looking to take a trip down virtual memory lane, Gauntlet: Dark Legacy just may have a few tricks up it's sleeve to entice you.

The game takes place in a land of eight magical realms, ruled by a great and powerful wizard named Sumner. The wizard's seat of power was a mighty tower, with many portals (magical doorways that allowed Sumner to travel easily throughout the land). Unfortunately, Sumner's younger brother Garm, jealous of his sibling's superior power, embarked upon a quest to gather 13 legendary Rune stones that would increase his abilities. Able to find all but one, he foolishly attempted his magic without the 13th stone. As you may have guessed, this was a royal screw up, and as a result, the demon Skorne, ruler of the underworld, entered into the land of the eight realms. Skorne then scattered the 12 Rune stones to the far corners of each realm, and sent his undead armies through the eight portals to wreak havoc. Upon Sumner's realization of what had happened, he summoned forth the mightiest heroes from each of the eight realms. This is where you come inЕ

Upon boot up, the player is given the choice to play as one of eight characters, including a Warrior, Wizard, Archer, Dwarf and Sorceress (the game contains 50 playable characters, but you'll have to unlock most of them). Each character has inherent strengths and weaknesses. For example: the Warrior has a powerful Melee and ranged Attack, but his magic is relatively weak. Conversely, the Sorceress isn't as powerful in combat, but her magic skills will toast enemies in spectacular fashion!! Although the game gives you the option of 3 different controller configurations, the default setting maps character movement to the left analog stick. You can charge into battle using the left trigger, and strafe with the right. The X button executes a slow attack (deliberate and very powerful) while the A button launches a quick attack (combo strings are also available). If you are at a distance from your enemies, your main armament becomes a ranged weapon, capable of destroying wave after wave of evil creatures with pinpoint accuracy. The B button is a combination of turbo and defend, while the directional pad calls up your inventory. Spells will be cast using the Y button.

Players will find themselves beginning levels from the mighty tower. Each world is divided into subsections, and each level must be completed before you can save. The worlds are entered from a central hub, and as you gain experience and valuable items, other worlds will become available to you. These items include magic potions, crystals and treasure. Each stage is linear, with a three quarter, top down view. Players will move their character through the level, while endless waves of undead foot soldiers viciously mount an assault. Destroying enemy generators will be your main objective, as the longer they remain standing, the more creatures will continue to be churned out. Players gain hit points (that's right folks, no life bar, just good old D&D hit points!) by eating fruits and meats (I'm not kidding) found throughout each stage. Bad food, such as spoiled meat and green apples, deduct points if eaten, so the player must be diligent when choosing power-ups. Other power-ups include increased fire power, invulnerability and invisibility. Experience is gained by killing enemies, and players will find themselves leveling up between stages (players will see increases in strength, armor, speed, etcЕ). This RPG element brings a deeper play experience to what is, essentially, a repetitive brawler. The HUD indicates your character's experience level, magic potions available, health and gold, as well as other critical information. Of course, you'll also be on the lookout for the 13 Rune stones (among other things). Each time a stone is collected, Sumner will take it and place it in his tower. Players must also be cautious when utilizing environmental items. Certain barrels can be blown apart to reveal power-ups or explosives, which detonate upon impact and take out whatever enemies may be near by. Multiplayer is also supported, with up to four players able to take control of a character and work through the levels cooperatively. This aspect of G:DL may be the most appealing, as co-op play instantly increases the replay value. Not to mention the appeal of building up your character (at one point in the game, you'll amass enough points to gain yourself a familiar. Wow, just like Dracula!) Then, there are the Legend items, powerful weapons acquired through attentive play. There's quite a bit of depth here, though the levels and play mechanics do get repetitive after a while.

Graphically the game is sub-par, with blurry textures and uninspired character models. Nothing in the environments stand out, and everything has a distinctly nostalgic (i.e.-archaic & inferior) feel. The game definitely looks dated, and the cut-scenes in particular are unfocused and weak. Like I said, old school is the order of the day here, and gamers looking for a graphical showcase are out of luck. The in-game sound is average at best, and while it serves its purpose, it never transcends mediocrity. The music is interesting, with some areas boasting heavy rock riffs, while others rely on tribal drums and other percussive instruments to create tension. Overall, Gauntlet: Dark Legacy, is extremely weak as an example of how a next generation title should look, but it's interesting enough in it's play mechanics (however basic they may be) to give gamers looking for a bit of an old school, platform experience something to dig into. Rent it first.