Gauntlet: Seven Sorrows
When game franchises refuse to change their stripes and instead stick to the same old formula, year in and year out, it's usually a bad thing. Occasionally, though, as with the Gauntlet titles, it's exactly the right decision to make. Gauntlet is a gaming mainstay, having successfully made the jump from the arcade to just about every home console since the NES, and precious little about it has changed over the years. When a player picks up a Gauntlet title, he knows exactly what he's getting: multiplayer hacky-slashy fun. The latest entrant in the series, Gauntlet: Seven Sorrows (G:SS), does make some minor adjustments to the gameplay we've come to expect, but by and large, it's just more Gauntlet. Whether or not that's a good thing depends on your opinions about feeding starving elves.
What a Royal Pain…
Arcade games are traditionally not known for their gripping storylines, but G:SS does its best to provide a reason for our four intrepid heroes to be chopping their way through the countryside. It seems that the Emperor, on the advice of his six sinister and shady advisors, has crucified the warrior, valkyrie, elf, and wizard to a whopping great tree in the hopes of stealing their immortality. Upon reflection, he decides that killing his loyal servants is a pretty low thing to do, so he somehow manages to bring the quartet back to life, but not before the six advisors suck up a bunch of power and go running off. Then, in what can only be described as really crappy governing, the Emperor sends the four heroes off to slay the six advisors, thus cleaning up the mess he created. Seems to me that somebody in the party should "accidentally" drop a potion in the crown-wearing jerk's vicinity, but I guess that's not exactly heroic.
Players start the game by selecting which of the four heroes they want to be; as expected, each one plays slightly differently and has its own set of pros and cons (the warrior is far sturdier than the elf, for example, but slower as well). The game is definitely best when four players are involved, but it's possible, though a bit boring, to play through completely solo. Gameplay consists of making your way through six different areas, each with a different theme, such as poisoned fields or a dark fortress, slaying wave after wave of bloodthirsty enemies. Destroying the enemy generators clears the way to the next area full of slavering baddies, and so on and so on until you finally reach the boss. None of that has changed from every previous version of Gauntlet, but there are a few tweaks that help simplify the experience. For starters the treasure chests are all unlocked, so everyone has an equal shot at the gold, not just the jerk who's been hoarding the keys. Potions, which were the foundation of magic attacks in the past, have been replaced with a Mana bar that slowly refills over time, making it far more difficult to set off a spell accidentally. The camera is slightly different also, pulled in much closer to the characters than in versions past. While this makes certain details (like levers and traps) easier to see, it just doesn't quite feel like Gauntlet.
Real Warriors Don't Go Shopping
At the end of each level, players can spend hard-earned (or at least nimbly-stolen) gold on more powerful attack moves and spells. They produce nifty effects, and are fun to do, but I was a bit disappointed that there weren't any other items to buy. Sure, not having to sift through an inventory in the heat of battle makes things easier, but it also makes the combat a wee bit repetitious. Still, one does not pick up a Gauntlet title looking for innovation, at least not if one has been paying any attention for the past decade. It was also a bit disappointing that there's no way to change the appearance of your avatar. You can't buy armor, or new weaponry, or even change your hair color. The character design is nice and all, and the animations are smooth, but it would still be fun to be able to personalize my wizard or trick out my valkyrie.
Despite its comfortable sameness, G:SS did have one surprise in store for me: it was shockingly, incredibly easy. Playing with just two players was an absolute cakewalk on Normal, so I can't imagine the simplicity with which four players would walk through each level. Fortunately, there are harder difficulties available from the very beginning, so gamers looking for a decent challenge will still be able to find one.
Gauntlet: Seven Sorrows doesn't reinvent the genre, nor is it trying to. If you've played and enjoyed one Gauntlet, you'll enjoy this one, too. If you're not a fan of brains-free hacking and slashing, then best give this one a pass.
-Maj1013
