Gauntlet II

{{For|the TV show|Real World/Road Rules Challenge: The Gauntlet II}}

{{Infobox video game

| title = Gauntlet II

| image = Gauntlet II game flyer.png

| caption = Arcade flyer

| developer = Atari Games

| publisher = Atari Games
Home computers{{vgrelease|NA|Mindscape|EU|U.S. Gold}}

| designer = Ed Logg

| programmer = Ed Logg
Bob Flanagan

| artist = Sam Comstock
Susan G. McBride
Alan J. Murphy
Will Noble

| composer = Hal Canon
Brad Fuller
Earl Vickers

| series = Gauntlet

| released = August 1986{{cite magazine|magazine=Atari Games Players Journal|title=The Adventures Continues With Gauntlet|date=August 1986|volume=1|issue=3|url=http://www.atarimania.com/mags/pdf/atari-games-players-club-vol-01-number-03.pdf}}{{cite web |url=http://www.arcade-museum.com/game_detail.php?game_id=7925 |title=Gauntlet II|publisher=The International Arcade Museum}}

| genre = Hack and slash, dungeon crawl

| modes = 1-4 players simultaneously

| arcade system = Atari Gauntlet

| platforms = Arcade, Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, Commodore 64, Game Boy, MS-DOS, NES, ZX Spectrum

}}

Gauntlet II is a 1986 arcade game produced by Atari Games that serves as the immediate sequel to the original Gauntlet, which was released the previous year. Like its predecessor, Gauntlet II is a fantasy-themed top down dungeon crawler game and was released as a dedicated cabinet, as well as a conversion kit, both available in 2-player and 4-player versions.

Gameplay

Image:ARC Gauntlet_II.png

Gauntlet II is essentially an expanded version of the original Gauntlet. Like in the original game, there are four character classes to play as, with the choices being Warrior, Valkyrie, Wizard and Elf. The main difference from the original game is that multiple players can now choose to play as the same character class. Because of this each player is now distinguished by the palette of their character, with red and blue being in all versions of the game, while yellow and green are featured in the 4-player version. New voice samples were added in Gauntlet II, identifying each player by their color and class (e.g. "Yellow Elf", "Red Wizard").

New level designs were added, including the possibility of encountering them in altered ways by having the play-field turned in steps of 90°. Other new features include the enemy "It", which upon contact made a player "It" and drew all enemies towards them. The only way to release this curse is by touching another player or entering the exit, turning any level containing "It" into a fantasy filled game of tag. Other notable additions include the ability to ricochet shots off walls by means of a special pick-up, acid puddles that caused large, predetermined amounts of damage and a large dragon which occupied multiple squares and required multiple hits to destroy.{{cite web | url=http://www.arcade-history.com/?n=gauntlet&page=detail&id=939 | title=Gauntlet II The Arcade Video Game by Atari Games Corp. | publisher=Arcade History}}

New level elements were also added, adding more variety to the original game. These included "all walls are invisible", "magic walls" which changed into monsters or items when hit, "stun tiles" which stunned the player, and fake exits.

Another challenge in the game is the possibility to find a "secret room". This can be found by completing specific achievements within the level (e.g., "don't be fooled", means that you must find the real exit first). The secret room contains items such as food and magic potions (extra shot power, extra shot speed, extra magic power, extra speed, extra armor and extra fight power).

Development

Shortly after the release of the original Gauntlet, until March 31, 1986, Atari Games held a contest where players submitted level designs, game ideas, and other suggestions for a potential Gauntlet sequel.{{cite magazine|magazine=Atari Games Players Journal|title=Gauntlet Maze Design Contest|date=January 1986|volume=1|issue=1|url=http://www.atarimania.com/mags/pdf/atari-games-players-club-vol-01-number-01.pdf}}{{cite magazine|magazine=Cash Box|title='Gauntlet' Contest Announced|date=February 1, 1986|url=https://archive.org/details/cashbox49unse_31/page/38}} The winners of the contest were announced in the April 1986 issue of Atari Games' newsletter,{{cite magazine|magazine=Atari Games Players Journal|title=Gauntlet Maze Design Contest|date=April 1986|volume=1|issue=2|url=http://www.atarimania.com/mags/pdf/atari-games-players-club-vol-01-number-02.pdf}} and the developers implemented some of those submissions in Gauntlet II. During the release of Gauntlet II, Atari Games held a second contest where players were tasked to find the secret rooms in the game itself. After fulfilling a certain task, the players were given a code, which they submitted to Atari Games via an entry form; the grand prize was a U.S. government saving bond valued at $5000, and the first 500 entries received a t-shirt. The contest was held until December 19.{{cite magazine|magazine=Cash Box|title=It's A Brand New Game: Gauntlet II|date=September 13, 1986|url=https://archive.org/details/cashbox50unse_7/page/34}}

Releases

Gauntlet II was ported to the ZX Spectrum, Amstrad CPC, Commodore 64, Amiga, Atari ST and MS-DOS in 1987. These versions of the game were released in North America by Mindscape and in Europe by U.S. Gold. Most versions only supported two players, but the Atari ST version supported an adaptor that allowed two further joysticks (totalling four) to be connected via that machine's parallel port. Mindscape later ported the game to the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1990 and the Game Boy in 1991. The NES version of Gauntlet II was one of the earliest games for the console that supported up to four players, being compatible with either the NES Four Score or NES Satellite adapters.{{cite magazine|magazine=Nintendo Power|title=Gauntlet II|issue=19|pages=25–36|date=December 1990}} Unlike the NES version of the first Gauntlet, Gauntlet II was a more direct conversion of the arcade original, lacking any sort of storyline or ending.

Gauntlet II is also included in the compilations Midway Arcade Treasures 2 (released for PlayStation 2, Xbox and GameCube in 2004) and Midway Arcade Origins (released for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 in 2012).{{cite web | url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2012/11/14/midway-arcade-origins-review | title=Squeezing 30 fridge-sized games onto a disc proves difficult |date=November 13, 2012 |publisher=ign.com}} A stand-alone port of the game was also released by Sony Online Entertainment for the PlayStation 3 on May 3, 2007 as a downloadable game on the PlayStation Store, but has since been delisted.

Reception

{{Video game reviews

|CVG=32/40{{cite journal| journal=C+VG | date=July 1988 | issue=81 | pages=34–35 | title=Gauntlet II Review | publisher=EMAP |url=https://archive.org/stream/cvg-magazine-081/CVG_081_Jul_1988#page/n33/mode/2up}}

|CRASH=65%{{cite journal| journal=Crash! | date=February 1988 | issue=49 | pages=94 | title=Gauntlet II Review | publisher=Newsfield Publications Ltd |url=https://archive.org/stream/crash-magazine-49/Crash_49_Feb_1988#page/n93/mode/1up}}

|SUser={{Rating|10|10}}{{cite journal| journal=Sinclair User | date=January 1988 | issue=70 | pages=29 | title=Gauntlet II Review | publisher=EMAP |url=https://archive.org/stream/sinclair-user-magazine-070/SinclairUser_070_Jan_1988#page/n28/mode/1up}}

|YSinclair=8/10{{cite journal|journal= Your Sinclair | title=Gauntlet II Review | date= February 1988 | issue=26 | page=65 | publisher=Future plc | url=https://archive.org/stream/your-sinclair-26/YourSinclair_26_Feb_1988#page/n64/mode/1up}}

|rev1 = ACE

|rev1Score = 820/1000{{cite journal|journal=ACE | title=Gauntlet II Review | date=October 1988 | issue=12 | page=63 | publisher=EMAP | url=https://archive.org/stream/ace-magazine-12/ACE_Issue_12_1988_Sep#page/n62/mode/1up}}{{cite journal|journal=ACE | title=Updates: Amiga - Gauntlet II | date=May 1989 | issue=20 | page=77 | publisher=EMAP | url=https://archive.org/stream/ace-magazine-12/ACE_Issue_12_1988_Sep#page/n62/mode/1up}}

|rev2=Amiga Action

|rev2Score=84%{{cite journal|journal=Amiga Action | title=Gauntlet II Review | date=Apr 1991| pages=92 | publisher=Europress | url=http://amr.abime.net/review_6048}}

|rev3=Atari ST User

|rev3Score=9/10{{cite journal|journal=Atari ST User | title=Gauntlet II Review | date=September 1988| volume=3 | issue=7 | pages=35 | url=http://www.atarimania.com/mags/hi_res/atari-st-user-vol-03-issue-07_35.jpg}}

|rev4=Amiga User International

|rev4Score=8/10{{cite journal|journal=Amiga User International | title=Gauntlet II Review | date=February 1989 | volume=3 | issue=2 | pages=28 | url=http://amr.abime.net/review_7222}}

|rev5=Commodore User

|rev5Score= C64: 7/10{{cite journal|journal=Commodore User | title=Gauntlet II Review | date=February 1988 | issue=53 | pages=17 | url=https://archive.org/stream/commodore-user-magazine-53/Commodore_User_Issue_53_1988_Feb#page/n16/mode/1up}}

Amiga: 94%{{cite journal|journal=Commodore User | title=Gauntlet II Review | date=February 1989 | issue=65 | pages=20 | url=https://archive.org/stream/commodore-user-magazine-65/Commodore_User_Issue_65_1989_Feb#page/n19/mode/1up}}

|rev6=The Games Machine

|rev6Score=93%{{cite journal|journal=The Games Machine | title=A Fist Off Iron Too | date= July 1988 | pages=68–69 | issue=11 | publisher=Newsfield | url=https://archive.org/stream/thegamesmachine-magazine-11/TheGamesMachine_11#page/n55/mode/1up}}

|rev7=Play Time

|rev7Score= GB: 74% GB{{cite journal|journal=Play Time | first=Ipisch | last=Hans | title=Gauntlet II | pages=82 | date=June 1992}}

|rev8=ST Action

|rev8Score=88%{{cite journal|journal=ST Action | title=Gauntlet II Review | date=August 1988 | volume=1 | issue=4 | pages=60–62 | url=https://archive.org/stream/ST_Action_Volume_1_Issue_4_1988-08_Gollner_Publishing_GB#page/n63/mode/2up}}

|rev9=Your Amiga

|rev9Score=70%{{cite journal|journal=Your Amiga | title=Gauntlet II Review | date=June 1989 | pages=32 | url=http://amr.abime.net/review_4963}}

|rev10 = Zzap!64

|rev10Score = 81%{{cite journal| journal=Zzap!64 | date=March 1988 | issue=35 | pages=11 | title=Gauntlet II Review |publisher=Newsfield |url=https://archive.org/stream/zzap64-magazine-035/ZZap_64_Issue_035_1988_Mar#page/n10/mode/1up}}

|award1Pub=Sinclair User

|award1=SU ClassicGame review, Sinclair User issue 70, EMAP, January 1988, page 29

}}

The Game Boy version was praised by the German Play Time magazine for its technical implementation (including 8-directional scrolling), faithful recreation of graphics, and for evoking nostalgic feelings with similar sound effects; however, this version was criticized for difficult-to-recognize sprites and its technically weak theme music.

The Spectrum version of the game was well received, Sinclair User said it was "a corker. Fast action and superb gameplay make Gauntlet II probably the first sequel worth the cash". Your Sinclair said it was "a 'must have' for all of you who asked for Gauntlet on your Desert Island Disks". Both YS and Crash gave the main weaknesses as the sound and the over-similarity to the original.

In 1997 Electronic Gaming Monthly listed Gauntlet II as the 3rd best arcade game of all time.{{cite magazine |title=The 10 Best Arcade Games of All Time |magazine=Electronic Gaming Monthly|issue=100 |publisher=Ziff Davis |date=November 1997|page=130}}

References

External links

{{KLOV game|7925}}
[http://www.arcade-history.com/?page=detail&id=939 Gauntlet II] at the Arcade History database
[http://www.atarimania.com/game-atari-st-gauntlet-ii_s8253.html Gauntlet II] for the Atari ST at Atari Mania
{{lemon64 game|id=1031|name=Gauntlet II}}
{{WoS game|id=0001991}}