This new quest gathers your four classic favorites including the Elf, Warrior, Wizard, and Valkyrie and puts them in a new story based game that really goes nowhere. Even with the game’s cut scenes, all that boils down in this title is the hacking, slashing, and collecting you must do to finish each level. It is true, most of this is done in true classic Gauntlet form, which will appeal highly to nostalgia buffs, but for my money at least give me an adventure that will last for 10 to 20 hours…not 3 or 4! This is where Gauntlet suffers the most, as it is not a flaw in execution or style. The game is even shorter than the 100 level arcade classic from days gone by.

Visually, Gauntlet is lush, colorful, and quite stunning. Thelevels take place among multiple locales, allowing you to visit the worlds of the Gauntlet universe. You will encounter tons of enemies, who like the original morph from spawn points scattered throughout the levels. Destroy the source and you keep the enemies at bay, reach them too slowly and prepare to be bombarded with a slew of baddies. Bosses are very well designed, but are sadly too few and far between. Special effects are magnificent and will give gamers a sense of accomplishment when unleashing certain spells or unlocking new paths. In the end, Gauntlet is very good on the eyes and will make your visit even more pleasant with the remarkable visuals and level design.

Audio is favorable, but can be monotonous after a while. With the large variety of visual creatures, you would hope for the same variety of sounds to accommodate them. After an hour in, you will quickly hear this is not the case as sound effects tend to blend together and start to numb the mind with their repetitiveness. What does save this game from putting you into a slumber is the well-orchestrated score. Each level is filled with heart pounding music that will accompany your fingers as they pound away at your foes.

Gameplay is what you would expect from this series, button mashing to the max. Yes, Midway does try to keep the game fresh from time to time by allowing weapon and character upgrades, button combos, and some weak puzzle solving, but in the end, the game is just like the old Gauntlet title, which is hard to keep minds interested 20 years later. Even worse, the A.I. is virtually non-existent, much like the old arcade originals. What will give gamers a thrill is the multiplayer aspect of the game. While mindless hack and slash may not “cut it” on a single player campaign, multiplayer somehow makes you forgive and forget such mediocrity. Whether you team up with a couple of friends in the comfort of your own home, or online, there is much merriment to be had when there is more than one person fighting the forces of evil.

Sadly, the game ends almost as quickly as the last Lord of the Rings film does, which is sad considering the 50-dollar price tag. If you are a huge fan of the series, I suggest a rental of this version of Gauntlet. If you must own it for your collection, by all means play your old versions or buy the Midway Treasures title until the price goes for around 20 dollars. Gauntlet: Seven Sorrows succeeded in bringing back the nostalgia of the arcade franchise, but the game just feels all too familiar for a present day purchase.