Gauntlet is easily one of the oldest game series out there, and it's one that hasn't lost it's fan base despite going so long between iterations and changing hands a few times along the way. However due to the changing developers it can be a bit difficult to know what to expect from a new installation in the franchise. That was actually a big question for me going into Gauntlet: Slayer Edition. I wanted to know what it even was, and I ended up with a different product entirely than what I'd expected.

Slayer Edition is a return to Gauntlet's roots, and while I was disappointed by that, I should have known better than to worry about it when I saw that it was in the hands of Arrowhead, easily the best top down game developers today in my opinion. And while it turned out that Slayer Edition wasn't the Gauntlet I had wanted, it also turned out to be much better than that.



Graphics: 7/10
Very Good.

This seems generous for a game like this one, but once you play it you'll understand. This is, at it's heart, a twin stick shooter with a couple of mêlée characters thrown in to change it into something of a twin stick brawler. And as such the camera is once again zoomed out to the point where the characters are quite small and lack obvious detail. Still this doesn't detract from the graphics any, though it does keep them from excelling. A necessary evil for an amazing genre like this one.

The characters are in fact very well detailed for something so small, and you can actually make out some of the finer details about them. As an added bonus you can see them change over the course of battle as enemies become covered with blood splatters, or elf's arrows remaining lodged in them as they continue approaching him, undeterred by the barrage of quick shots.


The environments are easily a shining point for this game, and in campaign mode they change with each passing world and often reflect the changes in the map. Doe the map show a water chamber nearby? There will probably be water in the levels. Does it show lava? Guess what you'll be seeing. And so it goes throughout the campaign. It's a very small touch, especially in modern gaming, but it's a nice one nonetheless.

Additionally each level looks different from the one before it, even if only slightly. This offers a much needed break from what would otherwise be the monotonous visuals that so often plague games of it's kind. And finally the environments are destructible, with props galore and even the occasional secret area hidden behind a weak wall that can be taken out with a bit of dynamite or some other explosive item that happens to be lying around for whatever reason. Oh yes, and there are trophies for breaking things. Yay!


And last but definitely not least, the effects. They're amazing. Easily some of the best I've seen in a top down game. From Questor's (the elf) explosives detonating, to Merlin's (overused Wizard names ftw!) spell effects, to each of the special talisman and relic abilities, the actions alone produce very nice visuals. Then there's the blood splatters, the magic enemy attacks, and who could forget the bomb arrows sticking into an enemy for a few moments before detonating?

I could go on, but suffice to say the screen stays busy and keeps you from feeling as though the game is as redundant as it would feel otherwise. Twin stick shooters (or can we say top down brawlers?) are fun to play, but they're also pretty simple and without proper care on the developers part they grow old after a few levels and require a break. Gauntlet: Slayer Edition avoids that pitfall using several things, and the varying visuals are one of them.


Highlights:
•Detailed and diverse environments
•Delightful effects
•Arrows in forehead. 'Nuff said



Sound: 10/10
Incredible.

Now this rating could be deceiving, as I'm including the quality of the dialogue in here which is what boosts it so high. As the effects and music go, the game scores probably two or three points lower than this, not because they aren't good, but because they are just that: good. Not amazing.


The music is certainly nice and heroic and I can't really say anything against it, but it's far from prevalent in the game's audio. That's okay though, as there is always so much action and insanity going on that the audio never slacks and falls flat. The music is nothing special and about what you'd expect from a game about admittedly generic heroes (by design anyway) going into some random magically generated dungeon for abstract reasons. Still it's not bad by any means, just not special.


The sound effects are nice, and as far as sound quality in the strictest sense of the term goes, they are what makes the audio stand out. The voices are clear and the lines well delivered, and the explosions and various other weapon, spell, relic, and talisman effects are good as well. Nothing overly fancy, but definitely solid.


Then there's the dialogue: oh man, this is one game you do NOT want to play without volume (though there are subtitles, it's best heard). The dialogue, especially whenever Questor is involved, is nothing short of hilarious. Seriously this game has had me rolling so many times. Solo, Questor can make you literally laugh out loud several times throughout the course of the campaign, especially with his wise cracks about the cave and lava levels, and in his exchanges with Morak in the final level. Teamed up however, there's even more opportunity for good laughs.

And this is another point I love about the dialogue: the characters deliver different lines depending on who they're questing beside. So while Thor (warrior) and Merlin may say one thing about the happenings in a given level, Merlin and Thyra would say another thing entirely, and the lines are always high quality both in writing and in voice acting. For a good laugh, try playing the fifth floor of endless mode in two player with Thyra and Questor. That results in what is easily one of the funniest moments I've experienced in a game.


Highlights:
•Good sound effects
•Great voice acting
•Absolutely hilarious dialogue keeps things fresh



Depth: 9/10
Excellent.

Each of the basic characters can choose from three talismans unique to them, four weapons also unique to them, and ten relics that they all have in common. Aside from this each character's appearance can be customized with each one having three unique headpieces and four unique clothing/armor options, and they all share a selection of eighteen capes that each one can unlock for use on them specifically. This allows for quite a bit of character customization, both in battle methods and in simple appearance. However these customizations come at a price.

During the course of gameplay in any mode you'll find gold and the ever coveted crown. These both add to your gold total which is used to purchase new weapons, talismans, relics, and appearance changes. The crown will be found atop an enemy's head, and said enemy will drop the crown only when you make them. Only one crown will spawn at any given time however, meaning in multiplayer it's often a mad dash between the players amidst all of the chaos to see who can get their greedy mitts on the ornate headpiece first. If the crown is dropped by a player when they take a hit then their partners have a chance to scramble for it again. Whoever wears the crown at the end of the level gets the gold bonus that comes with it. Additionally if the crown is left on the ground long enough it'll be lost for good, and another may spawn in the level or it may not. And finally when a player dies they drop roughly half of their gold which other players can leave for them to grab when they return, or loot while they're watching helplessly as the continue timer ticks down. In this way the game encourages a sort of competitive co-op, as each player strives to gain the title of "Greediest Hero" so they can purchase upgrades with their spoils.


The combat is pretty deep for a game of this kind as well, with each weapon having it's own abilities and each talisman offering a different ability with the use of a potion that you find, potions are not to be spent carelessly however as they aren't the most readily available item, and finally the relics which are common to all characters (but must be earned separately: no items are shared between characters, even on the same profile) aid you greatly in battle but have a cool down timer to keep you from abusing them. This adds a layer of strategy to the gameplay and forces you to plan ahead and be able to think quickly as you may need to adjust your battle plans on the fly.


Finally the game has an endless mode, daily challenges where you can earn capes that serve no purpose other than to look cool and to show off your victories, and the campaign mode has twenty one normal levels and nine optional levels that drop tons of loot. Each difficulty also rewards you with different amounts of gold and throws different amounts of enemies at you. Want to get rich quick? Play on hard, if you can survive it. Want to have an easier time? Go it on easy, but don't expect to be rolling in the dough anytime soon.


Highlights:
•Plenty of character customization
•Save your friend's backside...then steal their gold
•Decent amount of play time, especially for completionists



Addictiveness: 9/10
Excellent.

Any game that can hold me through three play through and countless runs in an endless mode has to be addicting. This particular iteration of Gauntlet is the best in my opinion (though admittedly I haven't played them all), and it manages to put a fresh twist on old gameplay formulas while keeping it entertaining throughout the entirety of what could be a potentially repetitive game. With all of the different character customization options, the loot system, the hilarious dialogue, and a slew of enemies with varying abilities, Gauntlet: Slayer Edition has plenty of content to keep you coming back for a while yet.



Highlights:
•It's fun. Simple and to the point
•You've almost finished reading this review. As Questor would say, Good on ya



Story: 3/10
Bad.

Yeah I hate to even rate the story since it'll drag down the well deserved high rating, but the story here is about as shallow as can be. It's practically nonexistent, entirely predictable, and somehow still manages to suffer from plot holes. It's not solid by any means.


The only thing that keeps the story rating this high is the info/lore offered on the various appearance options and weapons. These give us a small but unsatisfying glimpse into the heroes and their background. At least it's something, but with writing like this game has it's a shame to see such wasted potential.


Highlights:
•The lore behind certain items is cool



Difficulty: 5/10
Average.

Pretty standard difficulty for a game like this one. If you've ever played one then you know what to expect, only this one may be a little bit easier than others on easy mode which is something I can appreciate personally. Hard offers a challenge for seasoned gamers, and it's one that will keep you struggling for a bit. Good luck if you go it alone in hard. You'll need it.


Highlights:
•Offers something for everyone
•Not too hard but not too easy. About right in terms of challenge



Overall: 7.6/10
Very Good.

Quite a fitting score for the game. It's certainly a lot of fun even in single player mode. It does eventually grow old, but you'll probably come back for more after a break. Even still, you'll likely sink thirty or more hours into it before tiring of it for even a little while. It has plenty to do and it keeps doing those things fun.

If you're looking at buying the game I highly recommend it. I'd say $15 is a fair price for anyone, and for enthusiasts of the genre or Gauntlet in general I'd say $25 and under would be fitting, bear in mind that I'm a cheapskate though. It'll definitely be worth every penny to anyone who enjoys a good top down brawler/twin stick shooter (and it essentially becomes a twin stick shooter when you play as Questor). In fact I'd suggest simply keeping an eye out for anything with Arrowhead's name on it at this point, these are the kinds of games they make, and they make them better than anyone.

Great review.
If you're like me, you got it for free with PS+.

Its definitely worth at the very least $15 tho. If anyone missed it when it was free, they should definitely pick this up.

Vanelan :

I've been meaning to get around to playing it myself.

The problem with PS+ is they give so many free games, I just don't have time to play them all.

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Based on this review, I might want to give it a try, but only with other people. I can't see myself playing this game solo.

legacyme3 : I don't have the time or hard drive space to play them all either.
If you like Gauntlet though, you should give this one a try.

Vanelan :

I played the one on the N64, Gauntlet Legends, I think.

I don't have any experience with the series outside of that one.

Vanelan : Yup, pretty much. Lol I got it but put off downloading it for a month or two probably. I got enough fun and play time out of this one game to justify my PS+ membership.
And thanks for the compliment. I try, I could do better, but I keep trying to get there.


legacyme3 : Yeah I have limited experience with that one (like half of a level?), but I don't think it was all that similar to it. It's laid out much like the classic Gauntlet games from the Arcade to the Genesis games, only much better. I'd liken it to a mix of a MOBA and a twin stick shooter probably. It's definitely worth a look. Certainly one of the better PS+ games for PS4 in the past year or so that I've had it.