Let's Compare: Gauntlet

[TrekMD]

I honestly found Gauntlet to be disappointing because I was expecting an arcade port.  The game is not that as the concept from the arcade was changed.  Gauntlet II, on the other hand, is a significantly better port that even has speech.

[sloan]

Y, I guess I could understand a small bit of disappointment if you expected arcade-closeness on Gauntlet for NES. It still never struck me as a bad port, despite lack of voices. Like I have said on VCS games, I never went into home games back then expecting arcade-closeness. I was always just glad to be able to play them at home. Best fun we had was my son and I in co-op sessions on both those titles. Just the fun factor of the multi-player experience overshadowed any subtle differences between the home and arcade versions.

[TrekMD]

Yeah, NES Gauntlet is not quite the same as on the arcade (and I don't mean just the lack of voice).  It's still a fun game but, as an arcade port, I expected it to be closer that the original version.  They simply did a much better job with Gauntlet II no matter how you look at it. 

[TL]

I also LOVE Gauntlet Legends on the Arcade/Sega Dreamcast/Sony PlayStation:

Gauntlet Legends Dreamcast Lets Play - Part 1

[TrekMD]

I had never seen that before.  Looks like one cool game!

[TL]

I had never seen that before.  Looks like one cool game!

It is excellent, I have the Dreamcast version.

The follow up to it was Gauntlet: Dark Legacy in the arcades, later released on PS2 and Game Cube:

Let's Play Gauntlet: Dark Legacy (Part 1)

[TrekMD]

Oh wow, cool.  I didn't realize Gauntlet had spawned these sequels.

[TL]

Here is a trailer for the Nintendo DS version:

Gauntlet Trailer: Nintendo DS

This version was announced, previewed and even reviewed in several magazine but strangely never released despite getting a very good reception.

Then all of a sudden the complete but unreleased prototype version was released into the wild just last week!

[TrekMD]

You have to wonder what happened that it did not have its official release.  Also have to wonder how the prototype saw light!  I must say I like the approach they took for it!

[Bobinator]

According to the source I found the prototype from (One of my other gaming forums), somebody received it from a person who wished to be anonymous.

I want to personally thank that guy, though, because that's a really kind, classy move of him. If only other people could be that thoughtful. Sigh...

Haven't played the prototype yet, but I've heard good things.

[TrekMD]

I need to find it so I can try it out.