Gauntlet

From Sega Retro

For the Sega Mega Drive version, see Gauntlet IV.

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Gauntlet SMS title screen.png

Gauntlet
System(s): Sega Master System
Publisher: U.S. Gold
Developer:
Licensor: Tengen
Genre: Action

















Number of players: 1-2
Release Date RRP Code
Sega Master System
EU
25006-50
Sega Master System
AU
Sega Master System
BR
023130
Non-Sega versions

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Gauntlet is an overhead dungeon crawler released for the arcades by Atari Games in 1985. A Sega Master System version was released exclusively in Europe in 1990, published by U.S. Gold and developed by Tiertex Design Studios. Unlike the later Sega Mega Drive version released by Tengen (see Gauntlet IV), the Master System version only supports up to two players due to the lack of any multiplayer adapter for the system.

Gameplay

Gauntlet combines arcade-style gameplay with the theme and dungeon-crawling action of pen and paper role-playing games like Dungeons & Dragons. The players fight their way through many floors of an enormous dungeon, both cooperating to kill enemies and competing to collect gold and upgrades.

Players can choose from among four characters (Thor the Warrior, Thyra the Valkyrie, Merlin the Wizard or Questor the Elf). Each has their own unique visual appearance and various strengths and weaknesses (for example, Merlin excels at magic but his hand-to-hand attacks are weak).

History

Legacy

The game's huge success in the arcades led to a large number of home ports and various sequels, but the series didn't return to Sega systems until the Sega Mega Drive-exclusive Gauntlet IV in 1993; unlike the first game, Gauntlet IV was released in the US and Japan as well as Europe.

Magazine articles

Main article: Gauntlet/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

Master System Mega Drive advert SE.jpg
SE advert
Master System Mega Drive advert SE.jpg
Logo-pdf.svg
Print advert in Sega Power (UK) #13: "December 1990" (1990-11-01)
also published in:
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Print advert in K (IT) #25: "Febbraio 1991" (199x-xx-xx)
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Print advert in Atuagagdliutit (GL) #1991-07-17 (1991-07-17)
Logo-pdf.svg
Print advert in Consoles + (FR) #1: "Septembre 1991" (1991-09-04)
also published in:
Logo-pdf.svg
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Print advert in Computer & Video Games (UK) #119: "October 1991" (1991-09-15)
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Print advert in Computer & Video Games (UK) #121: "December 1991" (1991-11-15)
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Print advert in Gamers (DE) #1992-01: "Februar/März 1992" (1992-xx-xx)
Logo-pdf.svg

Physical scans

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
86 [2]
96 №2, p14/15
90 [7]
92 [8]
90 [9]
60 [10]
88 [11]
79 [12]
80 №37
92 [13]
78 [14]
64 [15]
87 [16]
80 [17]
83 [18]
80 Sega Pro
77 №17, p88
Sega Master System
82
Based on
17 reviews
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
ACE (UK)
86
[2]
Aktueller Software Markt (DE)
52
[19]
Buzz! Computers (UK)
87
[20]
Complete Guide to Consoles (UK)
96
[21]
Complete Guide to Consoles (UK)
90
[7]
The Complete Guide to Sega (UK) PAL
90
[22]
Console XS (UK) PAL
80
[23]
Computer & Video Games (UK)
92
[24]
Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide (UK)
92
[25]
Game Mania (UK)
90
[9]
Games-X (UK)
60
[10]
Hobby Consolas (ES) PAL
88
[26]
Joystick (FR) PAL
79
[12]
Micromanía (segunda época) (ES)
80
[27]
Mean Machines (UK)
92
[28]
Mean Machines Sega (UK)
90
[29]
Player One (FR)
78
[30]
Power Play (DE)
63
[31]
Raze (UK) PAL
64
[15]
S: The Sega Magazine (UK) PAL
87
[32]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
75
[17]
Sega Pro (UK)
83
[18]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
80
[33]
User (GR) PAL
88
[34]
Video Games (DE)
66
[35]
Zero (UK)
77
[36]
Sega Master System
81
Based on
26 reviews

Gauntlet

Master System, EU
Gauntlet-SMS-EU cover.jpg
Cover
Gauntlet SMS EU Cart.jpg
Cart
GauntletSMSEUManual.pdf
Manual
Master System, AU

Master System, BR
Gauntlet SMS BR Box Back.jpgNospine.pngGauntlet SMS BR Box.jpg
Cover
Gauntlet SMS BR Cart.jpg
Cart
Master System, SE (Rental)

Technical information

ROM dump status

System Hash Size Build Date Source Comments
Sega Master System
 ?
CRC32 d9190956
MD5 fdd401983eb42200f9fec672374597af
SHA-1 4e583ce9b95e20ecddc6c1dac9941c28a3e80808
128kB Cartridge (EU)

References

  1. Mean Machines, "October 1990" (UK; 1990-09-xx), page 60
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 ACE, "October 1990" (UK; 1990-09-xx), page 87
  3. Computer & Video Games, "December 1990" (UK; 1990-11-16), page 119
  4. Sega Power, "January 1991" (UK; 1990-12-06), page 52
  5. Raze, "January 1991" (UK; 1990-11-29), page 23
  6. Joystick, "Octobre 1991" (FR; 1991-xx-xx), page 137
  7. 7.0 7.1 Complete Guide to Consoles, "Volume IV" (UK; 1990-11-xx), page 97
  8. Computer & Video Games, "January 1991" (UK; 1990-12-15), page 120/121 (120)
  9. 9.0 9.1 Game Mania, "May 1993" (UK; 1993-xx-xx), page 81
  10. 10.0 10.1 Games-X, "Sneak Preview March 1991" (UK; 1991-0x-xx), page 17
  11. Hobby Consolas, "Octubre 1991" (ES; 1991-xx-xx), page 86 (78)
  12. 12.0 12.1 Joystick, "Avril 1991" (FR; 1991-0x-xx), page 107
  13. Mean Machines, "October 1990" (UK; 1990-09-xx), page 58-60 (58)
  14. Player One, "Avril 1991" (FR; 1991-xx-xx), page 39 (35)
  15. 15.0 15.1 Raze, "January 1991" (UK; 1990-11-29), page 39
  16. S: The Sega Magazine, "November 1990" (UK; 1990-10-04), page 12/13 (12)
  17. 17.0 17.1 Sega Power, "October 1991" (UK; 1991-09-05), page 56
  18. 18.0 18.1 Sega Pro, "Christmas 1991" (UK; 1991-12-12), page 19
  19. Aktueller Software Markt, "November 1990" (DE; 1990-10-26), page 132
  20. Buzz! Computers (UK) (+0:00)
  21. Complete Guide to Consoles, "Volume Two" (UK; 1990-04-xx), page 14
  22. The Complete Guide to Sega, "" (UK; 1991-05-xx), page 56
  23. Console XS, "June/July 1992" (UK; 1992-04-23), page 140
  24. Computer & Video Games, "January 1991" (UK; 1990-12-15), page 120
  25. Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide, "" (UK; 1993-11-18), page 136
  26. Hobby Consolas, "Octubre 1991" (ES; 1991-xx-xx), page 86
  27. Micromanía (segunda época), "Junio 1991" (ES; 1991-0x-xx), page 57
  28. Mean Machines, "October 1990" (UK; 1990-09-xx), page 58
  29. Mean Machines Sega, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-09-xx), page 133
  30. Player One, "Avril 1991" (FR; 1991-xx-xx), page 35
  31. Power Play, "2/91" (DE; 1991-01-18), page 152
  32. S: The Sega Magazine, "November 1990" (UK; 1990-10-04), page 12
  33. Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 71
  34. User, "Noémvrios 1991" (GR; 1991-1x-xx), page 90
  35. Video Games, "1/91" (DE; 1991-03-27), page 74
  36. Zero, "March 1991" (UK; 1991-0x-xx), page 88