Gauntlet IV

Lore & Background

Gauntlet IV began as a port of the original Gauntlet for the X68000, a project by a group of friends in Japan who would later form the development studio M2. It was picked up by Atari Games, the makers of the original game, and used instead as the basis for a sequel for the Genesis published by Tengen, their home-publishing imprint. The game's soundtrack was composed by Hitoshi Sakimoto and Masaharu Iwata.

The game features four distinct modes. Arcade mode is a port of the original arcade game, allowing up to four players to explore dungeons, shoot enemies with projectile weapons, collect keys to open locked doors, and find potions that wipe out all enemies onscreen. Player health decreases constantly and must be replenished by collecting food; each stage often has multiple exits leading to different levels.

Quest mode is the main feature, set in all-new dungeons with new bosses, combining original gameplay with RPG elements such as character-leveling and item purchasing, and includes the ability to save game progress. Battle mode is a deathmatch where players fight each other in arenas with hidden power-ups; projectile weapons bounce around the screen and can force opponents into exits for a ring out. Record mode is a single-player variant of arcade mode that tracks progress via a password.

Reader's Guide

Gauntlet IV is notable for expanding the original Gauntlet formula with a substantial RPG-style Quest mode, which introduced character-leveling, item purchasing, and save functionality to the series. The game also offered a four-player arcade port, a battle mode, and a record mode, providing variety beyond the standard dungeon crawl.

Critics responded positively: MegaTech stated that 'the action is flawless' and had stood the test of time well, calling it 'a brilliant game, and one that warrants immediate attention.' Mega praised the longevity of the game, saying it was 'huge fun and a must-buy,' and placed it at No. 19 in their list of the best Mega Drive games of all time. The game's development history—originating as an X68000 port by a group of friends who later formed M2, then being adapted by Atari Games into a Genesis sequel—adds to its significance as a unique entry in the Gauntlet series. Its soundtrack, composed by Hitoshi Sakimoto and Masaharu Iwata, further distinguished the title.