Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Gauntlet: Legends retains the pick-up-and-play arcade DNA that made the original so addictive while layering on a meatier structure for home audiences. You begin in a central hub that branches off into seven magical worlds, three of which are brand-new to this N64 release. Rather than forcing you to clear every level in one go, the game lets you bounce between worlds, collecting keys, runes, magic items, and powering up your hero before returning to tackle more challenging stages.

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Multiplayer is the heart of the experience. Up to four players can team up (Expansion Pak required) and mix and match from eight distinct character classes—four familiar faces from the arcade and four fresh additions designed exclusively for the console version. Each class boasts unique special attacks and stat growth, rewarding cooperation and experimentation. Controller Pak support means you can save your evolving characters, level them up over multiple sessions, and dive back in exactly where you left off.

The non-linear design is buoyed by clever level layouts and devious puzzles. Daggers poised for deadly traps, hidden passages, and backtracking reveal secrets and power-ups that are well worth the effort. The balance between hectic combat—mowing down skeletons, gargoyles, and elemental beasts—and exploration keeps every session feeling dynamic. Despite the emphasis on teamwork, solo players can still carve out their own progression path, although the true magic of Gauntlet: Legends shines brightest in co-op.

Graphics

Atari Games has taken full advantage of the N64’s hardware, especially when paired with the Expansion Pak. Real-time lighting bathes each level in atmospheric shadows and colored torches, a feature completely absent from the arcade original. Polygon counts skyrocket when battles heat up, with dozens of enemies swarming the screen without noticeable slowdown.

Textures have been remapped and polished to look sharp on a big screen, and the three new worlds boast distinctive visual themes—from frost-bitten caverns to molten lava-filled fortresses. Boss arenas are particularly impressive, featuring dynamic camera angles and environmental hazards that feel genuinely cinematic. Even carryover levels from the arcade have been reimagined, with fresh geometry and new secret areas to discover.

Beyond pure horsepower, small touches make a big difference. Magic spells cast realistic particle effects, sword swings leave fleeting trails of light, and the HUD is both informative and unobtrusive. Whether you’re stumbling upon a hidden treasure chest or triggering a trap door, the visual cues are crisp and clear. This polish ensures Gauntlet: Legends never feels like a simple arcade port—it stands on its own as a showcase for what the N64 could deliver in 1998.

Story

While Gauntlet’s narrative has never been the primary draw, Legends gives it a more substantial backbone. You and your band of heroes are on a crusade to vanquish Skorne, a diabolical overlord who threatens to unleash chaos across seven realms. Each world carries its own mini-arc, building anticipation toward climactic boss battles and unveiling snippets of lore through atmospheric cut-scenes.

These cinema sequences—triggered upon the successful completion of each world—add weight to your journey. Between arrow volleys and flame spells, you’ll witness Skorne’s tyranny in action: villages razed, people enslaved, and magical wards corrupted. The story never slows the action to a crawl, but it gives context to why you’re smashing through hordes of enemies and solves the classic “just hack and slash” dilemma.

Character development is subtle but effective. As your chosen avatar gains levels, you unlock not only stat boosts but also bits of personalized dialogue and special attack cinematics. This sense of growth—combined with the overarching narrative—makes each dungeon raid feel like a step toward a meaningful climax rather than an endless quest for gold. By the time you face Skorne’s final form, you’re fully invested in seeing your favored hero triumph.

Overall Experience

Gauntlet: Legends on N64 is more than an arcade transplant; it’s a reimagined action-RPG that balances frantic combat with structured progression. Whether you’re a newcomer seeking pick-up-and-play thrills or a die-hard fan missing the arcade coin-op, the extensive level design and character variety ensure high replay value. Plug in your friends for four-player co-op, or carve solo paths through interlocking dungeons—the choice is yours.

Atari’s decision to overhaul visuals, expand the roster, and layer in a lightweight story pays dividends. The Expansion Pak boosts graphical fidelity, but even without it, the core gameplay loop of hunting keys, triggering runes, and unleashing devastating special attacks remains as satisfying as ever. The non-linear hub structure encourages exploration and discovery, and the inclusion of three brand-new worlds keeps veteran players on their toes.

For anyone on the fence, Gauntlet: Legends delivers an epic quest that feels larger and deeper than its arcade roots. It boldly embraces the hardware’s strengths, refines the classic formula, and invites both cooperative camaraderie and solo mastery. This is one dungeon-crawler that deserves a place in any N64 collection, especially for those hungry for sword-and-sorcery action with a modern twist.

Retro Replay Score

7.1/10