Loved setting eyes on Gauntlet for the first time back in the mid 80's. To this day I often think about Gauntlet when I'm hacking through the latest RPG.
When this came out in the arcades. This was the biggest hit in my neighborhood. Everybody played it as much as they could. And having 4 players all playing at once just made the game even more special. One of my all time favorite games ever.
Gauntlet eye vee? OK, that made me laugh. Gauntlet was a fun arcade game, and basically the definition of a "quarter muncher" with how fast your health could be sapped away. The first home port I got to play was Gauntlet IV (aka 4), and I was honestly surprised at how much more Tengen crammed into the game. The arcade game, plus a story mode, fantastic music, all the arcade voice... it was one hell of a port. Sure, it's to be expected given the time gap between the arcade's release and the Genesis port's release. But given Tengen's track record at times, to see how that company went the extra mile for this was a nice surprise.
My fav home version of Gauntlet is the Atari Lynx version. It adds some refinement to the original and the graphics and sound are fantastic considering the era of its release on a portable
Love your reviews, and thanks for including the Atari 8 Bitters... :) I remember the Atari ST version of Gauntlet being kind of a system seller back in the day..
Another M2 fan here. MD version was a giant leap and deserves that top spot. I actually grew up on Gauntlet II on the speccy which is another belter. Great to see the first one rank well here too.
Nice video - thanks! Based on what you've shown, your ranking makes sense to me. I had the C64 version - and considered it very good at the time. Notably, it had super-smooth scrolling - smoother than most other conversions in this video, though the sprites themselves did not move pixel-by-pixel, but rather in five-pixel jumps, which is how they got so many on screen, I guess. Most impressive version here for me is the Amstrad version - holy smoke! Amstrad games were normally slow and jerky as hell - but this one is just incredible. The Atari ST version looks magnificent too, I have to say. Pity there was no Amiga version! I had Garrison, though - and that was so close an imitation of Gauntlet that I don't know how they weren't sued!
My fave version was the Codemasters rip off 'Ninja Massacre ' on the spectrum - my brother and me used to play it all the time! Great video. Gauntlet IV was ace.
Mate your pumping these videos out, It's so good have found another great UK game channel. The American based channels have ripped the arse out of Nintendo and Sega, nice to see the micros getting love. If you haven't done them already can i suggest Rastan, Tiger Road and Cabel. Cheers
I had this on the CPC. Never really could get going with this game at all - loadsa baddies touching you and sapping copious amount of health really did my nut in. Not for me. But, the appeal was there for those that were into it. The CPC did it well. The Master System version does it really well too.
Awesome game. One of the greatest of all time. It sadly also introduced the idea of shovelling endless money into the game to keep going - the first DLC in a way!
Yeah spot on with these rankings Jamie. Got to be honest I was never a fan of Gauntlet - even in the arcade. I found the game quite dull. Very samey running around the dungeons shooting ghosts and jumping down exits. Just not my thing.
Finally Gauntlet! Great video as always Jamie, would love to see RoboCop at some point, definitely my favourite game on the ZX Spectrum, keep up the good work mate!
I played this in the arcade at the drive in. I also played the heck out of the NES versions, 1 and 2. I didn't get into the Genesis version until recently.
Even though the C64 could had probably done better, there was too many enemies to them to be hardware sprites, hardware scrolling should had taken some pressure from the slower processor, but the game was still processor intensive which meant it was one of those rare occasions that gave the Spectrum an advantage, also with it moving 1 character at a time it could avoid colour clash. Surprised to see they did such a great job on the Amstrad too considering it's limitations. I still spent hours and hours playing the C64 disk version with my friend, excellent fun in co-op. Later I played Gauntlet II on the Amiga which was obviously much better even though it was probably still just a lazy Atari ST port.
Beside this comparison of the first Gauntlet, the only one i loved of the whole saga, was Gauntlet III which is been released only for computer systems by another developer. That game was a revolution in the genre, some bug, but an amazing game ( at least the Amiga version was it )... The other games never gave me fun, nice for the first hour and then getting absurdely boring.
I am very impressed that you was able to get a copy of the atari 800 version i remember buying this when it came out and then again for the master system.
@ most games did i remember having one game called aces of aces which was you flying a bomber in the war it would take over a hour to load and most times it would crash.
I play Gauntlet on my Atari 130XE. Even if I play as the Wizard, my games can go on indefinitely, as there seems to be more food than in the arcade game.
Loved the NES version, even with its occasional chance to give you a password to enter the final vault to finish the game that will never work 🤣 (something like if it gives you a password that starts with an "A" at the start, you can't finish the game)
i have the nes versions both the black n gray cart.. i got gauntlet 2 as well.. i never knew there was a sega master version.. i like too try it once..
Another game that I spent many hours(and 20 cent pieces) playing back in the 80s. Not a satanist though. Still play it on my pc through mame these days as well as on my handheld. I had the Apple 2 version back in the day and yeah, it was terrible. Great video of one of my all time favourite arcade games. Well done! I never had a Sega Megadrive back in the day which is a shame as from emulation, I'm finding that it had some incredible arcade ports for it including Gauntlet, Raiden and other amazing ports as well as original games as well. I can see now why it was and stil is such a popular machine.
Never really got into the gauntlet craze closest I been to a game like it would be Dungeon Explorer on the TC-16 but nice to see the Genesis taking the win here.
@@JustJamie1983 me I am biased against micro computers to me as a kid they were educational ewaste before I knew what ewaste was. Look up Mattel's Aquarius or the latter released Socrates by Vtech (yes that same vtech that did the Vsmile) and you'll probably understand why I hold such strong anti micro computer bias. They weren't fun they were graphically challenged to the contemporary consoles sharing space in the same years like the Aquarius couldn't lift a candle to the Colecovision nor the Socrates holding anything remotely close to the NES in terms of fun or graphics. I written them all off from any desirability by the time I reached an age I could start working so my early money making ventures were spread out for consoles and their addons forsaking any micro computer that I seen at flea malls garage sales or thrift stores. Not bashing those that own the micros just explaining why I had an aversion to them but your lists have opened my eyes a little into the better elements to them.
@@JustJamie1983 hope you don't mind a suggestion for a Namco arcade game by the name Dragon Spirit there were Spectrum, Amiga, Amstrad, C64, NES, Tg-16, Sharp X68000, and even a Playstation port. I doubt you'll disqualify any system for that game as they're all based on the arcade version with a minor exception to the NES in it there is more of a story to it with cut scenes.
There is no finish in this game... There are 128 levels and then they are repeated, inverting the maps. In the C64 version, there is a similar error like the one in the infamous level 256 of Pac-man: When you pass the level 128 the game hangs and only a black screen awaits...
@JustJamie1983 Damn it your intro... LOL! I did not start going to the Arcades until about 1990... When I was over 16... LOL! Most I got near before that was on Holiday with the family in Devon or my Local Swimming Baths... That being said, I did love Dungeons and Dragons, I loved my Hair Metal (Still do!) and when I came across Gauntlet, YOU BET YOUR ASS I WAS NEVER GETTING OFF THAT MACHINE AS LONG AS I HAD MONEY TO PUT IN! And while I am an Amstrad Fanboy as that was my First Official 8 Bit Micro... (I did have an Atari 400XL before that!) - Gauntlet 4 on the Mega Drive, Yeah... Steals the show!
Ugh, the IIgs port could have been so much better. Taito worked some real magic with their ports, like Rastan. I think in time developers would have figured out the IIgs more.
What a money spinner this was, I believe they kept releasing revisions in the arcades to make them harder as players got better at it and so didn't spend as much on it. Can't have fair gameplay can we. 😱
Are Monster Boy / Wonder Land games on your to-do list?.. A lot of them were ported under different names on various consoles and computers, and first one was rebranded as Revenge of Drancon and Adventure Island, which got its own sequels, and then Gameboy Adventure Island was the port of first sequel, AI2, AND THEN Gameboy game called Adventure Island 2 was actually Adventure Island 3... Game Gear did same for Wonder Boy... BUT PC Engine game called Adventure Island is actually Wonder Boy 3, which was also released as just Dragon's Curse in the West!? Gets so very confusing!.. XD Some also got sprite-swapped into Monica's Gang games in Brazil. Honestly I loved the gameplay of Super Adventure Island 2 (which is a side-scrolling RPG-lite like Zelda 2), and had to research that to find similar games and it's SO RIDICULOUS, even Kunio-kun franchise is less confusing with endless side-quels! xD
More Arcade Port Rankings Here: ruclips.net/p/PLJVdlhzi-kR9pLkunb1GD7Orc8zLw8VrH
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Loved setting eyes on Gauntlet for the first time back in the mid 80's. To this day I often think about Gauntlet when I'm hacking through the latest RPG.
It was definitely on route to RPGs for what they became. I also think games like Space Crusade helped too.
Bummed the NES version didnt make the cut, but i also played Gauntlet 2 much more on the NES anyway. Would love to see Rampage ports ranked sometime.
ZX Spectrum once again is👌
The Sega Master System is quick! The difference between Mega Drive version is huge! Sega won with ease
You knows it 😀
When this came out in the arcades. This was the biggest hit in my neighborhood. Everybody played it as much as they could. And having 4 players all playing at once just made the game even more special. One of my all time favorite games ever.
Gauntlet eye vee? OK, that made me laugh.
Gauntlet was a fun arcade game, and basically the definition of a "quarter muncher" with how fast your health could be sapped away. The first home port I got to play was Gauntlet IV (aka 4), and I was honestly surprised at how much more Tengen crammed into the game. The arcade game, plus a story mode, fantastic music, all the arcade voice... it was one hell of a port. Sure, it's to be expected given the time gap between the arcade's release and the Genesis port's release. But given Tengen's track record at times, to see how that company went the extra mile for this was a nice surprise.
Tengen was the publisher in the USA. The developer was M2.
Apart from Streets of Rage2 Gauntlet is my fav game on the Genesis-Megadrive, the sound track is awesome. Great video!
Hey, thanks for watching 👀
Amstrad version was amazing.
Not a bad version at all.
You are playing Atari 800 PAL Gauntlet on NTSC settings judging from the jerkyness and glitching.
My friends and I played D&D back then so of course we loved Gauntlet. We would go to the local bowling alley and drop many quarters in it .
My fav home version of Gauntlet is the Atari Lynx version. It adds some refinement to the original and the graphics and sound are fantastic considering the era of its release on a portable
Been enjoying these ranking videos and watching them all. Keep em coming!
More to come!
Love your reviews, and thanks for including the Atari 8 Bitters... :)
I remember the Atari ST version of Gauntlet being kind of a system seller back in the day..
No probs. Thanks
Atari ST version blew me away
A very nice version for sure.
Totally agree on number1, M2 are just amazing, Gauntlet 4 on Megadrive is class.
100%
Another M2 fan here. MD version was a giant leap and deserves that top spot. I actually grew up on Gauntlet II on the speccy which is another belter. Great to see the first one rank well here too.
Mega drive version is fantastic, true. Now, when talking about the old days, Atari ST-version of Gauntlet 2 was AWESOME.
Sure was 😉
Great videos, I love them.
I've seen all the comparisons👍 I'd like to see one of Space Harrier & Rastan.
Success 🙏
Hey, thanks very much. You wouldn't believe the length of list I have got. Both of those are on the to-do.
@JustJamie1983 Thank You, a Big hug from Puerto Rico 🇵🇷
@MAZINGEREXTREME my pleasure 😀
Nice video - thanks! Based on what you've shown, your ranking makes sense to me. I had the C64 version - and considered it very good at the time. Notably, it had super-smooth scrolling - smoother than most other conversions in this video, though the sprites themselves did not move pixel-by-pixel, but rather in five-pixel jumps, which is how they got so many on screen, I guess.
Most impressive version here for me is the Amstrad version - holy smoke! Amstrad games were normally slow and jerky as hell - but this one is just incredible.
The Atari ST version looks magnificent too, I have to say. Pity there was no Amiga version! I had Garrison, though - and that was so close an imitation of Gauntlet that I don't know how they weren't sued!
Hey, thanks. The closest you will get on Amiga is through sequels or Garrison, a Gauntlet clone. Worth checking out!
@@JustJamie1983 Yup, I had Garrison! Very Gauntlety!
Good list - I first played it at home on the speccy, then the ST (both great conversions), but I'd totally agree the Megadrive version was the best.
Totally agree
Great series. Dont know where youre getting the time for all these but keep em coming!
It keeps me busy and partly do what I was educated in.
My fave version was the Codemasters rip off 'Ninja Massacre ' on the spectrum - my brother and me used to play it all the time! Great video. Gauntlet IV was ace.
Never played Ninja Massacre. Although there was Garrison which was a clone of Gauntlet but fairly highly rated.
Yes. Ninja Massacre is recommended. Enjoyed the Amstrad version
Mate your pumping these videos out, It's so good have found another great UK game channel. The American based channels have ripped the arse out of Nintendo and Sega, nice to see the micros getting love.
If you haven't done them already can i suggest Rastan, Tiger Road and Cabel.
Cheers
That's exactly what I think too. My philosophy is that retro gaming spans a hell of a lot more than just Nintendo and Sega.
@JustJamie1983
I do like some US channels, Metal Jesus is good but give me Kim Justice and Jamie83 over most of them any day.
@JimmyJarrett-c9l yup. I like Metal Jesus too. Especially his Japan videos.
I enjoy these videos a lot. Thanks Jamie! 😁👍
Hey, my pleasure. Thanks for watching 👀
I had this on the CPC. Never really could get going with this game at all - loadsa baddies touching you and sapping copious amount of health really did my nut in. Not for me. But, the appeal was there for those that were into it. The CPC did it well. The Master System version does it really well too.
Yup. It's certainly a hectic game to deal with at times.
Awesome game. One of the greatest of all time. It sadly also introduced the idea of shovelling endless money into the game to keep going - the first DLC in a way!
Never looked at it like that before. But yeah.
"Red Warrior needs to poop, badly!"
Hehe
I was 7 years old when this came out. I must have dumped a hundred dollars at the arcade for this game!
Woah, that's heavy.
Yeah spot on with these rankings Jamie. Got to be honest I was never a fan of Gauntlet - even in the arcade. I found the game quite dull. Very samey running around the dungeons shooting ghosts and jumping down exits. Just not my thing.
It's definitely a marmite game - you either love it or hate it.
Finally Gauntlet! Great video as always Jamie, would love to see RoboCop at some point, definitely my favourite game on the ZX Spectrum, keep up the good work mate!
Thanks. It's been on the list for a while. I have had a good few requests too so thought I would get it out there.
Be honest we all shat our pants when the green death arrived!!
Lol
I played this in the arcade at the drive in. I also played the heck out of the NES versions, 1 and 2. I didn't get into the Genesis version until recently.
Nothing wrong with the NES game. Just couldn't fit it in with this video.
@@JustJamie1983 It's kind of its own thing. Not so much a port as it is a home version.
I remember playing Gauntlet in the arcade back in the day. What a crazy quarter muncher.
Haha
Even though the C64 could had probably done better, there was too many enemies to them to be hardware sprites, hardware scrolling should had taken some pressure from the slower processor, but the game was still processor intensive which meant it was one of those rare occasions that gave the Spectrum an advantage, also with it moving 1 character at a time it could avoid colour clash. Surprised to see they did such a great job on the Amstrad too considering it's limitations. I still spent hours and hours playing the C64 disk version with my friend, excellent fun in co-op. Later I played Gauntlet II on the Amiga which was obviously much better even though it was probably still just a lazy Atari ST port.
Yup. Like I say. It was definitely a demanding game for lower spec hardware.
I spent hours on the master system version back in the day. 😀
Quality Times 😀
I can remember buying Gauntlet for my CPC for 50p from a Whoolies bargain bin. It had no case or cover but still what a bargain.
You seen them coming lol
Both this and it's sequel Gauntlet 2 are held in high regard on Amstrad. Gauntlet 3 is a little bit different but still ok.
Certainly good ports
Beside this comparison of the first Gauntlet, the only one i loved of the whole saga, was Gauntlet III which is been released only for computer systems by another developer. That game was a revolution in the genre, some bug, but an amazing game ( at least the Amiga version was it )... The other games never gave me fun, nice for the first hour and then getting absurdely boring.
Yup. The third wasn't bad at all.
Nice, thank you.
Welcome!
On the spectrum version if you hold down the caps lock if I remember rightly you can walk through the walls
Thanks for that tip 😀
I am very impressed that you was able to get a copy of the atari 800 version i remember buying this when it came out and then again for the master system.
Yup. Fairly easy to get.
The Atari 800xl Gauntlet took ages to load.
@ most games did i remember having one game called aces of aces which was you flying a bomber in the war it would take over a hour to load and most times it would crash.
@anthonyfrancklin9058 yup. Pretty sure the Master System has a version of that too.
I play Gauntlet on my Atari 130XE. Even if I play as the Wizard, my games can go on indefinitely, as there seems to be more food than in the arcade game.
Loved the NES version, even with its occasional chance to give you a password to enter the final vault to finish the game that will never work 🤣 (something like if it gives you a password that starts with an "A" at the start, you can't finish the game)
It's a superb game but different
@@JustJamie1983 also, how rude of me not to say : I've just stumbled upon your videos, and am enjoying them muchly
@mandlecreed02 hey, thanks. Happy you are enjoying them 😀
Oww
Haha
new to this channel, some really great content! what's next? Robocop? Operation Wolf? TMNT arcade?
It's a surprise.
THE RUDE WARRIOR HAS SHOT THE FOOD! VALKARIE NEEDS FOOD BADLY!
Hehe
I think that I would have been a very pleased Megadrive owner with this version of Gauntlet.
Absolutely. For fans of the original. This was superb.
i have the nes versions both the black n gray cart.. i got gauntlet 2 as well.. i never knew there was a sega master version.. i like too try it once..
Give it a bash. It's fun.
Another game that I spent many hours(and 20 cent pieces) playing back in the 80s. Not a satanist though. Still play it on my pc through mame these days as well as on my handheld. I had the Apple 2 version back in the day and yeah, it was terrible. Great video of one of my all time favourite arcade games. Well done! I never had a Sega Megadrive back in the day which is a shame as from emulation, I'm finding that it had some incredible arcade ports for it including Gauntlet, Raiden and other amazing ports as well as original games as well. I can see now why it was and stil is such a popular machine.
Haha. The satanist comment wasn't to be taken seriously haha
@@JustJamie1983 Yeah, I know. I lolled when I heard you say it. Thought I'd add my own humor. Not so easy to do without emojis though. :)
@bryndal36 haha.
Never really got into the gauntlet craze closest I been to a game like it would be Dungeon Explorer on the TC-16 but nice to see the Genesis taking the win here.
Like i say frequently. I am not biased like a couple of people might say.
@@JustJamie1983 me I am biased against micro computers to me as a kid they were educational ewaste before I knew what ewaste was. Look up Mattel's Aquarius or the latter released Socrates by Vtech (yes that same vtech that did the Vsmile) and you'll probably understand why I hold such strong anti micro computer bias. They weren't fun they were graphically challenged to the contemporary consoles sharing space in the same years like the Aquarius couldn't lift a candle to the Colecovision nor the Socrates holding anything remotely close to the NES in terms of fun or graphics. I written them all off from any desirability by the time I reached an age I could start working so my early money making ventures were spread out for consoles and their addons forsaking any micro computer that I seen at flea malls garage sales or thrift stores.
Not bashing those that own the micros just explaining why I had an aversion to them but your lists have opened my eyes a little into the better elements to them.
@lunarvvolf9606 yup. That's cool. No biggie.
@@JustJamie1983 hope you don't mind a suggestion for a Namco arcade game by the name Dragon Spirit there were Spectrum, Amiga, Amstrad, C64, NES, Tg-16, Sharp X68000, and even a Playstation port. I doubt you'll disqualify any system for that game as they're all based on the arcade version with a minor exception to the NES in it there is more of a story to it with cut scenes.
sega mega drive gauntlet iv has to be the best port of any arcade game.
It's certainly up there.
I had Gauntlet 2 on NES
No Amiga port? Mostly agree. Usually did about 70 levels then got bored. Anyone ever finish it?
Surprisingly. No amiga release. Only sequels.
There is no finish in this game... There are 128 levels and then they are repeated, inverting the maps. In the C64 version, there is a similar error like the one in the infamous level 256 of Pac-man: When you pass the level 128 the game hangs and only a black screen awaits...
@JustJamie1983 Damn it your intro... LOL! I did not start going to the Arcades until about 1990... When I was over 16... LOL! Most I got near before that was on Holiday with the family in Devon or my Local Swimming Baths... That being said, I did love Dungeons and Dragons, I loved my Hair Metal (Still do!) and when I came across Gauntlet, YOU BET YOUR ASS I WAS NEVER GETTING OFF THAT MACHINE AS LONG AS I HAD MONEY TO PUT IN!
And while I am an Amstrad Fanboy as that was my First Official 8 Bit Micro... (I did have an Atari 400XL before that!) - Gauntlet 4 on the Mega Drive, Yeah... Steals the show!
Haha. My intro that mentioned Satanism. I was deadly serious. This game is for the dark side of humanity.
@@JustJamie1983 LMAO! I must be darker than I thought then!
@Phoenix2312 😀
Great video. No amiga port for gauntlet? I had gauntlet 2 for the cpc. I don’t think I’ve played the first one.
Amiga just had a a couple of sequels and a homebrew version back in 2012.
Your channel is amazing, but how on earth do you manage to put out so much material in such a short time?
I work extremely hard to get my channel out there.
Ugh, the IIgs port could have been so much better. Taito worked some real magic with their ports, like Rastan. I think in time developers would have figured out the IIgs more.
Yup. A real shame for sure.
Multi load on the spectrum was a pain and not much variety in levels.other than that it was good
Haha. The old multi-loaders
What a money spinner this was, I believe they kept releasing revisions in the arcades to make them harder as players got better at it and so didn't spend as much on it. Can't have fair gameplay can we. 😱
Exactly.
I'm lucky enough to still own the megadrive version
I liked metal, dungeons and dragons and gauntlet in the 80s......oh dear
Haha
Surprised Amiga never received a conversion. I think it had Gauntlet II maybe?
Yup. Had sequels but no original.
Would you consider doing Prince of Persia, JJ?😁
I will be at some point 😀
Are Monster Boy / Wonder Land games on your to-do list?.. A lot of them were ported under different names on various consoles and computers, and first one was rebranded as Revenge of Drancon and Adventure Island, which got its own sequels, and then Gameboy Adventure Island was the port of first sequel, AI2, AND THEN Gameboy game called Adventure Island 2 was actually Adventure Island 3... Game Gear did same for Wonder Boy... BUT PC Engine game called Adventure Island is actually Wonder Boy 3, which was also released as just Dragon's Curse in the West!? Gets so very confusing!.. XD Some also got sprite-swapped into Monica's Gang games in Brazil.
Honestly I loved the gameplay of Super Adventure Island 2 (which is a side-scrolling RPG-lite like Zelda 2), and had to research that to find similar games and it's SO RIDICULOUS, even Kunio-kun franchise is less confusing with endless side-quels! xD
Really great video. I disagree that the ST scrolling is smooth though - it’s awful! 👍
That's okay. Thanks for watching 👀
Like most of these videos that I upload. You are also likely seeing versions you have seen before.
Amiga should’ve got a port of original Gauntlet sadly no port
Yup, their is Garrison and that's a good clone.
Gauntlet hi veee
100%
And, the Amiga port ruclips.net/video/lyUo4siRD0I/видео.html and the MSX2 port.
Cheers
Where’s NES by Tengen?
Please listen to the intro again.