Any Gauntlet owners out there?

fatherpain

Well-known member

Donor 2024
Joined
Jun 5, 2005
Messages
3,581
Reaction score
2,450
Location
Fullerton, California
Was wondering how Gauntlet does at home with freeplay...Is the game still fun or does it quickly lose its charm? For those that own or owned a Gauntlet, does it still get play time?
I liked Super Sprint when I had to pay for it, but it just didnt do it for me when I owned it...Gauntlet wasn't originally on my want list of games, but it looks like it could be a fun 4P game for the kids. Any thoughts on the game would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Tom
 
Even with both G1 and G2, it is the least used game at my place. I have it set to tokens, the thrill of dropping them in is a fond memory of back in the day, however, just doesn't keep the interest as the other games do.
 
I'm looking forward to finishing the restoration on mine, but I can see how it would grow old quickly.

I used to love it back in the day with 3 friends pouring tokens into it and I think my kids and their cousins will get the same kind of kick out of it.

I think it would help teach them a bit of co-operation to a small extent too (they're only young).
 
I used to LOVE Gauntlet when I was a kid. I had a party and brought it up on MAME playing with 4 people. All 4 of us pretty much said the same thing - meh this sucks why did we like this so much back in the day?
It's one of those games you either like it or you don't I guess.
 
I think what makes gauntlet get old is in fact the free play element. When you had a limited amount of money to dump in it you tried to see how far you could get before you died. When you can just click more life in you don't have the same goal and it gets repetitive. That said I still love mine but it will ultimately be the one that gets (reversably) hacked in to a MAME cab in the near future. :-/
 
I have one sitting in my garage for a few years that needs to be restored. It's a cool game, but definitely something you need 4 players to keep the fun factor up there.
 
Don't set it for free play and just see how far you can get on a few quarters. Challenge yourself!! Just because we can set a game on free play..doesn't mean we have to. Besides..I kinda like the sound of a quarter going in and the game coining up.
 
Gauntlet 2 was the first game in my collection. I don't play it, unless I have friends over and I have it set to take quarters because I think it completes the experience and gives a player a good perspective on how much money this game took to play back in the 80's. The goal for me is to play the game within the game and attempt to hog all the treasure, keys and to make my friends "IT" when possible. It would probably be a great game to teach kids the lessons of sharing and cooperation…


----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Working:Galaxian,Gorf,Golden Axe,Missile Command,Commando, Flash Gordon,Terminator2,Mr Do,Gauntlet2,Berzerk,Joust,Zaxxon,Centipede,Space Zap,Tron,Altered Beast,Gyruss, Defender
Projects:Galaxian,Vanguard,PolePosition,SpaceInvaders,Frontier- Pinball
 
Just got my G1.... no resto needed. The allure of the game was definitely group play, and having to pay for character strength. Not sure about how long the playability will last but I don't care, it looks cool enough and the attract mode music is fun.
 
I liked Super Sprint when I had to pay for it, but it just didnt do it for me when I owned it..

My Champ Sprint is set on TG settings, meaning you get no continues. 1 credit to see how good you are. I love it. Do the same with Gauntlet.
 
Was wondering how Gauntlet does at home with freeplay...Is the game still fun or does it quickly lose its charm?
Back in the 90s my boss wanted one of these for his home and tasked me with finding him one, so I did. He was so hung up on "wanting to finish it" that I did not have the heart to tell him it never ends. So one day he had me and a couple others over and I cannot tell you how dissapointed he was when we got past level 100 and it kept going (he was sure it would end there) and I finally fessed up. When the company went under and he moved back East, he gave it to me instead of moving it. I ended up selling it a mere matter of months latelr. If you are going to be having 4+ friends over often it is a fun party game. If not, take a pass, it will just end up sitting unused...
 
I recall playing G1 or G2 and our local arcade (Pinball Plus III) was having a contest. Whoever could get to the treasure room would win something. I remember making it to the secret treasure room and nobody acknowledged my accomplishment. I looked around....the manager was out back smoking, everyone was playing games - was a total bummer. I think after that I stopped playing Gauntlet.

Gene of VAS, are you reading this....this was at your arcade BITD. Track down that manager of yours back in 1984 and tell him he owes me. :cool:
 
I have a Gauntlet cabinet (with a Gauntlet II boardset) in my basement lineup.

This game is very popular when I have groups of people over for a party. New players seem to really like it. Mine has been on free play, but I think I may fiddle with the settings and see if I can nix the continue option. I don't really play it solo, but the game adds great ambiance to the arcade. The pipe organ in attract mode rules.

Incidentally, good Gauntlet II players can one credit going for a really long time. I had my machine at CAX a few years back, and someone there logged an incredible high score with an elf. I didn't see the game, but that person really knew how to maximize a credit.
 
heheh yes yes yes! The pipe organ music! I had totally forgotten it, but now that ya brought it up, I have the tune in my mind...Like I just heard it right now, lol. That tune does rock! + I love the character voices and sayings and that musical jingle whenever you do something in game for the first time. Itd be kinda cool just to have the game for those sounds alone.

Tom
 
Don't set it for free play and just see how far you can get on a few quarters. Challenge yourself!! Just because we can set a game on free play..doesn't mean we have to. Besides..I kinda like the sound of a quarter going in and the game coining up.

Exactly -- that's the whole key.

I was troubled by this before buying my Gauntlet Legends and that's the exact advice I was offered.

This is the real trouble with any game set on freeplay with a 'continue' option. The only thing that restores balance when you have unlimited credits is exactly this -- you have x credits now do your best with what you've got!
 
I (we, brother and I) have a gauntlet Legends and that is the only game we have set for quarters. We drop a few then try to finish on them. The coin box is unlocked so the quarters are easily accessible. Every month we have friends over and that game gets played a bit. throw a few drinks in us and it gets loud and physical. I like some of the cheats..... POGO rules! or the black bared blue elf.

it isn't the most played game but it is fun.
 
I will answer your question with a photo:

attachment.php


It actually does get some play, normally late in the evening with 3 or 4 people.
 
I think what makes gauntlet get old is in fact the free play element. When you had a limited amount of money to dump in it you tried to see how far you could get before you died. When you can just click more life in you don't have the same goal and it gets repetitive. That said I still love mine but it will ultimately be the one that gets (reversably) hacked in to a MAME cab in the near future. :-/

This is what kinda killed it for me as well. The challenge is gone to get as far as possible if you have unlimited credits.

However, it's still a fun party game and a great cabinet. Awesome sounds, and if you play just to see how far you can get without continuing, I think it can be challenging enough.
 
Back
Top Bottom