View source for Gauntlet II

{{Short description|1986 arcade video game}}
{{For|the TV show|Real World/Road Rules Challenge: The Gauntlet II}}
{{Infobox video game
| title = Gauntlet II
| image = Gauntlet II game flyer.png
| caption = Arcade flyer
| developer = [[Atari Games]]
| publisher = Atari Games<br>'''Home computers'''{{vgrelease|NA|[[Mindscape (company)|Mindscape]]|EU|[[U.S. Gold]]}}
| designer = [[Ed Logg]]
| programmer = Ed Logg<br>Bob Flanagan
| artist = Sam Comstock<br>Susan G. McBride<br>Alan J. Murphy<br>Will Noble
| composer = Hal Canon<br>[[Brad Fuller (composer)|Brad Fuller]]<br>Earl Vickers
| series = ''[[Gauntlet (series)|Gauntlet]]''
| released = August 1986<ref name=agpc3>{{cite magazine|magazine=Atari Games Players Journal|title=The Adventures Continues With Gauntlet|date=August 1986|volume=1|issue=3|url=http://www.atarimania.com/mags/pdf/atari-games-players-club-vol-01-number-03.pdf}}</ref><ref name=klov>{{cite web |url=http://www.arcade-museum.com/game_detail.php?game_id=7925 |title=Gauntlet II|publisher=The International Arcade Museum}}</ref>
| genre = [[Hack and slash]], [[dungeon crawl]]
| modes = [[Single-player]], [[multiplayer]]
| arcade system = [[Arcade system board#Atari|Atari Gauntlet]]
| platforms = [[Arcade game|Arcade]], [[Amiga]], [[Amstrad CPC]], [[Atari ST]], [[Commodore 64]], [[Game Boy]], [[MS-DOS]], [[Nintendo Entertainment System|NES]], [[ZX Spectrum]]
}}

'''''Gauntlet II''''' is a 1986 [[arcade game]] produced by [[Atari Games]] that serves as the immediate sequel to the original ''[[Gauntlet (1985 video game)|Gauntlet]]'', which was released the previous year.  Like its predecessor, ''Gauntlet II'' is a [[fantasy]]-themed top down [[dungeon crawl]]er game and was released as a dedicated cabinet, as well as a conversion kit, both available in 2-player and 4-player versions.

==Gameplay==
[[Image:ARC Gauntlet_II.png|thumb|left|Arcade screenshot]]

''Gauntlet II'' is essentially an expanded version of the original ''[[Gauntlet (1985 video game)#Gameplay|Gauntlet]]''. Like in the original game, there are four character classes to play as, with the choices being Warrior, Valkyrie, Wizard and Elf. The main difference from the original game is that multiple players can now choose to play as the same character class. Because of this each player is now distinguished by the palette of their character, with red and blue being in all versions of the game, while yellow and green are featured in the 4-player version. New voice samples were added in ''Gauntlet II'', identifying each player by their color and class (e.g. "Yellow Elf", "Red Wizard").

New level designs were added, including the possibility of encountering them in altered ways by having the play-field turned in steps of 90°. Other new features include the enemy "It", which upon contact made a player "It" and drew all enemies towards them. The only way to release this curse is by [[Tag (game)|touching another player]] or entering the exit, turning any level containing "It" into a fantasy filled game of tag. Other notable additions include the ability to ricochet shots off walls by means of a special [[power-up|pick-up]], acid puddles that caused large, predetermined amounts of damage and a large dragon which occupied multiple squares and required multiple hits to destroy.<ref name=ahistory>{{cite web | url=http://www.arcade-history.com/?n=gauntlet&page=detail&id=939 | title=Gauntlet II The Arcade Video Game by Atari Games Corp. | publisher=Arcade History}}</ref>

New level elements were also added, adding more variety to the original game. These included "all walls are invisible", "magic walls" which changed into monsters or items when hit, "stun tiles" which stunned the player, and fake exits.

Another challenge in the game is the possibility to find a "secret room". This can be found by completing specific achievements within the level (e.g., "don't be fooled", means that you must find the real exit first). The secret room contains items such as food and magic potions (extra shot power, extra shot speed, extra magic power, extra speed, extra armor and extra fight power).

==Development==
Shortly after the release of the original ''Gauntlet'', until March 31, 1986, Atari Games held a contest where players submitted level designs, game ideas, and other suggestions for a potential ''Gauntlet'' sequel.<ref name=agpc1>{{cite magazine|magazine=Atari Games Players Journal|title=Gauntlet Maze Design Contest|date=January 1986|volume=1|issue=1|url=http://www.atarimania.com/mags/pdf/atari-games-players-club-vol-01-number-01.pdf}}</ref><ref name=cashbox>{{cite magazine|magazine=Cash Box|title='Gauntlet' Contest Announced|date=February 1, 1986|url=https://archive.org/details/cashbox49unse_31/page/38}}</ref> The winners of the contest were announced in the April 1986 issue of Atari Games' newsletter,<ref name=agpc2>{{cite magazine|magazine=Atari Games Players Journal|title=Gauntlet Maze Design Contest|date=April 1986|volume=1|issue=2|url=http://www.atarimania.com/mags/pdf/atari-games-players-club-vol-01-number-02.pdf}}</ref> and the developers implemented some of those submissions in ''Gauntlet II''. During the release of ''Gauntlet II'', Atari Games held a second contest where players were tasked to find the secret rooms in the game itself. After fulfilling a certain task, the players were given a code, which they submitted to Atari Games via an entry form; the grand prize was a U.S. government saving bond valued at $5000, and the first 500 entries received a t-shirt. The contest was held until December 19.<ref name=agpc3/><ref name=cashbox860913>{{cite magazine|magazine=Cash Box|title=It's A Brand New Game: Gauntlet II|date=September 13, 1986|url=https://archive.org/details/cashbox50unse_7/page/34}}</ref>

==Releases==
''Gauntlet II'' was ported to the [[ZX Spectrum]], [[Amstrad CPC]], [[Commodore 64]], [[Amiga]], [[Atari ST]] and [[MS-DOS]] in 1987. These versions of the game were released in North America by [[Mindscape (software publisher)|Mindscape]] and in Europe by [[U.S. Gold]]. Most versions only supported two players, but the Atari ST version supported an adaptor that allowed two further joysticks (totalling four) to be connected via that machine's [[parallel port]]. Mindscape later ported the game to the [[Nintendo Entertainment System]] in 1990 and the [[Game Boy]] in 1991. The NES version of ''Gauntlet II'' was one of the earliest games for the console that supported up to four players, being compatible with either the [[NES Four Score]] or [[NES Satellite]] adapters.<ref name=np19>{{cite magazine|magazine=Nintendo Power|title=Gauntlet II|issue=19|pages=25–36|date=December 1990}}</ref> Unlike the NES version of the first ''Gauntlet'', ''Gauntlet II'' was a more direct conversion of the arcade original, lacking any sort of storyline or ending.

''Gauntlet II'' is also included in the compilations ''[[Midway Arcade Treasures 2]]'' (released for [[PlayStation 2]], [[Xbox (console)|Xbox]] and [[GameCube]] in 2004) and ''[[Midway Arcade Origins]]'' (released for [[PlayStation 3]] and [[Xbox 360]] in 2012).<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2012/11/14/midway-arcade-origins-review | title=Squeezing 30 fridge-sized games onto a disc proves difficult |date=November 13, 2012 |publisher=ign.com}}</ref> A stand-alone port of the game was also released by [[Sony Online Entertainment]] for the [[PlayStation 3]] on May 3, 2007 as a downloadable game on the [[PlayStation Store]], but has since been delisted.

==Reception==
{{Video game reviews
|CVG=32/40<ref>{{cite journal| journal=C+VG | date=July 1988 | issue=81 | pages=34–35 | title=Gauntlet II Review | publisher=[[EMAP]] |url=https://archive.org/stream/cvg-magazine-081/CVG_081_Jul_1988#page/n33/mode/2up}}</ref>
|CRASH=65%<ref>{{cite journal| journal=Crash! | date=February 1988 | issue=49 | pages=94 | title=Gauntlet II Review | publisher=[[Newsfield Publications Ltd]] |url=https://archive.org/stream/crash-magazine-49/Crash_49_Feb_1988#page/n93/mode/1up}}</ref>
|SUser={{Rating|10|10}}<ref>{{cite journal| journal=Sinclair User | date=January 1988 | issue=70 | pages=29 | title=Gauntlet II Review | publisher=[[EMAP]] |url=https://archive.org/stream/sinclair-user-magazine-070/SinclairUser_070_Jan_1988#page/n28/mode/1up}}</ref>
|EGM = 5/10, 6/10, 5/10, 5/10<br/>(NES)<ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]]|title=Review Crew|date=January 1991|volume=4|issue=18|publisher=Sendai Publishing|first1=Steve|first2=Ed|first3=Martin|author4=Sushi-X|last1=Harris|last2=Semrad|last3=Alessi|url=https://archive.gamehistory.org/item/dc9de403-27eb-440e-99a4-5388b5a542fd|via=[[Video Game History Foundation]]|accessdate=October 9, 2025|p=18}}</ref>
|YSinclair=8/10<ref>{{cite journal|journal= Your Sinclair | title=Gauntlet II Review | date= February 1988 | issue=26 | page=65 | publisher=[[Future plc]] | url=https://archive.org/stream/your-sinclair-26/YourSinclair_26_Feb_1988#page/n64/mode/1up}}</ref>
|rev1 = ''[[ACE (games magazine)|ACE]]''
|rev1Score = 820/1000<ref>{{cite journal|journal=ACE | title=Gauntlet II Review | date=October 1988 | issue=12 | page=63 | publisher=[[EMAP]] | url=https://archive.org/stream/ace-magazine-12/ACE_Issue_12_1988_Sep#page/n62/mode/1up}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|journal=ACE | title=Updates: Amiga - Gauntlet II | date=May 1989 | issue=20 | page=77 | publisher=[[EMAP]] | url=https://archive.org/stream/ace-magazine-12/ACE_Issue_12_1988_Sep#page/n62/mode/1up}}</ref>
|rev2=''[[Amiga Action]]''
|rev2Score=84%<ref>{{cite journal|journal=[[Amiga Action]] | title=Gauntlet II Review | date=Apr 1991| pages=92 | publisher=Europress | url=http://amr.abime.net/review_6048}}</ref>
|rev3=''[[Atari ST User]]''
|rev3Score=9/10<ref>{{cite journal|journal=[[Atari ST User]] | title=Gauntlet II Review | date=September 1988| volume=3 | issue=7 | pages=35 | url=http://www.atarimania.com/mags/hi_res/atari-st-user-vol-03-issue-07_35.jpg}}</ref>
|rev4=''[[Amiga User International]]''
|rev4Score=8/10<ref>{{cite journal|journal=[[Amiga User International]] | title=Gauntlet II Review  | date=February 1989 | volume=3 | issue=2 | pages=28 | url=http://amr.abime.net/review_7222}}</ref>
|rev5=''[[Commodore User]]''
|rev5Score=  C64: 7/10<ref>{{cite journal|journal=[[Commodore User]] | title=Gauntlet II Review | date=February 1988 | issue=53 | pages=17 | url=https://archive.org/stream/commodore-user-magazine-53/Commodore_User_Issue_53_1988_Feb#page/n16/mode/1up}}</ref><br>
Amiga: 94%<ref>{{cite journal|journal=[[Commodore User]] | title=Gauntlet II Review | date=February 1989 | issue=65 | pages=20 | url=https://archive.org/stream/commodore-user-magazine-65/Commodore_User_Issue_65_1989_Feb#page/n19/mode/1up}}</ref>
|rev6=''[[The Games Machine]]''
|rev6Score=93%<ref>{{cite journal|journal=[[The Games Machine]] | title=A Fist Off Iron Too | date= July 1988 | pages=68–69 | issue=11 | publisher=[[Newsfield]] | url=https://archive.org/stream/thegamesmachine-magazine-11/TheGamesMachine_11#page/n55/mode/1up}}</ref>
|rev7=''Play Time''
|rev7Score= GB: 74% GB<ref name=playtime>{{cite journal|journal=Play Time | first=Ipisch | last=Hans | title=''Gauntlet II'' | pages=82 | date=June 1992}}</ref>
|rev8=''[[ST Action]]''
|rev8Score=88%<ref>{{cite journal|journal=[[ST Action]] | title=Gauntlet II Review | date=August 1988 | volume=1 | issue=4 | pages=60–62 | url=https://archive.org/stream/ST_Action_Volume_1_Issue_4_1988-08_Gollner_Publishing_GB#page/n63/mode/2up}}</ref>
|rev9=''Your Amiga''
|rev9Score=70%<ref>{{cite journal|journal=Your Amiga | title=Gauntlet II Review | date=June 1989 | pages=32 | url=http://amr.abime.net/review_4963}}</ref>
|rev10 = [[Zzap!64]]
|rev10Score = 81%<ref>{{cite journal| journal=Zzap!64 | date=March 1988 | issue=35 | pages=11 | title=Gauntlet II Review |publisher=[[Newsfield]] |url=https://archive.org/stream/zzap64-magazine-035/ZZap_64_Issue_035_1988_Mar#page/n10/mode/1up}}</ref>
|award1Pub=Sinclair User
|award1=SU Classic<ref>Game review, Sinclair User issue 70, [[EMAP]], January 1988, page 29</ref>
}}

The Game Boy version was praised by the German ''Play Time'' magazine for its technical implementation (including 8-directional scrolling), faithful recreation of graphics, and for evoking nostalgic feelings with similar sound effects; however, this version was criticized for difficult-to-recognize sprites and its technically weak theme music.<ref name=playtime/>

The Spectrum version of the game was well received, ''Sinclair User'' said it was "a corker. Fast action and superb gameplay make ''Gauntlet II'' probably the first sequel worth the cash". ''Your Sinclair'' said it was "a 'must have' for all of you who asked for Gauntlet on your Desert Island Disks". Both ''YS'' and ''Crash'' gave the main weaknesses as the sound and the over-similarity to the original.

In 1997 ''[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]]'' listed ''Gauntlet II'' as the 3rd best arcade game of all time.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=The 10 Best Arcade Games of All Time |magazine=[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]]|issue=100 |publisher=[[Ziff Davis]] |date=November 1997|page=130}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Wikiquote}}
*{{KLOV game|7925}}
*[http://www.arcade-history.com/?page=detail&id=939 ''Gauntlet II''] at the Arcade History database
*[http://www.atarimania.com/game-atari-st-gauntlet-ii_s8253.html ''Gauntlet II''] for the Atari ST at Atari Mania
*{{lemon64 game|id=1031|name=Gauntlet II}}
*{{WoS game|id=0001991}}

{{Atari Games}}
{{Gauntlet series}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gauntlet 2}}
[[Category:1986 video games]]
[[Category:Amiga games]]
[[Category:Amstrad CPC games]]
[[Category:Arcade video games]]
[[Category:Atari arcade games]]
[[Category:Atari ST games]]
[[Category:Cancelled Master System games]]
[[Category:Commodore 64 games]]
[[Category:Cooperative video games]]
[[Category:Ed Logg games]]
[[Category:Game Boy games]]
[[Category:Midway video games]]
[[Category:Nintendo Entertainment System games]]
[[Category:DOS games]]
[[Category:U.S. Gold games]]
[[Category:Sequel video games]]
[[Category:Video games about valkyries]]
[[Category:Video games about dragons]]
[[Category:Video games scored by Ben Daglish]]
[[Category:Video games developed in the United States]]
[[Category:Video games featuring female protagonists]]
[[Category:Top-down video games]]
[[Category:ZX Spectrum games]]
[[Category:Mindscape games]]
[[Category:Multiplayer and single-player video games]]