Story time. This was the game I played the most during my ps2 run. It was great, it had exploration, action, puzzles in a way and a bit of a collect a thon. Medieval fantasy setting in a way and even with some flaws this was such a great game. Played for many hours on end and even at times slept with the game running on my PlayStation 2. With a decent story and cast this is… Gauntlet Dark Legacy, not really a sequel but more of an expansion from the original Gauntlet Legends, for the PlayStation 2

Graphics: 6
The graphics are outdated. Even for it’s time in 2001 the graphics look so outdated most likely belong in the early days 2000s or even PlayStation 1. Texture weren’t bad and 3-D models and levels look the part but this wasn’t breath taking one bit and it doesn’t show the true potential the PlayStation 2 had to offer. It may because it was released on a blue disc or small budget, but they could’ve done better than what they offered. Monsters are basically reskins of one another and the videos they play aren’t spectacular to look at. Half the realms are “updated” graphics of their previous PlayStation installment though I wouldn’t say a lot has changed. They’re just reused textures with a higher resolution and nothing else. Animation looks choppy at times and there are some slow downs which can hinder the experience. Color seems to be too dark with tones at times and models like flames or walls just seem too simple. Some boundaries in the game look like they belong in a N64. Disappointing six overall

Addictive: 6
It’s a classic RPG hack and slash up. The setting similar to fantasy and medieval times and a leveling system can entice a few players but unless this is your favorite genre it can get boring within hours. This is a game most spent in a few hours a day to not get sick of it. Another disappointing six

Sound: 8
The music is pretty great. Sound effects play their part and each effect doesn’t sound choppy or missing. Though one complaint is that at times the sound feels too muffled or compressed.. Another complaint, though small, is that all levels reuse the same songs that were in the previous installment of the PSX version. Most assets were basically recycled from the PSX which not that bad but I wish they did a better job.

With the newer additions they made the music sound great from their respective realms and use of piano and harps make it more of a dark undertone than anything. Organs playing does increase the spook factor but man they’re going through the gothic setting.

Overall a decent 8

Story and depth: 9
An evil Mage named Garm used magic and with the Runestones summoned a demon named Skorn. Unable to control this malevolent demon, Garm gets overwhelmed and crushed by the demon, which his soul is taken as a prisoner as the demon scatters all the runestones and breaks the glass of the temple. There was no one to stop him until now. It’s your destiny to venture through the 8 (presumably) realms and collect the runestones and fight your way to face Skorn and imprison him back where he came from.

This game can not only be played solo but you can play with up to four players. Starting the game it asks for your name (which is also a password/cheat). After that, your mission is to collect 13 Runestones scattered within 8 realms (with a cathedral and a secret realm) to meet Skorn and defeat him and all his evil. With this you can choose one of eight available characters (Four from the previous Gauntlet Legends) with their own stats (Attack, Speed, Armor, Magic) and weapons. The weapons are for show as the stats are the main core.

Warrior: uses an axe to throw at enemies, with Attack being his best stat and Magic being his worst.

Wizard: using a staff he throws projectiles to opponents with his magic being the best stat and defense being his worst.

Archer: fast and quick footed, she uses her bow and arrow to attack enemies with ease. Her speed is the best stat while she’s lacking in attack stats.

Valkyrie: the well rounded character of the team. Her stats are well balanced and with a sword she can slice and dice opponents to their defeat. Her best stat being speed while her worst is none. The other three stats are the same

Jester: a prankster who knows how to blow a crowd. His weapon being a bomb to throw at enemies with speed being his best stat and strength and armor both being his worst.

Knight: a defensive chivalrous hero who with his ball and chain knocks enemies down to the ground and lie lifeless. His best stat being defense while his worst is magic.

Sorceress: a wand and a bippity boppity boop and she cast enemies to their doom. Her magic is the best stat she has while she lacks in defense.

Dwarf: the shortest of the group yet not one to be make light of. With a hammer he swings and knocks enemies out and makes sure it’s lights out permanently for them. His attack is the best stat while his magic hinders.

Each character starts off with 500 health. You can level them up by defeating enemies and gaining experience, increasing your stats by five points and health by one hundred points each level. Increasing your level also grants you perks when ranking higher as you travel to different worlds.

A wizard named Sumner greets you and tells you the events and what he needs to unlock the worlds for you. You must collect crystals, each colored differently to unlock different realms to explore. As you progress to new worlds, more difficult monsters and a higher number of crystals are needed to collect for completion. Monsters appear through openings or “generators” that spawn them into battle. Destroying the generators ceases spawning and it doesn’t regenerate (a bogus trope in the Legends psx version). With the typical creatures lurking around the maps there are some generals who are quite powerful but rewards your with good once defeated. Treasure chests are scattered throughout for goods and gold to help you through your journey and finding the Runestones. With the gold you enter a shop and buy goods and weapons to make things easier for you. From keys and potions to health and even stat boosting, the shop is very beneficial.

Though with the worlds some are blocked by statues and need to collect golden items, which are dropped by raven colored creatures or hidden around the maps, corresponding to the statue to enter the new realms.

Each world contains five levels which is cut up into two different settings and one boss monster. Runestones vary in numbers in each realm and the wizard will tell you hints and tips whenever you talk to him to know how many stones and where they are located in each realm and world. With the boss monsters, each boss weak against certain key items located in different worlds. As you defeat the bosses a glass shard appears, which are necessary to open the cathedral to fight your way to beat Skorn. Be careful though as Death appears through certain levels in each realm ready to take away your health or experience and only a potion or a halo can defeat this undying entity.

Realm 1 is the Poison fields/ Mausoleum. The first realm to enter and the easiest. Zombies and worms overtaken this realm and you must venture through the fields finding the first few Runestones enter a Mausoleum. Inside you face ghosts and once you enter the final stage, the Linch awaits to take your head off.

Realm 2 are the mountains and caves. Many ogres and scorpions run rampant within the mountains and things aren’t what they seem with the doors. Using keys must not be wasted as you go through and once you reach within the cave you are treated by large dinosaur-esque creatures ready to bite your head off. If you survive a dragon awaits to burn you alive.

Realm 3 is the castle stronghold and the castle itself. Goblins come by and defend their leader as mice run amuck to bite your health to zero. Once you enter into the castle you’ll be greeted by possessed empty knights and you must solve pathways to find Runestones and exits to face the Chimera and its mighty power.

Realm 4 is the sky realm. Finding your way to face monsters in gas masks and sludge worms, you must travel to the top of the tower to find exits and open the levels of the sky. Navigating through sky ships you’ll be greeted by floating head monsters. A huge sludge monster is the final boss.

Realm 5, you are now entering the forest. Navigating through traps and jungles with toad creatures and spiders, you must be patient and work your way to exits to climb the trees and defeat tree monsters while preparing for your assault against the Spider Queen and her web.

Realm 6 is the desert realm. More traps and puzzles to navigate through this labyrinth as ogre pharaohs will come and hunt you down with snakes biting your health away. Once you find the entrance to the pyramids, mummies come out of tombs and terrorize you until you escape and meet with the boss of this realm. The boss, Genie won’t grant you a wish but he wishes for your demise.

Realm 7 is the ice realm with mines and dwellings. Finding your way into the chilly world you’ll see miners and wolves to attack you at every step. Nearing to the final level tremor worms appear and will do anything to make you a tasty meal. The final boss is the Yeti who doesn’t seem to keen on seeing strangers in his presence.

Realm 8 is the dream realm with carnivals and a trippy experience. Bat creatures and walking hands appear from the ground to haunt your living nightmare as you fight your way to find the final Runestones and the final shard in this realm. This isn’t no regular realm though as the farther you go the more reality loses itself within the settings with illusions and traps with creatures sprawling out of the mirrors to torment your life. The Wraith awaits you to kill while keeping his shard safe.

Once you get all the shards and Runestones you will be greeted to the desecrated temple and the underworld. The desecrated temple is your first fight against Skorn while the underworld is your second and final fight to Skorn, so you thought. Once you banish him from the underworld he is resurrected again for one final fight in the hidden 9th realm, one which is easy to find yet you must complete all before this encounter and find the final golden items to access this short realm and find the final 13th Runestone.

Overall with a story about a demonic entity and gothic vibes this game presents itself with the basis as their previous installments, even to the original Gauntlet. Find the exit with mazes and the replay value is there, just not as exciting since it’s the same game but with different stats. Though with each realm there is a secret exit hidden in one of these levels that grants you a chance to unlock a secret character that’s a beef’d up version of the 8 characters. With different color schemes (4 colors) between each character you can find different a player you might find suitable. The depth of the story is pretty good but the gameplay depth isn’t so much so but it’s intriguing to have an update of an old mechanic. It takes hours to complete and find everything and if you want to 100 percent it. Go ahead it’ll be worth the time.

Difficulty: 7
The game does have a normal and hard setting at the options menu but you can easily farm experience with the monsters in the game and gain some levels when in dire need. What makes this game a bit more challenging is the health. The farther you venture the more difficult to heal up your health due to the shop only replenishing less than a hundred health, your leveling up and monsters dealing more damage, and being overwhelmed by crowds of entities the deeper you go. Weapons you picked up, you must use them as there is no way to save them or use for later, which is a downside. Though overall. it’s very manageable to say the least and you really don’t need to have max health to survive every level but with the farming… you got this.

Overall: though the review might be a poor rating in my standards, it’s very much an enjoyable game for me but I’m trying to be fair and not biased. This game was my childhood basically. When I had Gauntlet Legends it was a simple yet effective game to pass the time and when I received Dark legacy I was hooked for so many hours that I broke the disc from overusing and it’s so scratched up. This was my game and I still own the same disc to this day and another copy. One of 8 games I own multiple copies at this moment (Driver, Driver 2, Tony Hawk 1 and 4, Gran Turismo and Twisted Metal 4) this is a game not meant for everyone but to be enjoyed with friends for a better experience.

Overall: 7.5
My rating : 8.5