Thor
The Valkyrie, a balanced melee-oriented hero with strong physical combat.
Documented for this version
D-pad | Move the hero |
|---|---|
A | Attack |
B | Use magic |
Start | Pause the game |
How it plays
The game uses a top-down perspective. The objective is to explore each maze, defeat enemies, collect keys and treasure, locate food and power-ups, and reach the exit before losing all health.
Players control one of four heroes, each with different strengths. Movement is continuous, while attacks are aimed in the current movement direction. Progression advances through a sequence of dungeon levels with denser enemy groups and more complex layouts. The NES release is primarily a single-player adaptation rather than the arcade cabinet’s multiplayer experience.
Plan your run
Keep moving through rooms instead of fighting every enemy in an open area. Use walls, corners, and doorways to limit the directions from which monsters can approach.
Collect keys before opening locked routes, and save food for moments when your health is low. Use magic selectively against dense groups or dangerous enemies, and learn the exit route before spending time clearing optional areas.
Meet the cast
The Valkyrie, a balanced melee-oriented hero with strong physical combat.
The wizard, who relies on magical attacks and is physically weaker than the other heroes.
The elf-like character, known for speed and ranged combat.
The warrior, a durable hero specializing in physical attacks.
Before you begin
Prioritize keys, food, and the exit over low-value treasure when health is running short.
Avoid letting monsters surround the hero; retreat through corridors and attack while moving.
Use each hero according to their strengths: Thor and Questor for physical combat, Merlin for magic, and Thyra for speed and ranged attacks.
Gauntlet is an action-oriented dungeon crawler adapted from Atari Games’ 1985 arcade hit for the Nintendo Entertainment System. The player chooses one of four fantasy heroes and fights through maze-like rooms filled with monsters, treasure, food, keys, and exits. Its design emphasizes constant movement, ranged or close combat, resource management, and finding a route through increasingly dangerous stages. The NES version preserves the arcade game’s basic top-down format while presenting a scaled-down single-player experience. It was published by Tengen and is historically notable as one of the earlier home-console adaptations of a cooperative arcade game. Contemporary and later reception generally recognized its faithful concept and large-scale action, while noting differences from the arcade original and the limitations of the NES hardware.
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