Previous Next

Gauntlet for a tenner sounded like a bargain but Gauntlet for two quid sounds too good to be true. And it is.

Storm, a two player maze game, comes across as a Gauntlet clone, but you're better off avoiding the comparisons and just treating it as what it is. It doesn't bear comparison to the US Gold conversion.

The plot is simple. You play Storm, a musclebound hunk of a man, whose wife, Corinne, has been abducted by the ludicrously named Una Cum. Together with your trusty old mate Agravain the Undead, you enter the castle and begin searching for your old lady.

The first think you'll notice as you begin is the curious birds-eye view you get of the characters which make them look like a couple of paraplegic crabs. This immediately detracts from the playability of the game since it's so hard on the eye. To make matters worse you often walk into shadows of colour which make it difficult to see what the hell you're doing.

Another irritant is the joystick control which necessitates that you point yourself in the right direction before walking that way.

As you both work your way around the maze in search of the snake broaches which will unlock the door to the laboratory where Corinne is held, you'll encounter typical Gauntlet-like objects. Nasties appear from generators which you can shoot out (although these reappear when you re-enter the room); keys, which you need to open certain doors; food, which gives you extra energy; and symbols which operate traps.

There's lots of to-ing and fro-ing in various directions and you'll often have to retrace your steps to enter a different part of the maze. Map making becomes essential.

My first reaction to Storm was one of repulsion, but it's not that bad and if you treat it as a maze game you'll feel a lot happier. But Gauntlet this ain't.