gauntlet

Gauntlet is a series of action role-playing games developed by Accolade and published by Atari. The series is known for its fast-paced gameplay, challenging difficulty, and distinctive visual style. The first game in the series, Gauntlet, was released in 1985 for the Atari 2600 and later ported to other platforms. It introduced the concept of a player-controlled character navigating through a series of levels filled with enemies, traps, and obstacles, with the ultimate goal of defeating a final boss.

The series is notable for its use of a unique control scheme, where the player uses a joystick to move the character and a separate button to attack. This control scheme has become a signature element of the Gauntlet series. The games also feature a variety of weapons and power-ups that the player can collect to enhance their abilities.

Gauntlet II, released in 1986, introduced a new character, Barx, and expanded upon the gameplay mechanics of the original game. Subsequent entries in the series, such as Gauntlet III: The Final Quest and Gauntlet IV, continued to build upon the series' core gameplay elements while introducing new features and challenges.

The Gauntlet series has been praised for its fast-paced action and challenging gameplay, but it has also been criticized for its difficulty and lack of depth. Despite this, the series has had a significant impact on the action role-playing genre and has influenced many other games that followed.