EPISODE 05: Gauntlet: The Third Encounter

#PA2024, Published by Atari Corp.

In this episode, I cover Gauntlet: The Third Encounter, which was released in 1990. Included in the episode is a complete rundown of the gameplay, music, and sound effects. I also highlight reviews of the game, and some of my loyal listeners have kindly provided their feedback on Gauntlet, so I share it as well. Plus, I also provide information about the prices that collectors can expect to pay for an Atari Lynx Gauntlet cartridge on eBay.

The carton cover art for the 1990 Atari Lynx game covered in this episode, Gauntlet: The Third Encounter (top), was re-used by Tengen (the home console software licensing arm of Atari) to serve as the carton cover art for the 1993 Sega Genesis game Gauntlet IV (bottom).

GAUNTLET: THE THIRD ENCOUNTER VITAL STATISTICS

Release Date: By April of 1990.

Initial Retail Price: $39.95.

Cartridge Information: 128kb stereo cartridge available in two styles (ridged and curved lip).

Game Genre: Arcade castle maze crawl/shoot-em-up for one player on the console, or two-four players using the ComLynx cable.

Working Title: Time Quests and Treasure Chests (while under development at Epyx, Inc.).

The portrait (vertical) orientation of the screen/playfield in Gauntlet: The Third Encounter for the Lynx was questioned by game players and critics, both at the time of release and in the time since then. Shinto of The Atari Jaguar Game by Game Podcast came up with a mockup of what a normal landscape (horizontal) orientation would look like for the game, had it been designed that way instead. Both the Action window and the Statistics/Radar/Inventory window remain the same size regardless of the orientation, but each window is repositioned. Do you think it would have made a difference in gameplay, or in the ultimate success of the game?

Screen Playfield Orientation: Portrait (vertical).

Based On: Various Gauntlet arcade games released between 1985 and 1988; even though this game is usually included in the Gauntlet franchise that appeared in game consoles and home computers of the day (1985-2005), its inclusion in the franchise was a marketing ploy to capitalize on the Gauntlet name, and as such it is not considered an essential part of the Gauntlet canon.

Ports to Other Systems: This game was never ported to any other systems.

Sequels: Gauntlet III: The Final Quest (pseudo-sequel), released in 1991 for the Atari ST, the Commodore 64, the ZX Spectrum, and the Amstrad CPC.

Number of Players: 1-4 (with ComLynx support).

Packaging: Standard-tab regular-size carton (5 3/8″ by 4 3/8″ by 7/8″) in full color; cover art was used for 1993 game Gauntlet IV for the Sega Genesis.

Instruction Manual: Stapled 28-page regular-size booklet (4 7/8″ by 3 3/4″) in monochrome in English.

GAUNTLET: THE THIRD ENCOUNTER CREDITS

Developer/Licensee: Epyx, Inc.

Writer: Jon Leupp.

Artwork: Paul Vernon.

Sounds: Robert Vieira and LX (Alex) Rudis.

Music: Robert Vieira and LX (Alex) Rudis.

Majority of Levels: Chuck Sommerville and Charlie Kellner.

LYNXED IN

How to Win a McWill-modded Lynx I Console:

Rules and details about how to enter the Retro Man Cave Giveaway Competition can be found here. First Prize is a working Lynx I console, recapped and upgraded with the McWill LCD screen!

New Home Brew Title for the Atari Lynx: Wyvern Tales

A developer in Amsterdam named Ninjabba on the Atari Age Lynx Forums is getting ready to release his new Atari Lynx JRPG title, Wyvern Tales. Those who responded to his announcement a year ago on Atari Age to reserve a copy (or who subscribed on his <a style="color: #000000;" href="http://www.wyverntales.