{{short description|1994 video game}} {{Infobox video game |title=Gauntlet IV |image= Gauntlet IV cover.jpeg |developer=[[M2 (game developer)|M2]] |publisher=[[Tengen (company)|Tengen]] |platforms=[[Sega Genesis]] |released={{Video game release|JP|September 17, 1993<ref name="3rd party titles - Sega JP">{{cite web |title=Software List (Software Licensee Release) |url=https://www.sega.jp/history/hard/megadrive/software_l.html |website=Sega Hardware Encyclopedia |publisher=[[Sega|Sega Corporation]] |access-date=May 15, 2023 |language=ja}}</ref>|NA|September 1993<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/details/electronic-gaming-monthly-issue-51-october-1993/page/162/mode/2up|title=Fact File: Gauntlet IV|magazine=[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]]|issue=51|date=October 1993|pages=162-163|accessdate=January 10, 2022}}</ref>|EU|November 1993<ref>{{cite web|title=Game Review: Gauntlet 4|url=https://archive.gamehistory.org/item/fa1ec58b-247f-4827-90be-86437426f330|work=[[Mega (video game magazine)|Mega]]|publisher=[[Future plc]]|accessdate=24 September 2024|date=October 1993|pages=32-33}}</ref>}} |designer=Masatoshi Kawasaki |programmer=Tetsuya Abe |artist=Masatoshi Kawasaki<br>Makoto Asao<br>Naoki Horii |writer=Gorou Sumiyoshi |composer={{ubl|[[Hitoshi Sakimoto]]|[[Masaharu Iwata]]}} |genre=[[Action game|Action]] |modes=[[Single-player]], [[multiplayer]] |series= }} '''''Gauntlet IV'''''{{efn|Known in Japan as {{Nihongo|'''''Gauntlet'''''|ガントレット|Gantoretto|lead=yes}}}} is a 1993 [[action video game]] developed by [[M2 (game developer)|M2]] and published by [[Tengen (company)|Tengen]] for the [[Sega Genesis]]. It includes a four player port of the original [[Gauntlet (1985 video game)|''Gauntlet'']], as well other exclusive modes such as a new RPG Quest Mode and head to head battle mode, it was well received by critics.

== Gameplay == ''Gauntlet IV'' features four different modes with different game play styles:

"Arcade mode", a port of the original arcade game, which has up to four players exploring a sequence of dungeons shooting at masses of enemies with projectile weapons, collecting keys to open locked doors and finding potions that wipe out all enemies onscreen. The players health decreases constantly as the game progresses and has to be replenished by collecting food items and each stage often has multiple exits which send you to different levels.

"Quest mode", which is the main feature of the game, and is set in all new dungeons with new bosses to fight against and which combines the game play of the original game with new RPG elements such as character-leveling and item purchasing as well as featuring the ability to save game progress.

"Battle mode", a [[deathmatch (video games)|deathmatch]] game, which has the players fighting against each other in arenas. The arenas include hidden power-ups that increase the players' attributes for that match and within this mode the projectile weapons bounce around the screen and can be used to force opponents into the exits to cause a "ring out"

And "Record mode", a single-player only variant of arcade mode in which progress is kept track via a password.

== Development and release == ''Gauntlet IV'' began as a port of the original ''[[Gauntlet (1985 video game)|Gauntlet]]'' for the [[X68000]] as a project by a group of friends in Japan who would later form the development studio [[M2 (game developer)|M2]]. It was picked up by [[Atari Games]], the makers of the original game, and used instead as the basis for a sequel for the Genesis published by Tengen, their home-publishing imprint.<ref name="M2Gauntlet">{{cite web|url=https://www.mtwo.co.jp/en/corp-profile/|title=Corporate Profile|date=20 December 2013 |publisher=[[M2 (game developer)|M2]]|access-date=2019-09-14}}</ref> The game's soundtrack was composed by [[Hitoshi Sakimoto]] and [[Masaharu Iwata]].

==Reception== {{video game reviews |rev1= ''[[Mean Machines]]'' |rev1Score = 94%<ref>{{cite journal | title=''Gauntlet 4'' review | journal=[[Mean Machines]] | issue=13 | pages=50–53 | date=November 1993 | publisher=[[EMAP]] | url=https://archive.org/stream/mean-machines-sega-magazine-13/MMSega_13_Nov_1993#page/n49/mode/2up}}</ref> |rev2 = ''[[Mega (video game magazine)|Mega]]'' |rev2Score = 90%<ref>{{cite journal | title=Mega review | journal=[[Mega (video game magazine)|Mega]] | publisher=[[Future Publishing]] | issue=13 | page=32 | date=October 1993}}</ref> |rev3= ''[[MegaTech]]'' |rev3Score = 94%<ref>{{cite journal | title=''Gauntlet 4'' review | journal=[[MegaTech]] | publisher=[[EMAP]] | issue=22 | page=76 | date=October 1993}}</ref> }}

Upon the game's release in 1993, ''[[MegaTech]]'' said that "the action is flawless" and had stood the test of time well. They continued that it was "a brilliant game, and one that warrants immediate attention". ''[[Mega (video game magazine)|Mega]]'' praised the longevity of the game, saying it was "huge fun and a must-buy" and placing the game at No.&nbsp;19 in their list of the best Mega Drive games of all time.<ref>[[iarchive:mega14_202004/page/n85/mode/2up|Mega Top 100 feature]], [[Future Publishing]], issue 14, page 87, November 1993</ref>

== Notes == {{notelist}}

== References == {{reflist}}

{{Gauntlet series}}

[[Category:1993 video games]] [[Category:Dungeon crawler video games]] [[Category:Fantasy video games]] [[Category:Hack and slash games]] [[Category:Sega Genesis games]] [[Category:Sega Genesis-only games]] [[Category:Sequel video games]] [[Category:Video games about valkyries]] [[Category:Video games developed in Japan]] [[Category:Video games scored by Masaharu Iwata]] [[Category:Video games scored by Hitoshi Sakimoto]] [[Category:Multiplayer and single-player video games]]