Gauntlet: The Third Encounter

Gauntlet: The Third Encounter is an arcade-style dungeon crawler developed by Epyx and published by Atari that was released exclusively for the Atari Lynx handheld system in 1990. Despite using the same packaging artwork that was used for the NES version, The Third Encounter is not a port of the original Gauntlet or its sequel, but instead started development as a new IP by Epyx titled Time Quests and Treasure Chests before it was rebranded for its release in order to be marketed as a new Gauntlet entry.

Not to be confused with Gauntlet III: The Final Quest.
Gauntlet: The Third Encounter
Developer(s)Epyx
Publisher(s)
Designer(s)Charlie Kellner
Chuck Sommerville
Programmer(s)Jon Leupp
Artist(s)Paul Vernon
Composer(s)Alex Rudis
Robert Vieira
SeriesGauntlet
Platform(s)Atari Lynx
Release
  • NA: 1990
  • EU: 1990
  • JP: 8 April 1990
Genre(s)Action role-playing game, dungeon crawl, hack and slash
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer
(up to four players via ComLynx)

Gameplay
Gameplay screenshot.

The player controls an adventurer whose objective is to venture into an ancient castle populated by monsters in order to retrieve the Star Gem. The castle consists of 40 levels. At the start of the game, the player can choose from eight character classes to play as, including the Valkyrie and the Wizard from the original Gauntlet, as well as six new character classes: the Samurai, the Punk Rocker, the Android, the Gunfighter, the Nerd and the Pirate. Up to four players can be play and each class can only be chosen by a single player at a time. It is one of the few games for the Lynx that uses its vertical mode.

Development and release

Reception
Reception
Review scores
PublicationScore
EGM28/40[1]
IGN5.5/10[2]
Amstar17/20[3]
Atari Gaming Headquarters6/10[4]
The Games Machine82%[5]
Hobby Consolas85/100[6]
Joystick86%[7]
Micromanía7/10[8]
Power Play57%[9]

Gauntlet: The Third Encounter garnered mixed reception.[10] In a review for STart, Clayton Walnum commented, "Although The Third Encounter is basically a shoot-em-up, spells and other special items take the game a step beyond that genre. Moreover, tricky obstacles like illusory walls make this dungeon diversion as much a treasure hunt as a shooter. The display is vivid and imaginative and the gameplay fast and smooth."[11]

References
  1. Harris, Steve; Semrad, Ed; Alessi, Martin; Stockhausen, Jim (June 1990). "Review Crew: Lynx - Atari — Gauntlet 3". Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 11. Sendai Publishing. p. 20.
  2. A. Jung, Robert (July 7, 1999). "Gauntlet: The Third Encounter — Third time's not the charm". IGN. Ziff Davis. Retrieved 2020-06-03.
  3. "Le cahier des consoles n°1: Lynx - Gauntlet". Amstar (in French). No. 49. Soracom Editions. September 1990. p. 43.
  4. Iida, Keita (1995). "AGH Lynx Review: GAUNTLET: THE THIRD ENCOUNTER". atarihq.com. Retrieved 2020-06-02.
  5. "Consoles: Atari Lynx - Reviews — Gauntlet The Third Encounter". The Games Machine. No. 33. Newsfield Publications. August 1990. p. 50.
  6. "En Cartel: Gauntlet III (Lynx) - La fiesta de la calavera". Hobby Consolas (in Spanish). No. 7. Hobby Press. April 1992. p. 160.
  7. Demoly, Jean-Marc (September 1990). "Tests - Lynx - Gauntlet: The Third Encounter". Joystick (in French). No. 8. Sipress. p. 119.
  8. J.V.C. (December 1990). "Punto de mira - Lynx: Gauntlet The Third Encounter". Micromanía (in Spanish). Vol. 2 no. 31. HobbyPress. p. 54.
  9. Gaksch, Martin (September 1990). "Power Tests - Video-Spiele: Gauntlet III (Lynx)". Power Play (in German). No. 30. Future Verlag. p. 128.
  10. Molyneaux, Maurice (October 1990). "Gaming on the Go - Gauntlet: The Third Encounter — Atari for the Lynx". VideoGames & Computer Entertainment. No. 21. Larry Flynt Publications. p. 166.
  11. Walnum, Clayton (December 1990). "The Lynx Collection - Gauntlet, The Thind Encounter". STart. No. 39. Antic Publishing. pp. 67–73.
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