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Gauntlet: Seven Sorrows ps2 Game Reviews
Gauntlet: Seven Sorrows
Critic Score
Metascore: 59 Metascore out of 100
User Score  
5.8 out of 10
based on 38 reviews
Read critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
based on 15 votes
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Rate this game

Blending an intuitive combat system, accessible RPG elements, and new junction skills, Seven Sorrows features the dynamic co-op it's known for, and, for the first time ever, it is online supporting up to four players. Centuries ago, four immortal heroes set out to kill the most powerful emperor their age had ever known. They failed, and for their crimes, three were crucified on a great tree at the bottom of the world. Mysteriously set free, the heroes set out to finish what they had started, only to find that they must now save their tormentor from his own dreams and madness. Driven to grief by seven acts of deep cruelty and selfishness, the emperor seeks to undo the one that pains him the most: the murder of his lover, Cusirimay. If the ancient heroes cannot undo the emperor's deeds on their own, his mad plans may tear apart the world. Seven Sorrows is the fusion of fantasy fighting action with the strategy of user-friendly RPG elements, providing gamers a deep, engaging gameplay experience complete with solo play, co-op and an online community. The new fighting system allows for easy pick-up-and-play while simultaneously offering deeper choices for more advanced players. Additionally, online RPG and collection elements add significant replay value to the game. [Midway]

PUBLISHER: Midway
DEVELOPER: Midway
GENRE(S): Action, Role-Playing Game, Fighting
PLAYERS: 4
ESRB RATING: T (Teen)
RELEASE DATE: December 12, 2005

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

82
BonusStage
The minimalist twist to Gauntlet: Seven Sorrows may turn of those gamers looking for depth, but the game really does pull you in with some great visuals and slick combo moves.
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81
Next Level Gaming
It keeps the classic feel, but has enough new gameplay to make it solid. And it's the first real console-based Gauntlet game ever, which adds a new element to the 4 player co-op play that was a cornerstone of the series.
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80
Stuff
It'll make you all warm and nostalgic at first, but don't' be surprised if by your second hour of gameplay an unfortunate sense of "didn't I play this back in 1989?" sets in.
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80
Play Magazine
It's Gauntlet through and through, packed with switches to be thrown, puzzles to solve and medievil overtures that compel you to gnaw on large turkey legs...only polished to a glistening sheen. [Jan 2006, p.47]
78
Cheat Code Central
Seven Sorrows is best played with 4 players which helps retain some semblance of the intended Gauntlet experience.
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78
GamingTrend
The setting of the game and the interface were perfect, but the gameplay felt like something new was just around the corner, and never came.
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78
Play UK
While the single-player is still a waste of time, the multi-player makes up for its shortfalls offering inclusive, challenging gameplay. [Apr 2006, p.92]
75
Just RPG
An action-packed, enjoyable adventure that makes some major improvements on the classic Gauntlet gameplay.
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70
GamePro
Watching these heroes pirouette amidst the violence is surprisingly entertaining, and while Seven Sorrows doesn't deliver fully on the promise and longevity of its progenitor, it does provide a fleeting good time.
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70
GameSpy
It may not be revolutionary or technically stunning, but it is a lot of fun; and that's what games are all about.
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70
Maxim Online
Nothing beats running around cramped dungeons seeking treasure and revenge while hacking, arrow-ing, and spell-casting your way through hordes of Lord of the Rings rejects.
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70
IGN
While there is a certain satisfaction to be had at unleashing 50-hit combos in Seven Sorrows, many people will find the game just too shallow in this day and age. The most enjoyment out of Seven Sorrows will be had playing with friends or online.
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70
ZTGameDomain
While it is a solid hack and slash action title, Seven Sorrows has to be seen as a disappointment for many fans of the series expecting a deeper, longer experience.
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70
GameCritics
A nice way to kill a few hours when guests are over, but I wouldn't have paid full price for it.
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66
Gamers' Temple
Gauntlet fans will be disappointed and the game won’t win any new converts to Gauntlet fandom.
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65
1UP
Sorrows nails the controls, making the repetitive hack-n-slash action enjoyable in a Dynasty Warriors kinda way, and multiplayer is mostly successful. Unfortunately, the graphics fail to impress, the story isn't anything memorable, banging buttons is as effective as making use of the combos, and what should have been an epic quest can be completed by a novice gamer in around eight hours, with not much reason for replay.
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65
Worth Playing
If you're looking for a Gauntlet game in the tradition of the original, you can find "Midway Arcade Treasures" for cheap. If you want one more like the recent N64 releases or Dark Legacy, this is the only game in town.
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63
Electronic Gaming Monthly
Seven Sorrows baits you with a role-playing-game-style character development system, but the game's short length (easily clocking in under six hours) makes leveling up unrewarding.
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63
Game Informer
The game's one noteable feat - online, cooperative multiplayer. This, I am delighted to say, works swimmingly. [Feb 2006, p.102]
60
PSM Magazine
A decent romp when playing with others, even if it does get old after a while. [Feb 2006, p.80]
60
Official U.S. Playstation Magazine
It's a bite-size nugget of nostalgia and mindless fun. [Feb 2006, p.77]
60
Official Playstation 2 Magazine UK
Enjoyably frantic, brief and basic. Gauntlet is showing its age but still offers a decent few hours of mindless maiming. [Mar 2006, p.94]
60
Computer and Video Games
Retro purists will like it but most will find the gameplay too basic. The graphics and technology behind the game have obviously improved and grown over the years; it's just a pity the same can't be said of the actual gameplay. [PSW]
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60
PSX Extreme
The hack n’ slash genre has evolved quite a bit over the years, so people have come to expect more out of a game like this.
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56
Game Over Online
The plot is inconsequential, the characters are less than one dimensional and the game is radically overbalanced, amongst other issues.
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55
eToychest
While mind-numbingly boring in single-player, the game does inch closer to being fun when other players pick up a controller.
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52
GameSpot
Whether you play it alone or with friends, this uninspired update to the '80s swords-and-sorcery arcade dungeon crawl misses the mark with its boring, mindless action and short, forgettable quest.
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50
EuroGamer
While fun once through, the broken online component and repetitive design means this'll soon be consigned to a dusty game shelf never to be played again.
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50
The Onion (A.V. Club)
Fundamentally unchanged since 1985, the Gauntlet experience remains fun, but the latest incarnation doesn't really take the franchise to the proverbial next level. It's a great way to kill an afternoon with friends, but nothing more.
50
GamerNode
In the end, Gauntlet: Seven Sorrows is hardly worth its $50 price tag. It feels much more like a budget title that was put together rather quickly.
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42
Gaming Age
Seven Sorrows succeeded in bringing back the nostalgia of the arcade franchise, but the game just feels all too familiar for a present day purchase.
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40
Yahoo! Games
More of a tech demo than a solid game. The engine is pretty and the characters look great, but it's sorely lacking in the gameplay department.
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40
G4 TV
Gauntlet: Seven Sorrows’ biggest issue, however, is its short length. Each of the game’s 16 levels can be completed within 10 minutes--10 extremely repetitive minutes--and there is no incentive to revisit past stages due to the lack of hidden features or bonuses.
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33
Game Revolution
The winding dungeon crawl the franchise defined long ago has been replaced with a lifeless linear action game's dash, one which will hopefully get back on the track its forefathers fought so hard to gain.
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30
Computer Games Magazine
Ironically, the real sorrow of Seven Sorrows is how laughably, arrogantly short it is: two players can easily finish the entire campaign on the hardest setting in a night. [Mar 2006, p.91]
30
Edge Magazine
Sorrows is a hollow experience, misinterpreting the original as a sheer numbers game rather than one of constant risk and reward. It’s an issue made more glaring by an unsatisfying combat system, paying lip service to counters, juggles and combo strikes even though endlessly repeating the same moves is just as effective. [Feb 2006, p.88]
25
GameShark
Fun and enjoyable game play could have easily made up for the lack in graphic quality. Gauntlet: Seven Sorrows is an all around below average product.
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20
VideoGamer
At least in terms of being faithful to the source material, it retains a similar level of simplicity, except that in 2006 that just isn't enough.
Read Full Review

What Our Users Said

Vote Now! The average user rating for this game is 5.8 (out of 10) based on 15 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Decepticon Pom gave it a3:
Considering how incredible Dark Legacy was, this plays like a bedroom fanboy's home-made 'tribute'. Such potential with some reinvention of the formula but ultimately a lifeless romp which is far too easy. I'm hardly an expert gameplayer but as a comparison, I took about 3 weeks to complete Dark Legacy. Seven Sorrows took less than 4 hours.

Tonee H. gave it a0:
Not challening at all. Defeated this game in 7 days and I am 8 yearls old. I loved the old game dark legacy.

David S. gave it a5:
Is metacritic accurate or what? I rented this expecting a sub par gaming experience and behold, I was given one! I finished the game in 4 hours just in time for dinner! I picked up the joystick later and tried some online play but it was just too boring. I guess if you have 4 hrs. to kill it's worth a rental, but if not you should steer way clear of this stinker. Monotonous gameplay is okay if there's some actual RPG elements to experiment with ex.(Castlevania). Sadly, this element is missing. Graphis are average to poor along with the sound. If this game were for Sega Genesis it would be pretty cool. NOT!

Z. Peba gave it a3:
I liked the Dark Legacy. The goals of runing stones and others. This one doesn´t have many goals and is short and easy. Just for kids.

[Anonymous] gave it a5:
The graphics were great, but we finished the game in about 8 hours. The cooperative play was cool, but the game was pretty much just killing tons of guys who never stopped coming. There was basically no strategy, and money can only be used to buy combo moves which run out quickly. There is no store, and special abilities are limited to combo moves (no potions, spells, etc.). While the game looked a lot like Lord of the Rings, it was much shorter and less fun. This game is going back to the store to be traded in, since there is no reason to replay.

Nate M. gave it a5:
As a Gauntlet goes, not very impressive. As said more like a demo than anything. It lacks any sort of gameplay the previous two contained. It took about four hours to beat on hard. A renter not a buyer.

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