It also adds a large number of secret characters, some of which can be unlocked in the game, while others are only accessible by entering specific cheat codes.

Most levels involve simply running along a designated path, destroying enemies before they can kill the player.

These side paths usually lead to important items, such as treasure, legendary weapons (which are used to weaken bosses), or runestones (which are required to progress through the game).

This demon, Skorne, broke free of Garm's control, crushing him and imprisoning his soul in the underworld.

Until now.The manual included with the game elaborates on the story further, stating that Sumner is the good king of the eight realms and presides over them from his tower.

It also stated that Garm, his younger brother, jealous of his power and status, searched for years for the 13 Runestones.

Skorne shattered the enchanted stained glass window that was the only gateway to the temple, and gave one shard to each of his most powerful minions (the bosses of the game).

Upon defeating the bosses, the stained-glass window is slowly restored, and the light pouring from it reveals a special portal in the tower.

Once that is accomplished, their power reveals another special portal in the tower, leading the player into the 10th world, the Underworld.

After beating the third level of this world and collecting the 13th Runestone that is hidden within it, the fourth and final special portal is revealed in the tower.

Daniel Erickson reviewed the PlayStation 2 version of the game for Next Generation, rating it three stars out of five: "It's not brain surgery, but it's good multi-player fun, and that's rare enough these days".

Even though these versions added new features to the game, such as the ability to save power-ups for later use, their number of glitches was reportedly greater.

The power of the Xbox is fully exploited to deliver great graphics, and all those cool innovations that the GameCube version got a few months ago are included making this the ultimate Gauntlet experience".

[47] The Game Boy Advance version's reception was very negative, with an average score of only 35.25% on GameRankings[12] and 37 out of 100 from Metacritic.

[16] One of the worst aspects of this particular version, according to GameSpot, was the absence of multi-player, which is a vital part of the Gauntlet franchise.

In 2004, publisher iBooks (an imprint of Simon & Schuster) released a novel based upon the video game titled Gauntlet Dark Legacy - Book 1: Paths Of Evil by Richard C. White (ISBN 0-74349-305-2).

The sequel Gauntlet Dark Legacy - Book 2: Paths Of Fear was written and was planned for a 2005 release, but due to the demise of both Byron Preiss Visual Productions and the licensor, this never came to pass.

As of 2007, the license for these stories had reverted to Midway, and unless a new licensor commissions White to finish his tale, Book 1 will likely be the last of the Gauntlet series.