Gauntlet (NES)/Gameplay

Controls
The controls are the same for both players.
 * : navigate menus, move character
 * : use magic (bomb)
 * : fire weapon
 * : open menu
 * : choose number of players (has no use during gameplay)
 * + : resume game using password

Basics

 * Your health (represented by ♥ ) constantly depletes at the rate of one point per second, so the faster you complete each floor the more health you will have. Physical contact with projectiles and some enemies will deplete it even faster. Eat food items to replenish your health.
 * While each character has a ranged attack (fired with ) you can also attack enemies by bumping into them.
 * In each level you'll find several monster generators. These look like squares (for ghosts) or cubes (for all other enemies). They will produce a steady stream of new enemies any time they are visible on the screen, so be sure to eliminate them when you see them. You can also use magic to weaken or destroy them from afar.
 * Killing enemies and collecting treasures contributes to your score. When your score reaches certain levels you will receive a bonus to your maximum health.
 * Many floors have multiple exits. Some will skip you further ahead, and some will even take you back to a previous floor.