The main appeals of Dungeon Explorer include the 5-player co-op, high difficulty and good music.
The game is in overhead perspective, similar to Zelda or Soul Blazer. You fight by shooting at monsters and generators with your weapon. A little silly, perhaps, but standard for games of this type. Players each have two magic spells (black and white) and may use each power once for each of the appropriate magic item they collect. Players have a stock of hit points, which deplete as they collide with traps and enemies. HP hits zero and you die. Pretty standard stuff really.
This game makes a good party game for the gamer crowd... due mostly to its intense fantasy-action gameplay and five player support. Some of the novelty of the game wears off by yourself... but the game's high difficulty will have you coming back, begging to master it. Indeed, do not expect to make it very far on your first couple of attempts. Difficulty ramps up sharply and bosses are punishing. Once a player dies, he may respawn using the limited stock of shared extra lives. This may turn the more casual of the WIi crowd off... but its well-worn territory for the classic gaming enthusiast.
The graphics of this game are passable 16-bit, but they'll never wow you. Most of the character sprites are kindof stumpy and ugly, and the game has a very dark color scheme.
The sound on the other hand is fantastic. The soundtrack to this game is really catchy. Make someone be the Bard... his black magic can change the background music (useless, yes, but fun).
Be sure to read the manual before you start playing... there's really no other explanation of what the characters and items do inside the game. Also, there's no in-game tutorial, so it's also the only way to learn the controls. The opening sequence of the game requires some odd button combinations to get everyone punched in to start playing as well. A little literature can save you several minutes of headache, I assure you. ^_^
The Verdict:
Dungeon Explorer is a pretty average Gauntlet clone. It's best redeeming qualities are the 5-player support and good music.
This game is good fun for serious classic gamers. This game is terribly difficult and will take you and your friends a good many hours to complete. All in all its good fun shooting stuff with swords and daggers.
The casual Wii crowd might approach this one with caution. Games aren't what they used to be, and they used to be hard. Indeed, those unfamiliar with gaming will find survival in Dungeon Explorer to be, well.... short-lived. Those who aren't willing to give this game several attempts may end up quitting before they get their money's worth.
This game won't wow you... it's nothing special really. Since PCE games aren't exactly everywhere you look anymore, the WP600 price tag might suit you if you are looking for exactly what this game is offering. For others, who may just be looking for a good VC game, a good fantasy game, or a good turbografx game, there are other ones I'd suggest over this, honestly.
+Five player support
+Classic Gauntlet-style action with eight classes
+Kickin' soundtrack
+Punishing difficulty
-Bland graphics
-Start-up procedure is wierd
-Not terribly novel or noteworthy in any way
-$6 for a single emulated game still seems a little steep to me