You could visualize Companions as a more tactical, less action-oriented Gauntlet where you control all the characters. You don't get the hundreds of enemies that infested the catacombs of Gauntlet, but you get to manage all four dungeoneers, each with their own attacks and inventory. It's a little bit loot driven, a little bit exploration, and a little bit tactical. They try to cast a pretty wide net.
There isn't a more iconic RPG franchise than Gauntlet, but the game has yet to appear on iOS devices. Thankfully, German developer Smuttlewerk Interactive is working filling this gap with a new title for the iPad: Companions.