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Dragon's Lair 3D: |
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nyone who spent the better part of 1983 in a neighborhood arcade will remember the original Dragon's Lair well. Sure, the challenge may have been greater in a round of Dig Dug or Burger Time, but, man, with its vibrant, cartoon-style graphics, Dragon's Lair sure looked good. It was created on laser disc, presenting players with few options for maneuvering Dirk the Daring, the hero of the game, but offering a big visual payout all the same.
Fans of the movie Titan A.E. may be interested to find out that the director of that film, Don Bluth, is also responsible for Dragon's Lair. Twenty years have passed since the arcade version, and Bluth and company spent three years updating the original in order to give Dirk a whole range of controllable movements. The environment is updated—hence the name Dragon's Lair 3D—but the original look remains. Reminiscent of Disney's Beauty and the Beast, the new version still boasts charming, kids'-movie details like flying wooden chairs and clamoring tables.
At the opening of the game, Dirk stands at the base of the giant castle. The dragon Singe has taken Princess Daphne under the instruction of Mordroc, the not-so-friendly neighborhood wizard. Dirk's first fighting weapon is his sword, which he can use to target the bouncing bad guys that get in his way. More often than fighting enemies, though, Dirk will have to sheath his sword in order to climb walls, jump over long distances and duck oncoming obstacles using his tuck-and-roll tumble. Many of the more difficult missions involve strategy as well as coordination. For example, in one particularly challenging mission, Dirk has to jump across a disco-lights floor, carefully watching the patterns in order not to be electrocuted.
Nostalgia just isn't enough
It's sad to say, but some things just don't age well. Things that made sense in the '80s—like the idea that Victoria Jackson would be Saturday Night Live's next Gilda Radner—didn't hold up over time. With her little girl/woman voice, Jackson's vocal register may well have been the inspiration for the voice behind Dragon Lair 3D's Princess Daphne. Clad in a Flashdance-worthy Danskin bodysuit, her high-pitched giggles mangling important instructions, Daphne is a sexist relic direly in need of an update.
Granted, Dragon's Lair has the force of nostalgia on its side, and die-hard fans wouldn't want much to change. But has the development team for Dragon's Lair 3D looked at other recent games? Do they know we expect more than shoddy game mechanics now? Dragon's Lair 3D quickly reminds players of the money-eating aspects of the original version, with abrupt death for no reason, impossible jumps that depend on pure luck (or 50 repetitions) and a character that requires perfect control, even with big, clumsy feet. Do you know of another game that, at random, shows you you've bumped into a wall while turning a corner, and takes away significant life points?
Dragon's Lair 3D is still a great example of a cartoonish video game, and it is a refreshing break from all those dark and serious save-the-world titles. Everyone likes castles and princesses, and the music, visuals and overall atmosphere keep players interested in the next challenge. But a note to any other game developers working to bring old classics to the new platforms: They need to be good games, but with solid character control and lots of different kinds of challenges. It's not just about the big red button and the joystick anymore.
Please, oh please, don't buy this game for a kid. While the graphics would appeal to them, they would be frustrated at Dirk's many deaths before even an hour had passed. Grownups: You're on your own. — Jen
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