Dragon’s Lair: Nostalgia So Thick You’ll Need A Butter Knife

Dragon’s Lair: Video Android App Review

Very few games conjure the same kind of nostalgia and longing as Dragon’s Lair. It’s one of only three games to be preserved in the Smithsonian, and with darn good reason: Featuring some of the coolest, most vibrant, and most engaging gameplay ever devised, Don Bluth’s hand drawn masterpiece from days long gone by deserves to be remembered fondly. Even better, thanks to the lads down at Digital Leisure, Dragon’s Lair can now be enjoyed exactly as it once was at the arcade, as well as at home on laserdisc. This port is an absolute must-have for Android gamers and fans of the series alike. For our full thoughts on this retro classic, check below beyond the break!

Concept and Gameplay

For those not currently in the know—including the author, though I’d heard of the game once, long ago—Dragon’s Lair bears a lot more similarities to those choose-your-own-adventure books than to any other modern video game. Instead of directly controlling your character (the ever hapless Dirk the Daring) you instead direct his movements within a sequence. Various animations may have the knight dodging flames, or jumping from platforms. If your button taps are not timed exactly right, the ever-endangered protagonist may be sent hurtling to his doom. To a modern audience, this may sound dark and difficult, and though it’s certainly the latter, it’s far from dull. The artwork is incredible, and within a matter of minutes, the player may completely find himself absorbed within the world Dragon’s Lair has created. The mastering of individual button taps, as well as the total control necessary to earn the highest score is a fine art, and one we hope a modern generation will appreciate.

Controls and Modes

The controls are, for the most part, exactly as they were in the original. There’s a simple set of directional buttons along the right that must be tapped at the appropriate times, while an attack button rests at the far left. Both of these sets worked splendidly, and we were likewise floored by the two included game modes. If you remember Dragon’s Lair from the laserdisc era, the “Home” mode reproduces that gaming experience to the letter, while the “Arcade” mode delivers the exact arcade experience that had players rushing from scene to scene back in the 80s. Both are marvelous, and no matter how you slice it, Dragon’s Lair is a riveting experience.

Overall Value

We’re tempted to call Dragon’s Lair pricy at $4.99 in the Android Market, but considering how impressive a port it is, as well as how well the gameplay has held up all these years, we’d hardly feel right doing so. The game is incredible, even with a five dollar price of entry and thirty minutes worth of initial downloading. If you’re a fan of the series, or even simply consider yourself a dedicated Android gamer, you need Dragon’s Lair. It really is that simple.

Android Apps Review Details: Dragon’s Lair app is free. This app requires Android 1.5 and up. You may download Dragon’s Lair from the Android Market. A small expedite fee was paid by the developer to speed up the publication of this review.

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