This article is about the 1986 game. For other meanings, see Dragon's Lair.
Dragon's Lair is an adaptation of the laserdisc arcade game of the same name for 8-bit home computers. It was released for Amstrad CPC, ZX Spectrum and Commodore 64 by Software Projects in 1986-1987, the second home conversion following the COLECO version.
Intro[]
The intro plays a music which is the 8-bit (synthwave) version of the soundtrack heard in the attraction mode/trailer of the original arcade. Perhaps it is the only time where the melody can be heard clearly, without narration voice over or sound effects.
Long ago in a distant kingdom, a good king named Aethelred ruled a peacful and prosperous kingdom. Now his kingdom had many treasures, but its greatest was the King's only child, whose beauty had become a legend to stir the heart of many a brave knight. They came from afar to seek fair Daphne's hand in marriage, but her heart was given to another..... Dirk the Daring, the King's champion and most honoured knight.
Then one dark and terrible day came an evil dragon named Singe, who demanded the King hand over all his kingdom to him. When Aethelred refused, the dragon seized fair Daphne, the King's daughter, and imprisoned her inside a crystal ball within the dark and horrible dungeon of his castle. Singe then sent Aethelred this message.....
"Relinquish your kingdom before the sun sets or your beloved Daphne will perish"..
Aethelred's kingdom was plunged into deep despair, for all loved Daphne.... Dirk, who know no fear, valiantly vowed that he would free his maiden or else he would die in the attempt.
Control Dirk's movements as you guide him on his quest to rescue fair Daphne. All Singe's dark forces are massed against you as you set on your way.....
Lead on adventurer...
Your quest awaits.......
Gameplay[]
Intro screen (Amstrad)
Unlike the original game, which was a pre-rendered interactive movie, expecting from the player a set of specific pre-determined actions, this conversion was adapted as a traditional action game where Dirk the Daring is a fully controllable sprite which the player can move at will, jump and use his sword.
Some levels however are designed to be closer to the philosophy of the original. In these, a large sprite of Dirk is standing, and the player has to react to several incoming hazards. In these levels Dirk is not controllable, and he has either to dodge or fight the hazards.
Levels[]
The game has 8 levels. All are inspired from specific sections of the original game.
Dragon's Lair was followed by Dragon's Lair Part II: Escape from Singe's Castle, a pseudo-sequel containing 8 more levels from the original game.
The Falling Disk[]
This level is based on the Elevator Floor scene.
Dirk has to successfully jump on the wooden falling disk. Air Genies will appear each at 4 random directions and try to blow you out of the disk. The player has to approach the Genie and then walk against the wind until it disappears. This happens several times until the disk reaches the lower level.
Skull Hallway[]
This level is based on the Mausoleum / Crypt Creeps scene.
The player must guess the predetermined actions to help Dirk against snapping skulls, skeletal hands, goo and bats.
The Burning Ropes[]
A level based on the Ropes scene.
Dirk is in a flaming room. He has to swing the ropes until he reaches the top platforms. His actions are timed as fire soon engulfs the platform he is standing on.
The Weapons Room[]
Based on the Forge / Smithee scene.
It is another level of pre-determined movements. Dirk has to fight off or dodge the flying weapons of Singe's armoury, and fight the clay golems.
Ramps and Giddy Goons[]
Based on the Spiral Staircase / Giddy Goons scene.
Here there is no spiral staircase but ramps topped with enchanted ice. Dirk has to jump from ramp to ramp (before they disappear), fight the Giddy Goons and reach the last ramp leading to the next level.
The Tentacle Room[]
Based on the Tentacles / Halberd scene.
Dirk is in Singe's laboratory and must avoid or fight the crawling tentacles.
The Second Disk[]
A reversed version of the first level.
The Deadly Checkerboard[]
Based on the Chapel / Robot Knight scene of the original game, the villain is referred to as the Phantom Knight in the game's manual.[1]
The Phantom Knight sends charges of deadly energy flowing through the squares. Dirk must avoid them, approach the Knight (who after a short time teleports to another square) and kill him in order to leave this stage.
Slaying the Dragon[]
In this level Dirk must avoid the fireballs that Singe fires. The player can hid behind the boulders until Singe's fire destroys them, and collect the treasure they reveal for extra points. He then has to cross a precipice and seize the magic sword, then jump to the dragon's shoulder and slay him.