Dragon's Lair (NES)

This article is about the 1990 game. For other meanings, see Dragon's Lair.

Dragon's Lair
Developers	MotiveTime Group Sullivan Bluth Interactive Media
Publishers	CSG Imagesoft, Inc. (US) Epic/Sony Records (JP) Elite Systems (PAL)
Platforms	Nintendo Entertainment System/Famicom
Series	Dragon's Lair
Release date	US: 1990 (December) JP: 1991 PAL: 1992
Genre(s)	Action Platformer
Audio	Mark Cooksey (uncredited)

The NES version of Dragon's Lair is a side-scrolling platform video game based on the laserdisc game of the same name. Developed by MotiveTime Group, the game was released for the North American Nintendo Entertainment System in December 1990 by CSG Imagesoft, Inc. with revised versions released for the Japanese and European markets published by Epic/Sony Records (1991) and Elite Systems (1992), respectively. Its plot is largely identical to that of the original game, but it abandons the arcade's quick-time event gameplay for more conventional platforming mechanics.

Gameplay

Unlike the original Dragon's Lair, where gameplay depended on quick time events, the player fully controls Dirk as he makes his way through the Castle defeating enemies and avoiding obstacles to rescue Princess Daphne. Dirk now has equipped throwing knives to launch at enemies rather than using his sword, and the game features gold collectibles.

Levels

• The Drawbridge
• The Gold Bonus Screen (Post-Levels)
• The Elevator Shaft (Hub-level)
• The Treasury/Lizard King's Throne Room (Optional)

• The Entrance Hall (Level 1)
  • Boss: Snakes/Giant Snake
• The Gold Mines (Level 2)
  • The Dragon’s Breath
  • The Candle
    • Boss: Trolls
• The Hall of the Grim Reaper (Level 3)
  • Boss: Grim Reaper
• Singe’s Cavern (Level 4)
  • Boss: Singe the Dragon

Development

Sullivan Bluth Interactive Media (SBIM), a subsidiary of Sullivan Bluth Studios, partnered with MotiveTime to develop the game for Nintendo's console. MotiveTime reportedly heavily referenced the original laserdisc game in order to re-create the smooth animation frames for Dirk's move-set, in addition to reflecting the arcade game's color palette and general plot. At the time of development, the Sullivan Bluth studio was headquartered in Dublin, Ireland and MotiveTime was located in Walsall, England, with SBIM and CSG Imagesoft both headquartered in Los Angeles, California. Imagesoft was owned by Tokyo-based Columbia-Sony Group, which published the Famicom release for the Japanese market the following year. This same network of studios also simultaneously developed Dragon's Lair: The Legend for Nintendo's Game Boy.

The game’s soundtrack was composed by Mark Cooksey, who was uncredited in the final release. Each stage received a distinct theme with slight alterations between the North American, Japanese, and European versions.

Regional Differences

While the North American version uses a 128KB ROM, the Japanese and European versions use 256KB ROMs. Splash screens were added to the European version and appear as the player enters each stage. Enemy sprites and placement differs between versions, such as the Giant Snake at the end of the Entrance Hall in the European release replacing a smaller sprite in other versions. The European release is reputed to have faster and more responsive controls than its US counterpart due to programmers taking advantage of the larger character ROM rather than bank-switching character RAM. The Japanese version alters control inputs, requiring use of “up” on the directional pad to jump instead of an action button, as in the US and European versions.

Reception

Most contemporary reviews assessed the US release, praising the impressive visuals but criticizing its sluggish controls and frustratingly unforgiving gameplay for neutralizing most of the potential fun-factor. Seeming to recognize that the slow gameplay of the US release could frustrate many players, Nintendo Power described it as "deliberate play control", further stating "you have to tell the character what to do and he does it after a slight delay. You have to plan your moves carefully." The magazine’s Power Meter rated the game 3.9/5 on graphics, 2.1/5 on play control, 3.0/5 on challenge, and 3.4/5 on theme and fun.

The average score of four Electronic Gaming Monthly reviews was 4.75/10. One reviewer surmised, "[it] takes the concept of the laser-disc game and mixes in some highly detailed graphics. The results don't have the impact on the NES, and the game really breaks down to little more than a memorization of the patterns and learning which buttons to press. Is this fun?" Another reviewer concluded: "This is an insult to one of the most spectacular laser disc games ever. Granted it has nice graphics and sound, but there is absolutely no gameplay to it. Dirk is animated well, but is so slow that you don't have a chance in certain parts."

Game Players was more positive regarding the game's strengths, considering it a technical leap beyond the previously released Amiga home conversions of the arcade game and an exceptional addition to the NES library that offered a worthy challenge experienced players: "You have to see it to believe it. It's so amazing, in fact, that Dragon's Lair is likely to set a new standard for graphics and animation on the NES format. Best of all, it's highly playable. . . . It's an outstanding game that's blessed with some of the best graphics, animation, and programming ever seen in the Nintendo market. True, it's a difficult game--young or notice players might find it frustrating. Experienced players, on the other hand, with find the Nintendo version of Dragon's Lair beautifully rendered and highly playable.

Similarly, Game Pro acknowledged players might find appreciation if they could persevere through early gameplay frustrations, with reviewer Charlie T. Aslan asserting "Yearrrrrrgh" describes how you feel as your character dies--over and over again. Yes, folks, in this game, you'll be turned to dust and bones in all sorts of amusing and creative ways. After a while you might get to like it. . . . The NES version of Dragon's Lair has a couple of things in common with its arcade predecessor--brilliant graphics and a high frustration factor. However, the frustration is part of the fun. . . . Dragon's Lair will test your mind a little more than your muscles. . . . You have to recall exactly where and when to step each time you go through. If you let up on your concentration for a moment, it's curtains!"

The game received a chapter in Jeff Rovin's How to Win at Nintendo Games 4 featuring comprehensive strategies for completion of the game in addition to a positive overall rating of an A-, noting: "Spectacular graphics and tough gameplay make this a superior, almost Genesislike cartridge. The one drawback: because the animation is so detailed, Dirk tends to move a bit slowly. He's also a little large, which makes him awkward to handle in spots. Still, these minor drawbacks won't detract from your enjoyment of the game.

European Nintendo-focused magazine N-Force scored the PAL version positively with an overall 86% FORCE rating, with both reviewers commending the game for its addictiveness that proved endearing despite the high difficulty. Secondary reviewer "GUNNS" wrote, "it drives you to despair but half an hour later you'd garotte your grandma for another go."

The game was featured by notable web content creator James Rolf in the 37th episode of his "The Angry Video Game Nerd" series, which spotlights frustratingly difficult retro games.

Trivia

• The box's cover art is almost identical to Dragon's Lair: The Legend and very similar to the Super Nintendo Entertainment System release, both utilizing character artwork from the arcade game's promotional poster.
• The default Top Scores table lists SINGE, MTIME, CSG, SBIM, DAPH, TOM, DICK, and HARRY (US); SINGE, MTIME, SBIM, EPIC, DAPH, TOM, DICK, and HARRY (JP); SINGE, MTIME, SBIM, ELITE, DAPH, TOM, DICK, and HARRY (PAL). A similar table is present on the Game Boy's Dragon's Lair: The Legend.
• The game’s manual and scoring system puts heavy emphasis on Gold accumulation, despite the total having no apparent effects on the game's ending.
• The game's US manual included a mail-in promotion for a mystery prize for players who could assemble both halves of the "Double Challenge Medallion" found in the booklets accompanying both Dragon's Lair: The Legend and the NES Dragon's Lair game.
  

External Links

• Instruction Manual (USA) at thegameisafootarcade.com
• Screenshot Gallery at MobyGames.com
• Game Sprite Sheets at spriters-resource.com