- " But thanks to Princess Daphne, I discovered the secret of the Essences... It involves that sword. "
- —Hollow, Dragon's Lair 3D: Return to the Lair
Hollow is name of the shapeshifter who becomes Dirk the Daring's evil doppelganger in Dragon's Lair 3D: Return to the Lair, revealing himself around the mid-point of the game's storyline soon after the defeat of Singe and the apparent rescue of Princess Daphne. He is the previous holder of the Dragon's Scale Essence and seeks to manipulate Dirk into giving up his magical sword and previously acquired Essences to become more powerful, similar to the plan employed by his rival Essences holders, especially the dark wizard Mordroc.
His true physical form is unknown. While trying to steal Dragonfang from Singe's treasure room, his form appears to be partially invisible covered in bandages with the only visible organic portions being his claws and red eyes. His shapeshifting powers are able to deceive Dirk until his ruse is revealed through a reflection off a gem stone. His known shapeshifting forms include Evil Dirk (equipped with the Dragon's Scale armor), Princess Daphne, a Giddy Goon, a Drake, a Gargoyle, and a Suit of Armor, several of forms which he demonstrates in his climatic battle with Dirk.
In addition to shapeshifting, he is an excellent vocal mimic, able to duplicate Daphne’s speech patterns despite admitting he had never really heard her speak for any substantial amount of time. Presumably, he eavesdropped on Daphne's vocal instructions to Dirk communicated through the magical Amulet and learned the power of Dragonfang to channel the power of the Essences as the means to defeat the other Essence holders.
Trivia[]
- In 2002, AnJon Toys released a wave of four action figures as a tie-in with Dragon's Lair 3D: Return to the Lair: Dirk the Daring, Princess Daphne, Mordroc, and Singe. A second wave of figures was planned but the company's financial losses prevented the retail release of additional figures and resulted in the closure of the company. "Dragon's Essence Dirk" (the version of Dirk using the Dragon's Scale Essence taken from Hollow) was a candidate to become a figure of future waves, with the description: "Dirk will take rare form in series two. The valiant knight will set forth to save the fair princess with the power of the Dragon's Essence."[1]
- His relation to Dirk may be an intentional parallel to the rivalry between Dexter and Hexter in Space Ace.