Dragon's Lair

From Sega Retro

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DragonsLair title.png

Dragon's Lair
System(s): Sega Mega-CD
Publisher: Sega (JP/EU), ReadySoft (US)
Developer:
Licensor: Epicenter Interactive, Bluth Group
Original system(s): Arcade boards
Genre: Action[1][2]

















Number of players: 1
Release Date RRP Code
Sega Mega-CD
JP
¥6,8006,800 G-6035
Sega Mega-CD
US
$59.9959.99[4] T-121015
Videogame Rating Council: GA
Sega Mega-CD
EU
4436-50
Sega Mega-CD
PT
Sega Mega-CD
UK
£49.9949.99[6] 4436-50
Sega Mega-CD
AU
OFLC: G8
Sega Mega-CD
BR
061030
Non-Sega versions

Dragon's Lair (ドラゴンズ・レア) is a full-motion video game released for numerous consoles including the Sega Mega-CD in 1993. It was revolutionary when first released in the arcades in 1983, and served as the first successful full-motion video game which relies solely on quick time events.

The game features animation from former Disney animator Don Bluth. It was followed by a spiritual successor, Space Ace, which was also ported to the Mega-CD

The Sega Mega-CD version is mostly faithful to the arcade original, but suffers due to the limited colour palette of the system. A Sega Saturn version was also planned[8] but never materialized.

Story

The knight Dirk the Daring must find his way through the castle of a dark wizard to rescue Princess Daphne from the clutches of Singe the Dragon.

Characters

Dragon's Lair, Characters, Dirk the Daring.png

Dirk the Daring
A brave but clumsy knight who ventures into the castle to rescue Princess Daphne.

Dragon's Lair, Characters, Princess Daphne.png

Princess Daphne
The damsel in distress, a beautiful princess that Dirk must rescue from the dragon's lair.

Dragon's Lair, Characters, Singe the Dragon.png

Singe the Dragon
A fire-breathing dragon that sleeps on a pile of gold. He has kidnapped Princess Daphne.

Gameplay

The game is on rails, meaning the narrative is predetermined and the player has very limited influence on its progression. Comedic aspects of the game include bizarre-looking creatures and humorous death scenes, and the portrayal of the player character as a somewhat fearful and reluctant hero. The game consists of a sequence of challenges played in a partially randomized order. The player does not control Dirk's actions directly but controls his reflexes, with different animated segments playing for correct or incorrect choices. The player must execute an action at the correct time by selecting Up, Down, Left, or Right or pressing B to swing Dirk's sword.

The player has limited lives with which to clear the game and returns to a checkpoint after losing a life. Some scenes are occasionally mirrored horizontally for additional challenge.

Levels

Levels 3, 4, 5, and 6 are played in a randomized order. The scenes in Levels 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 are randomized. If the player loses a life, Dirk starts over at the beginning of the current level.

Dragon's Lair, Scenes, Drawbridge.png

Dragon's Lair, Scenes, End of Corridor.png

  • Dragon's Lair, Scenes, Drawbridge.png

  • Dragon's Lair, Scenes, End of Corridor.png

Level 1

Dragon's Lair, Scenes, Drink Me.png

Dragon's Lair, Scenes, Tentacles from Ceiling.png

Dragon's Lair, Scenes, Bubbling Ooze in Kettle.png

Dragon's Lair, Scenes, Snake Room.png

  • Dragon's Lair, Scenes, Drink Me.png

  • Dragon's Lair, Scenes, Tentacles from Ceiling.png

  • Dragon's Lair, Scenes, Bubbling Ooze in Kettle.png

  • Dragon's Lair, Scenes, Snake Room.png

Level 2

Dragon's Lair, Scenes, Checkered Floor Knight.png

Dragon's Lair, Scenes, The Goons.png

Dragon's Lair, Scenes, Rolling Balls.png

Dragon's Lair, Scenes, Closing Wall.png

Dragon's Lair, Scenes, Bats.png

  • Dragon's Lair, Scenes, Checkered Floor Knight.png

  • Dragon's Lair, Scenes, The Goons.png

  • Dragon's Lair, Scenes, Rolling Balls.png

  • Dragon's Lair, Scenes, Closing Wall.png

  • Dragon's Lair, Scenes, Bats.png

Level 3

Dragon's Lair, Scenes, Large Wooden Platforms.png

Dragon's Lair, Scenes, Sliding Stairs.png

Dragon's Lair, Scenes, Metallic Flying Horse.png

Dragon's Lair, Scenes, Metallic Ball.png

  • Dragon's Lair, Scenes, Large Wooden Platforms.png

  • Dragon's Lair, Scenes, Sliding Stairs.png

  • Dragon's Lair, Scenes, Metallic Flying Horse.png

  • Dragon's Lair, Scenes, Metallic Ball.png

Level 4

Dragon's Lair, Scenes, The Lizard King.png

Dragon's Lair, Scenes, Giant Spinning Batons.png

Dragon's Lair, Scenes, The Smithy.png

Dragon's Lair, Scenes, Haunted Hallway.png

  • Dragon's Lair, Scenes, The Lizard King.png

  • Dragon's Lair, Scenes, Giant Spinning Batons.png

  • Dragon's Lair, Scenes, The Smithy.png

  • Dragon's Lair, Scenes, Haunted Hallway.png

Level 5

Dragon's Lair, Scenes, Checkerboard Corridor.png

Dragon's Lair, Scenes, Pool of Water.png

Dragon's Lair, Scenes, Phantom Knight.png

Dragon's Lair, Scenes, Room of Fire.png

  • Dragon's Lair, Scenes, Checkerboard Corridor.png

  • Dragon's Lair, Scenes, Pool of Water.png

  • Dragon's Lair, Scenes, Phantom Knight.png

  • Dragon's Lair, Scenes, Room of Fire.png

Level 6

Dragon's Lair, Scenes, The Round Cage.png

Dragon's Lair, Scenes, Lava Field of the Mudmen.png

Dragon's Lair, Scenes, Whirlpool Rapids.png

  • Dragon's Lair, Scenes, The Round Cage.png

  • Dragon's Lair, Scenes, Lava Field of the Mudmen.png

  • Dragon's Lair, Scenes, Whirlpool Rapids.png

Level 7

Dragon's Lair, Scenes, Dragon's Lair 1.png

Dragon's Lair, Scenes, Dragon's Lair 2.png

Dragon's Lair, Scenes, Dragon's Lair 3.png

Dragon's Lair, Scenes, Dragon's Lair 4.png

  • Dragon's Lair, Scenes, Dragon's Lair 1.png

  • Dragon's Lair, Scenes, Dragon's Lair 2.png

  • Dragon's Lair, Scenes, Dragon's Lair 3.png

  • Dragon's Lair, Scenes, Dragon's Lair 4.png

The Dragon's Lair
Final scene against Singe.

Production credits

Sega Conversion
  • Produced by: David Foster
  • Directed by: Tony Bozek
  • Programmed by: David Foster
  • Computer Graphic Touchup: Mike Boulet, Tony Bozek, Carol Chan, Jackie Liew, David Magerman, Norice Millen, Shawn Moore, Jason Silverberg, Joe Verissimo, Nadia Yee
  • Sound: David Foster, David Magerman
  • End Music: Tony Bozek, Shawn Moore
  • Additional Programming by: Anselm Hook
Source:
In-game credits (JP)
Dragon's Lair MCD JP SSEnding.pdf
[9]

Magazine articles

Main article: Dragon's Lair/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

Logo-pdf.svg
Print advert in Game Players (US) #0612: "Vol. 6 No. 12 December 1993" (1993-1x-xx)
also published in:
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Print advert in Electronic Games (1992-1995) (US) #16: "January 1994" (1993-12-21)
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Print advert in Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) #57: "April 1994" (1994-xx-xx)
also published in:
  • EGM² (US) #1: "July 1994" (1994-07-19)[13]
Logo-pdf.svg
Logo-pdf.svg
Print advert in Game Players (US) #0705: "Vol. 7 No. 5 May 1994" (1994-0x-xx)
also published in:
Logo-pdf.svg
Logo-pdf.svg
Print advert in Beep! MegaDrive (JP) #1994-05: "May 1994" (1994-04-08)
Logo-pdf.svg

Physical scans

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
{{{{{icon}}}|L}} Division by zero.
Based on
0 review
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
Beep! MegaDrive (JP) NTSC-J
68
[16]
Consoles + (FR)
82
[17]
Digitiser (UK)
32
[18]
Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) NTSC-U
62
[19]
GamePro (US) NTSC-U
90
[4]
Gamers (DE)
7
[20]
GamesMaster (UK) NTSC-U
46
[21]
Games World: The Magazine (UK) PAL
29
[22]
Hippon Super (JP) NTSC-J
40
[23]
Hyper (AU)
44
[24]
Joypad (FR) PAL
87
[25]
MAN!AC (DE) PAL
42
[26]
Mega (UK) NTSC-U
80
[27]
MegaTech (UK) NTSC-U
67
[28]
Magazina Igrushek (RU)
50
[29]
Mean Machines Sega (UK) NTSC-U
67
[5]
Player One (FR)
75
[30]
Play Time (DE)
48
[31]
Play Time (DE)
30
[32]
Sega Power (UK) NTSC-U
63
[33]
Sega Pro (UK) NTSC-U
90
[34]
Sega Zone (UK) PAL
45
[35]
Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J
69
[36]
Todo Sega (ES)
75
[37]
Video Games (DE) NTSC-U
69
[38]
Sega Mega-CD
58
Based on
25 reviews

Dragon's Lair

Mega-CD, JP
DragonsLair MCD JP Box Back Sleeve.jpgDragonsLair MCD JP Box Spine.jpgDragonsLair MCD JP Box Front Sleeve.jpg
Cover
DragonsLair MCD JP Disc.jpg
Disc
DragonsLair MCD JP JC Back.jpgDragonsLair MCD JP Box Front.jpg
Jewel Case
Mega-CD, US
DragonsLair MCD US Box Back.jpgDragonsLair MCD US Box Front.jpg
Cover
Dragonslair mcd us disc.png
Disc
Dragonslair mcd us manual.pdf
Manual
Mega-CD, EU
DragonsLair MCD EU Box Back.jpgDragonsLair MCD EU Box Front.jpg
Cover
DragonsLair MCD EU spinecard.jpg
Spinecard
DragonsLair MCD EU Disc.jpg
Disc
Dragons Lair MCD EU Manual.jpg
Manual
Mega-CD, PT

Mega-CD, AU

Mega-CD, BR
DragonsLair MCD BR Box Back.jpgNospine.pngDragonsLair MCD BR Box Front.jpg
Cover

Technical information

Main article: Dragon's Lair/Technical information.

References

  1. File:DragonsLair MCD JP Box Back Sleeve.jpg
  2. 2.0 2.1 https://sega.jp/history/hard/mega-cd/software.html (Wayback Machine: 2020-06-22 19:24)
  3. https://groups.google.com/g/rec.games.video.sega/c/qeKIcUfxpHU/m/ybVHXn9hwUEJ
  4. 4.0 4.1 GamePro, "April 1994" (US; 1994-xx-xx), page 42
  5. 5.0 5.1 Mean Machines Sega, "March 1994" (UK; 1994-01-28), page 80
  6. 6.0 6.1 Sega Magazine, "April 1994" (UK; 1994-03-15), page 106
  7. Sega Pro, "September 1994" (UK; 1994-08-11), page 8
  8. Sega Visions, "September 1995" (US; 1995-xx-xx), page 38
  9. File:Dragon's Lair MCD JP SSEnding.pdf
  10. Sega Visions, "December/January 1993/1994" (US; 1993-xx-xx), page 35
  11. GamePro, "January 1994" (US; 199x-xx-xx), page 101
  12. Sega Visions, "February/March 1994" (US; 199x-xx-xx), page 87
  13. EGM², "July 1994" (US; 1994-07-19), page 125
  14. Electronic Gaming Monthly, "May 1994" (US; 1994-xx-xx), page 163
  15. Electronic Gaming Monthly, "June 1994" (US; 1994-xx-xx), page 161
  16. Beep! MegaDrive, "June 1994" (JP; 1994-05-07), page 20
  17. Consoles +, "Juin 1994" (FR; 1994-0x-xx), page 146
  18. Digitiser (UK) (1994-02-22)
  19. Electronic Gaming Monthly, "February 1994" (US; 199x-xx-xx), page 42
  20. Gamers, "Juli/August 1994" (DE; 1994-07-01), page 44
  21. GamesMaster, "April 1994" (UK; 1994-03-17), page 68
  22. Games World: The Magazine, "July 1994" (UK; 1994-05-26), page 23
  23. Hippon Super, "June 1994" (JP; 1994-04-30), page 60
  24. Hyper, "May 1994" (AU; 1994-xx-xx), page 57
  25. Joypad, "Juin 1994" (FR; 1994-0x-xx), page 134
  26. MAN!AC, "07/94" (DE; 1994-06-08), page 59
  27. Mega, "March 1994" (UK; 1994-02-17), page 32
  28. MegaTech, "February 1994" (UK; 1994-01-20), page 20
  29. Magazina Igrushek, "2/1995" (RU; 1995-xx-xx), page 62
  30. Player One, "Juin 1994" (FR; 1994-0x-xx), page 90
  31. Play Time, "3/95" (DE; 1995-02-08), page 104
  32. Play Time, "7/94" (DE; 1994-06-08), page 138
  33. Sega Power, "March 1994" (UK; 1994-02-03), page 36
  34. Sega Pro, "Xmas Special 1993" (UK; 1993-12-02), page 24
  35. Sega Zone, "March 1994" (UK; 1994-02-24), page 56
  36. Sega Saturn Magazine, "September 1995" (JP; 1995-08-08), page 87
  37. Todo Sega, "Abril 1994" (ES; 1994-0x-xx), page 52
  38. Video Games, "3/94" (DE; 1994-02-23), page 76


Dragon's Lair

DragonsLair title.png

Main page | Hidden content | Magazine articles | Video coverage | Reception | Technical information


Sega Mega-CD
Demos: Dragon's Lair Demo CD (1993)

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Don Bluth games for Sega systems
Dragon's Lair (1993) | Space Ace (1994) | Dragon's Lair: The Adventure Continues (unreleased) | Dragon's Lair II: Time Warp (unreleased)