Dragon's Lair 3D

Written by Chris Reiter  on July 03, 2002

First (and Last) Impressions: Once a cartoon game...still a cartoon game.

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Editor's Note: Dragon's Lair 3D has cancelled for PlayStation 2, though its GameCube, Xbox, and PC counterparts all released in 2002. Read on for what could have been.

Looking for a little adventure in your life? Do you dare defy the odds of evil villains? Remember the old arcade action title Dragon's Lair? If not, then you might remember its 32-bit console port? And if not then...how about its DVD compatible laser disc PlayStation 2 release? It's not surprising that by the mention of the name Dragon's Lair you might not recognize the combination of words immediately. This classic was never part of any huge hype moment in gaming history. But, from what its capabilities are in the innovation mainstream, were a lot. Now the title is on its way to the PlayStation 2 this fall for yet another rendition -- this time in a fully fledged 3D adventure experience for the masses to take hold of in whether it be their first, second, or even third time through the crazy castle of swords, sorcery, and demise.

For those who remember the original storyline to Dragon's Lair, it's returning to the same old Dirk the Daring plot, with which he must save Princess Daphne from the enormous fire breathing dragon named Singe. However, a few modifications are being implemented to tweak the story's focus a bit, making quite a longer game, while staying true to its original premise. So, for those who assume the worst with Dirk's trials being tainted shouldn't, because the new additions are being tacked on all for the better.

Now that Dragon's Lair is growing and bulging into a 3D adaptation, the adventure is also getting bigger. It used to be that in the original title, the gameplay would be nothing more than a press of the button. Using either up, down, left, or right would perform an action, followed by either a safe or deadly result in the representation of a cartoon animation sequence. Your actions needed to be quick, though, because every chance you had at being able to control which path Dirk would follow was very limited.

This won't be the case with the latest Dragon's Lair. Encore Software is taking the game to a stage of 3D -- somewhere each edition has never gone. And instead of practicing your hand to time your escape from a blazing blow turning your body into ashes, being transformed into an unusual creature by a wicked witch, or even having a body part dismembered, you'll now have full control over Dirk through his misadventures in an exploration through a twisted castle of many surprises.

The earlier versions of Dragon's Lair used a cartoon palette, in which was pieced together from the greatly renowned animation talent, Don Bluth. This time, however, Dragon's Lair worlds will be the same, and yet a little different. Considering how much cel-shading games are becoming more and more of a common occurrence for the visual style presented in games over anything else, it has been decided that this expanded release will feature the growing characteristic as well. With this change also comes bigger, better, and brighter worlds that noticeably will take the old cartoon animations up a notch, adding in actual 3D modeled characters that feature great shadow and lighting effects to adhere to the finely tuned new environments you'll be able to now grace.