Dragon's Lair and Space Ace
Let’s not deny it—Dirk, with his chiseled jawline, always had a certain charm. He might not have looked like the sharpest tool in the shed, but his charisma more than made up for it.
Those who remember the day they first stumbled into an arcade or bar as young, wide-eyed kids will know exactly what I mean. There he was, in all his glory, and with jaws dropped, they made a beeline for that cabinet. It looked more like a Disney movie screening gone rogue than a video game. And so, their journey into the world of laserdisc games began.
Those who remember the day they first stumbled into an arcade or bar as young, wide-eyed kids will know exactly what I mean. There he was, in all his glory, and with jaws dropped, they made a beeline for that cabinet. It looked more like a Disney movie screening gone rogue than a video game. And so, their journey into the world of laserdisc games began.
The castle gates open. Dirk tiptoes in, cautiously—it’s a good move because things are about to go wild.
.jpe)
While freedom of movement was practically non-existent, the game made up for it with cartoonish graphics that had never been seen before in a video game. It was the early '80s, and back then, arcade cabinets were all about blocky sprites in games like Pac-Man, Elevator Action, and 1942, whose pixelated characters resembled little Lego blocks cubes.
The first instinct of any average kid was to cling to the joystick, start hammering buttons and watch Dirk die endlessly until the last of their credits were drained. But fear not—there was always the local arcade’s whiz kid, a bit older and smarter, who would shove them aside and show how the game was really played.
For many of us, myself included, revisiting Dragon’s Lair today is a chance to reconnect with a hazy gaming past—one that, though outdated, we now have the skills to fully experience, just like that skilled player did back in the day.
There are many ways to relive this piece of gaming history. The simplest is to buy one of the countless versions available on nearly every online service: Steam, PlayStation Store, Microsoft Store, Play Store, App Store, and so on.
For many of us, myself included, revisiting Dragon’s Lair today is a chance to reconnect with a hazy gaming past—one that, though outdated, we now have the skills to fully experience, just like that skilled player did back in the day.
There are many ways to relive this piece of gaming history. The simplest is to buy one of the countless versions available on nearly every online service: Steam, PlayStation Store, Microsoft Store, Play Store, App Store, and so on.
Once again, the Lizard King deals us a heavy blow. Better luck next time. (And no, this isn’t Jim Morrison’s).
.jpe)
Another option is to download the Daphne emulator, which supports far more than the two games mentioned in this article, and play them on your PC or Mac. Personally, I prefer the console versions—no hassle, plus I can enjoy the game on a ridiculously large TV with that true cinematic vibe.
In some versions, you can even activate visual aids that tell you which moves to make and when. Needless to say, turning this feature on completely ruins the experience, stripping the game of most of its fun.
In some versions, you can even activate visual aids that tell you which moves to make and when. Needless to say, turning this feature on completely ruins the experience, stripping the game of most of its fun.
Ace, Dirk's futuristic alter ego in Space Ace. The same rhesus macaque expression.
The only official feedback you get is auditory. When you perform the correct action at the right time, you hear a sharp beep; a lower beep tells you your timing or move is off.
Dragon’s Lair and its fellow laserdisc games revolve around trial and error, with quick reflexes and on-the-fly decisions based on the frenetic, beautifully drawn scenes that subtly hint at the next move. Once you master the game—with perfect timing and no cheats or shortcuts—you’re treated to a gorgeous animated film, brought to life by none other than Don Bluth, one of the greatest animators of all time. In his long career, Bluth worked with Spielberg, contributed to Fox Animation Studios, and brought masterpieces like Anastasia to the screen.
In Space Ace, the space-themed version of Dragon’s Lair, a new feature was introduced: story branches. At key moments, hitting the fire button would transform Dexter, the protagonist, into the muscular Ace, changing the course of the film and presenting different challenges compared to sticking with the non-transformed Dexter.
To wrap up, let me mention that the Daphne emulator supports a wide array of laserdisc games beyond the usual suspects. Here are a few titles for you to explore: Cliff Hanger, Thayer’s Quest, Badlands, and many more.
Dragon’s Lair and its fellow laserdisc games revolve around trial and error, with quick reflexes and on-the-fly decisions based on the frenetic, beautifully drawn scenes that subtly hint at the next move. Once you master the game—with perfect timing and no cheats or shortcuts—you’re treated to a gorgeous animated film, brought to life by none other than Don Bluth, one of the greatest animators of all time. In his long career, Bluth worked with Spielberg, contributed to Fox Animation Studios, and brought masterpieces like Anastasia to the screen.
In Space Ace, the space-themed version of Dragon’s Lair, a new feature was introduced: story branches. At key moments, hitting the fire button would transform Dexter, the protagonist, into the muscular Ace, changing the course of the film and presenting different challenges compared to sticking with the non-transformed Dexter.
To wrap up, let me mention that the Daphne emulator supports a wide array of laserdisc games beyond the usual suspects. Here are a few titles for you to explore: Cliff Hanger, Thayer’s Quest, Badlands, and many more.
Platform Conversions
As mentioned, you can find the game almost identical to the original arcade version on a wide variety of platforms. I've given a rating for the ones I've personally played: the original Arcade, the Amiga 500 version, and the PS3 re-release, which includes Dragon's Lair, Dragon's Lair 2: Time Warp, and Space Ace. I'd also like to point out the existence of some abysmal versions of the game, which share nothing but the name: those for the Commodore 64, Spectrum 48K, Amstrad CPC, Game Boy, NES, and maybe a few others that escape me right now.
The Verdict
Another piece of video game history that must not be lost. It’s an experience that veteran gamers will surely appreciate with the right mindset.
Cons: Warning for the very young: no, you don’t control the character on-screen like you do in GTA or Assassin’s Creed.
Pros:
Don Bluth. Need I say more?
Learning the right sequences through trial and error—without help—is way more fun and satisfying than it sounds. Thorndike would approve...
| Score | Rating |
|---|---|
| Arcade Game | 89% |
| Amiga Game | 82% |
| PS3 Game | 85% |
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