Dragon's Lair

Even Kinect can't rescue it. [Aug 2012, p.77]

The game will be delightfully nostalgic to gamers of old, and should be tried by anyone who is too young to remember it. It's an important part of gaming history, one that will make a fine addition to your Xbox LIVE Arcade game collection.

Yet another release of the classic Dragonʼs Lair game. This version remains as charming as ever for older gamers, but it is highly unlikely that it can attract new crowd.

Nostalgia is the sole reason I can fathom someone would want Dragon's Lair at this point and, admittedly, the Xbox Live Arcade version is as solid as a HD release as either the iOS or PSN release. Regardless, Dragon's Lair is a quest best remembered in kind aged memories rather than on your Xbox 360.

Dragon's Lair is a heralded classic that, in some forms, still stands the test of time, but Digital Leisure kind of flubbed this version by overpricing it at ten bucks and trying to make it "new tech" by adding useless Kinect controls.

When it comes to re-releases of classic games, the most important aspect is ensuring that the original experience is preserved. While Dragon's Lair gets it mostly right, the sloppy Kinect controls and odd issues with the UI make it feel rushed. At 800 MSP ($10 USD), it's not the most expensive purchase, but it's also not a definitive version of the game. There are better ports out there

Though you might think Kinect would be the perfect fit for its staccato gameplay, it ultimately makes things even more frustrating. [Issue#87, p.87]

If only it had added some more content (for example, the second installment or Space Ace) it would have worth the 800 MS Points it costs, but adding Kinect compatibility doesn't justify its price. Its nostalgia value can compensate for it, but its gameplay is almost nonexistent.

Without the nostalgia factor, it's just a very short and dated experience with a glimmer of the wonder that once gripped the arcade world. That's really not enough to compete with what's out there now.

This new port of Dragon's Lair brings Kinect support and leaderboards to the classic game, but its gameplay is increasingly dated.

Unfortunately, the major addition for its XBLA debut - Kinect integration - is poorly implemented, leaving an otherwise shallow and dated experience.

With its Don Bluth animations and movie-quality production values, Dragon's Lair is the best looking game of the 1980s. Unfortunately, in order to look so good the game had to make a few sacrifices. As a result we're left with a shallow "action" game that is little more than Simon Says. Not even the gimmicky Kinect support makes this game worth playing more than once!

Dragon's Lair is not the game you're looking for on Xbox Live. The controls don't work well and you don't need a lot of time to beat the entire game. So leave your sword where it is, because Dragon's Lair doesn't ever make you feel like a knight.

Dragon's Lair is a lot like the chicken pox. It's probable that you'll experience it once in your lifetime, and that's more than enough.

There is a lot of historical gravitas that Dragon's Lair carries, but with over five dozen ports since its 1983 arcade launch, the game lacks punch, especially on modern consoles. There may be a nostalgia factor here for some, and it might be a good history lesson for others, but the game really doesn't stand the test of time.

The gameplay has not aged well, and the Kinect integration is gimmicky at best.