'Dragon's Lair' for the arcade was a big game, and the computers
from the late 1980s were not able to handle it. So, ReadySoft released
a shortened version, with only a few of the scenes that the arcade game
had, about half to be more specific. Only later, they thought about the
missing scenes and released 'Dragon's Lair: Escape from Singe's
Castle', which contains about all the other scenes plus a new ending.
This walkthrough is intended to cover both games, since GameFAQs
does not have an entry for that game and since the two games basically
go together in their attempt to bring PC gamers the gameplay of the
arcade classic 'Dragon's Lair'.
I) DL
As you probably know, since you're looking for a FAQ for this
game, 'Dragon's Lair' is a game that requires the player to know which
button to push and when to push it. Unlike in the DVD edition, in the
other home versions there are no indicators as to when to hit the
buttons, so just watch for flashing items. Most rooms appear twice,
except the first and the last two scenes, which only appear once, and
sometimes the second scene, which may appear four times. But all rooms
may appear reversed, meaning you'll see a mirror-like image of the
image you previously saw.
If the room is reversed, then LEFT is RIGHT and RIGHT is LEFT.
1)Drawbridge: After Dirk falls through the bridge and the
tentacles appear, use the SWORD and, right after Dirk swings it, press
UP to climb out of the hole.
2)Corridor: This room consists of three sequences, including a
reversed sequence in the middle. Dirk will walk in one direction and
the middle of the corridor will start to crumble. If he starts to walk
to the right, press RIGHT when you see the opposite part of the room
flash. Then press LEFT at the reversed part. And then RIGHT again. Now
the corridor might repeat, only reversed.
3)Tentacles Room: A tentacle will come down from the ceiling.
Quickly use the SWORD. After Dirk chops it, press UP; if the first
tentacle has appeared towards the left, go RIGHT to the door, which
closes. The stairs will flash, so press DOWN. Dirk starts to go up the
stairs, but tentacles will appear from the top of the stairs, too. When
the table in the middle of the room flashes, press LEFT. After that,
hit UP to go through the door.
4)Cauldron Room: Boiling green ooze will appear on the floor. Move
Dirk UP. He will inspect a potion bottle from the table. Suddenly, a
huge monster will form from the ooze. Use the SWORD to destroy it and
Dirk will get out of the room by himself.
5)Ye Whirlpools/Ye Rapids: Dirk goes past the whirlpools first, so
press LEFT if you see the first whirlpool appearing from the right,
then press RIGHT on the next screen to avoid the next whirlpool, then
LEFT, then RIGHT. Now, Dirk faces the rapids. Immediately press LEFT to
the calmer current and UP. When the screen changes, press UP again.
You're now at the next rapid current, so press RIGHT and UP, then UP.
After this, press LEFT and UP, then UP. Finally, press RIGHT and UP,
then UP.
6)Checkerboard Floor Knight: If the knight holds his sword in the
left hand, move RIGHT, then LEFT, then UP, then LEFT, then RIGHT, then
quickly LEFT and RIGHT. Now, to make sure you use the SWORD at the
right time, since I'm not sure when that is exactly, you might want to
tap the sword button a few times to pull it out and disintegrate the
knight.
7)Rolling Balls: Wait to see the huge ball appear behind you and
wait for the smaller, blue ball that rolls in front of you to go the
other way, and then press DOWN. In the exact same manner, press DOWN,
DOWN, DOWN, DOWN, DOWN to go past the other five coloured balls and
you're done.
8)Waking Singe in the dragon's lair: If the stack of kitchen
objects is to Dirk's left, press LEFT to avoid its falling. There will
be a shot of the dragon and the princess caught in the crystal ball,
who awakens, and then again back to Dirk. Press RIGHT quickly to get
away from the kitchenware and press DOWN to run and avoid being toast.
Then press DOWN to catch the second stack of kitchenware and the
princess will speak. When she is on the screen, hit the SWORD button
and this level ends with a shot of the magic sword.
9)Defeating Singe in the dragon's lair: Tap DOWN to avoid the
claws of the dragon, then move RIGHT, if you first moved left in the
previous level. Dirk will take the magic sword from its place, but
Singe will get ready to whack you with his tail. Press DOWN. He will
get ready again to crash you. Press DOWN again. And DOWN one more time,
only to appear next to Singe this time. Now quickly use the SWORD and
Dirk will throw his sword, killing Singe. Dirk rescues Daphne.
The End
Here is a shortened version, in the order I played it the first time:
-Drawbridge: S,U
-Corridor: R,L,R
-Corridor reversed: L,R,L
-Tentacles Room: S,U,R,D,L,U
-Corridor reversed: L,R,L
-Corridor: R,L,R
-Tentacles Room reversed: S,U,L,D,R,U
-Cauldron Room: U,S,D
-Whirlpools/Rapids: L,R,L,R;L,U,U,R,U,U,L,U,U,R,U,U
-Cauldron Room reversed: U,S,D
-Whirlpools/Rapids reversed: R,L,R,L;R,U,U,L,U,U,R,U,U,L,U,U
-Floor Knight: R,L,U,L,R,L,R,S
-Rolling Balls: D,D,D,D,D,D
-Floor Knight reversed: L,R,U,R,L,R,L,S
-Rolling Balls: D,D,D,D,D,D
-Waking Singe: L,R,D,D,S
-Defeating Singe: D,R,D,D,D,S
Of course, there is very little chance it will go exactly like this the
first time you play it.
But this is basically how it goes.
There probably is more complete version, which was released later on;
I think I saw sites which say that the PC has received both a CD
version and a DVD version of 'Dragon's Lair'. This game I played is
very over-simplified. I think it has EGA graphics. It is, probably, to
quote The Underdogs (who, I think, quoted somebody else) "the original
PC Dragon's Lair release from 1989 by Merit Software"; this game might
have been on 3.5 floppy disks, I reckon. Nevertheless, I am glad I
downloaded it, since Dragon's Lair is one of my favourite series of
games. (And no, I'm not going to say which site I downloaded the game
from, you damn esa/idsa jerks, so don't even think about asking me! Why
would I? So you could hassle them and deprive us of a good game? Bugger
off, losers!)
II) DL:EfS'sC
'Dragon's Lair: Escape from Singe's Castle' contains the rest of
the scenes in the arcade laserdisc game. Of course, they are slightly
changed, as usual. And there are a few new ones, also.
1)Crumbling Corridor: Dirk faces three doors. The room starts to
crumble. Go to the RIGHT to escape.
2)Checkerboard Corridor: Before the fire grows too large, jump back
DOWN. Then jump UP to have Dirk stand on two bits of platform, UP to
catch the last remaining part, and then quickly go LEFT before the
doors open. If you wait too long, pressing left will imprison Dirk.
3)Flying Metal Horse: Dirk gets on a metallic horse. Push to the RIGHT
to avoid the fire, then quickly to the LEFT, just as the horse
stumbles, to get off it.
4)Collapsing Platform: Dirk is on a suspended wooden platform. It
starts to collapse, so Dirk needs to go UP and UP again to get to
safety.
5)The Smithy: Pull the SWORD out and, of course, use the SWORD when the
flying sword gets ready to come at Dirk. Then go LEFT when the flying
anvil turns green.
6)Hanging Ropes: Go RIGHT to catch the first rope, and RIGHT, and
RIGHT, and RIGHT again.
7)The Lizard King: Go LEFT when the magic pot steals your sword, then
LEFT again to avoid the lizard king's rage. Turn RIGHT, to follow the
pot. Dirk gets the SWORD again, so use it to block the lizard king's
sceptre. Dirk drops the sword, so go LEFT to get it and RIGHT to try to
impale the angry lizard. Then go DOWN to avoid the sceptre again. And
finally, bash the lizard king with the SWORD.
8)The Dungeon: When the oddly-shaped knocker flashes, go RIGHT. Then
DOWN, away from it. Use the SWORD to destroy the monster.
9)The Giddy Goons: Dirk gets out from under a trap door. Use the SWORD
when the goon appears from the door on the left. Then, go RIGHT; and UP
the stairs. Finally, just go LEFT through the open door.
10)Lava Field of the Mudmen: Press DOWN to dodge the mudmen. Go RIGHT
as soon as the screen changes, to avoid the explosion of hot magma. Go
RIGHT when you see the mudmen again, and then UP the bridge and LEFT to
cross it. At the end, jump to the RIGHT into the cave.
11)Trap Chambers: Dirk goes up into some nicer chambers. The masked
stranger who is watching princess Daphne hears him and disappears from
near her. Dirk runs into a mirror. Slash the treacherous guard with the
SWORD. When you see the path in the middle of the crypt, go RIGHT to
avoid the skeletal hand emerging from the grave. Then, go UP and LEFT
to avoid two other hands. Go RIGHT to avoid the last one. Finally, go
UP, when the screen changes, to escape the thorns towards you.
12)Phantom Knight: Go RIGHT and quickly LEFT to avoid his electricity
and a dangerous fall. The princess is excited to see you. Go UP to
steady ground. When the scene changes, go RIGHT. Then, move UP. Now
you're close to the phantom; go UP again. Without losing much time,
throw the SWORD at the phantom knight. Daphne is saved again.
Here is a shortened version:
1)First Corridor: R;
2)Checkerboard Corridor: D,U,U,L;
3)Metallic Horse: R,L;
4)Wooden Platform: U,U;
5)Enchanted Instruments: S,S;L;
6)Fire Room: R;R,R,R;
7)Lizard King: L,L;R;S,L,R,D,S;
8)Monster Door: R,D,S;
9)Giddy Goons: S,R;U;L;
10)Lava Lair: D;R;R;U,L;R;
11)Treacherous Rooms: S;R,U,L,R;U;
12)Caped Foe: R,L;U;R,U;U,S.
';' means that's a continue point.
