This is a weird one. It features some wonderful animation from Don Bluth that's always a delight to watch. But gameplay wise it's more like an interactive movie you complete through trial and error. The game gives you a very small window of time to react and sometimes there's little indication of what button you need to press. Basically, it's an entire game of quick time events. At least you get to watch a fun death animation each time you die.

Of course, you could always play this game with a guide telling you exactly what to press and when, which I'd honestly recommend. This one's more for the spectacle than the gameplay.

Inacreditável isso ter saído em 83 pra arcade

Animação absurda de linda, é um filme interativo ne então capricharam. É uma experiência única, pena que depois que você termina a primeira vez não tem porque jogar novamente mas serviu pra inspirar vários jogos no mesmo estilo que eu particularmente gosto.

Vale muito a pena a experiência recomendo.

Dragon's Lair, a vintage piece from the crypt of arcade horrors. Imagine the agony of trial and error, akin to trying to comprehend the chaos of a Discord server with too many bots. The game's unique selling point? You get to experience a multitude of spectacular deaths in gorgeous animation. It's like playing a twisted version of "Choose Your Own Death Adventure." The controls are about as reliable as a $5 psychic reading. While some may revel in the nostalgia, it's more of a "look, but don't touch" affair. A generous 4/10 for the pain-soaked journey through Dragon's Lair.

~ Juegos que Hay que Jugar Antes de Morir ~
Parte 2 — Los 80: Caída y Resurgir

Juego 52: Dragon's Lair (1983)

La idea es fascinante y artísticamente te deja con la boca abierta, pero no hay juego. Es una serie de QTEs inesperados hechos para sacarte monedas una tras otra. Me esperaba mucho más.

While Shenmue was the one to finally give it a name 16 years later, Dragon's Lair is the true inventor of the Quick Time Event. Of course, the entire game is a massive series of them. Due to this game's gorgeous animation by legendary animator Don Bluth, this was essential however as while a Cuphead type game with Bluth animation would be spectacular, it simply was not feasible with the tech in 1983 so the interactive movie will have to do. However the animation alone makes this game worth playing on Modern Platforms, if you just want to see the beauty of the visuals without having to be a QTE master. Failing ain't so bad either, as you can see the many, many ways Dirk the Daring becomes Dirk the Dying. Deaths aren't the only funny thing as I got a few chuckles out of the creatures and the water ride section. Some sections tend to repeat (albeit mirrored) though which feels like padding, but the game is so short it's a minor eye roll at worst except when you get a few of them at once, then it's a slightly bigger one. Everyone remembers Princess Daphne though and I'm surprised a game was allowed to be that horny.

All in all, whether you're an animation fan, have some interest in video game history, have an odd QTE fetish, or looking for a unique way to kill an hour, I think Dragon's Lair is an essential game in those specific categories. For the first timer, I recommend the settings where you can use continues but have to clear all the QTEs in a section before you can move on to the next, just so you can see the game, and then later decide if you're up for the true QTE challenge!