A retro classic, and one of the only DSi Ware games that is worth the download price.
What set this game apart in the 80's and what still sets it apart is the actual graphic experience. You are essentially watching a movie throughout the entire game. Each section of the castle you are exploring is an animated sequence drawn by one time Disney animator Don Bluth. *(On a side note: Bluth's animation can be recognized heavily in "The Secret of NIMH", "The Sword and The Stone" and other animated movies of that era)* In Dragon's lair Dirk will walk on his own and interact with objects on his own occasionally, you simply watch the movie and hit the correct button at the correct time. The recent PS3 game Heavy Rain is somewhat like this, although Dragon's Lair does not provide near the help that Heavy Rain does. Occasionally in Dragon's Lair a certain door or opening will flash yellow, but only sometimes and you must react very quickly. Most times you must simply have good instincts and reflexes or you must memorize the sequence through repeated trials. What could have been a tedious and repetitive nightmare is actually such a fun experience that you won't mind that you might have to die in excess of 5 or 6 times per room to understand the button input required. The animation movie style of this game is what takes it from a generic castle adventure to an unforgettable glimpse into a game that brought arcade goers to their knees in the mid 80's.
Another big difference that sets Dragon's Lair apart from other games, is that you do not directly control Dirk. You control his reactions (more or less) to whatever danger he is presented with. This comes in the form of the up/down/left/right buttons on the control pad or the a/b buttons for a sword attack. For example, in the Lizard King chase scene, you will need to input the correct direction or use your sword at just the right moment. The animated sequence consists of Dirk chasing a cauldron that has stolen his sword while himself being chased by the Lizard King.
The game features two modes: Arcade and Home. Arcade will move you progressively from Stage to Stage even if you die, ending only when you run out of the 5 lives you are given to start. This is a good mode to attempt to beat the game on, as it will move you along regardless of the outcome in the last room you visited. No worries about it being too easy though, there are enough rooms in this game that I have played it 20 + times (haven't beaten it yet either) and if I get far enough I'll see a room or encounter I haven't seen yet. When this happens I almost always panic and die, but like I said before. This simply means I'll get moved to another room to try my luck on. The Home mode, is a more progressive and complete approach. While also featuring a unique starting animation sequence that was not included in the arcades, the home mode will keep you in the same room/encounter until you run out of lives or beat it. This is great for practicing a specific room you've had trouble with when it popped up on arcade mode, and repeated play of the Home mode ensures an easy first few levels on arcade mode. No matter which mode you play the levels spawn in a semi-random fashion. The first four or five encounters are random, but come from a pool of about 10 or more possibilities, and so forth. Its hard to describe, but rest easy that it provides a game that mixes it up nicely.
The sounds and music of the game are also well done. From the impressive sounding introduction to the game spoken with voice acting that sound like a movie trailer, to the shrieks and cringes of Dirk as he bumbles his way through the corridors. The sounds keep you immersed in the experience. Occasionally I found the sound effects or music to be a cue for an action input, or at least I often find myself timing my inputs to certain sounds .
Summarily, its hard to believe I had this much to say about a DSi ware title as the majority, frankly are a complete rip off. However, I play this game at least as much as any DS cartridge game I have purchased. Your friends will enjoy watching you play as you get better and can keep the movie going longer, and the death sequences range from hilarious to downright disturbing, so even if you're not very good it makes for an entertaining game. For a mere 800 points (8 bucks) you can own a piece of video game history and a game that looks great (especially on the DSi XL) at the same time. I would easily have payed $15 or more for this classic