Wii Dragon's Lair Trilogy

I am an older, casual game player so when I saw Dragon's Lair Trilogy for the Wii I bought it as soon as I saw it. This version brings back all the nostalgic memories from the 80s arcades when you had to put in an unheard of 50 cents for just three lives to make it to the end. Throngs of people gathered around the cabinet watching people play and others who weren't close enough watched the monitor on the top of the cabinet. Ah the memories. This is the best version of these three games to date. I used to own the DVD versions of all three games and those are junk compared to this. The pause between moves is gone (the game moves along flawlessly), the "move accepted tone" (beep) is back and the picture quality is vastly improved.I finished all three of these games in the arcade and I do have to correct something a 3 star reviewer said about Space Ace missing cut scenes. In the arcade version of this game, you only get the cut scene with Kimberly screaming "GET ME OUT OF HERE!" between the opening level and the asteroid maze on the Cadet difficulty level of the game. On the Captain and Ace difficulty levels that cut scene is ommitted in the arcade (maybe they ran out of space on the laserdisc, I don't know). And in order to play every scene in the game it DOES have to be completed on Ace difficulty (Cadet and Captain difficulty have scenes ommitted to make it a bit easier). But if you play the Cadet level on this game that cut scene IS there and ommitted on Captain and Ace levels as it should be. One thing about Space Ace I do NOT remember from the arcade is having to go through some of the scenes on the Ace difficulty level twice, one right after the other, to cover the scenes that have "mirror" images where left and right are reversed. For example, the asteroid maze and the junkyard have to be done twice back-to-back to cover the left and right reversals(as well as other scenes) but I don't remember having to do this in the arcade.I only have two other complaints, the first is the Hard difficulty level on Dragon's Lair has the first few seconds of some rooms cut short so in some cases you almost can't move fast enough to get the move in. For example, the crumbling room scene's first move is left or right(depending on which "mirror" imaged room they give you first) and it's so quick you almost can't do it. In order to determine if the first room they are giving is left or right, you have to look at which side Dirk's sword is on but there is no time on the Hard difficulty level to do this. You almost don't even have enough time to identify the room so if you're fast enough to at least identify the room you have to get lucky by guessing either right or left. The only other complaint I have is there are no bonus features, there could have been interviews with the creators added in for more nostalgia value.Otherwise, a very solid port, the best one yet. Destineer did a very fine job. The controls are very responsive, the move accepted tone is back, the quality of the video is much improved, the "watch" option is still here and the variety of difficulty levels will keep seasoned gamers who fished these games in the arcade and novices alike entertained for hours. For novices there is even an option that will put an indicator icon on the screen to show you which move is required to help aleviate the frustration level that can sometimes come with these games. Although, have fun trying to memorize the 312 moves it takes to finish Dragon's Lair II: Timewarp! That's right, it takes 312 moves to finish Dragon's Lair II: Timewarp. That should keep you busy for weeks, LOL.

This plays exactly as the arcade with additional play mode options. You get DL1, DL2, and Space Ace. Not easy to play with the wii remotes at first. But once you get used to it, you'll have a great time.

I started off buying the DVD version that is "playable" on my DVD player and Xbox360. After a week or two of having it I decided to go ahead and buy the Wii version, and Im glad I did...heres why;The DVD version seems to be glitchy, for instance when I make a correct move the action should continue on to the next scene, instead it shows a clip of Dirk transforming from a skeleton back into Dirk...I dont know why.The DVD versions colors seem to be a bit muted and grainey compared to the Wii version.The DVD version has the outline of a small square that flashes on the screen to prompt you to make a move, and as far as I can tell there is no option to turn it off.The DVD version has no way to save your progress, since it is a playable movie, and it doesnt have any memory capability.So, those reasons prompted me to drop another $20 for the Wii version.The Wii version has bright and colorful screens, not at all muted like I immediately noticed on the DVD, the grainy textured look is also gone allowing for a much more visually appealing game.The Wii does have some save functions, and obviously includes two other games, the sequel DL2 and Space Ace. The menu screen also shows the old style arcade cabinets which you choose in order to start the game.The Wii also has a few options on how the prompt display functions and even gives you the option to turn it off all together. Difficulty settings can also be managed in the options.So overall I am glad I purchased the Wii version, I wish I would have just got the Wii version in the first place, but even so I may have picked up the DVD just to see what I was missing..if anything. The DVD version does have some extra features that includes an interview with its creator, and some news footage when DL was the newest arcade craze...but nothing very interesting or worth the extra purchase in my opinion.So...if you are a serious classic gamer, and you have a Wii, I would suggest giving DL a try, its a nice quick trip down memory lane. If you are into Gears of War, or Call of Duty I would seriously take a pass, you will be bored within the first ten, make that five seconds.

WOW! "Dragon's Lair" on the Wii! When this game hit arcade circuit the standard fare for a game was a quarter. But the creator's felt that using the new laserdisc technology (which is almost everywhere now), that gave Dragon's Lair its cartoonish and cinematic look, deserved a doubling of price. Though small change by today's standards, it was a lot for an 80's kid who only earned a few bucks for his weekly allowance. As a result I spent more time watching others play than actually playing the game myself. When I did play I could only hope to get the few challenges I had mastered so my two bits wouldn't go to waste too soon. Since the each trial came at me at random it was difficult to troubleshoot through the more difficult screens. The knight and the electrified sword got me every time and as a result I never freed the princess...I got my version of "Dragon's Lair: The Trilogy" for the Wii and it has a few game play options. Between choosing the game you want to play (three for a trilogy), the version of each (home vs. arcade) and the difficulty level, you can find something to suit you. On top of that you get to choose how many lives you need to get you through the game. Three, Five or Infinite lives are offered to give you the practice or repetition needed to get through the tougher levels. And I finally beat the knight that stumped me in my youth and eventually beat the dragon using that "infinite lives" option.The game is fun in a nostalgic sort of way. As in the past you are paying for the look of the game (cartoonish and silly) and to be a little part of gaming history, but it doesn't really compare to games of the present regarding pace. "Dragon's Lair: The Trilogy" is a game of timing. Not rapid-fire button punching and not complex combinations of movements, simply timing. If you are looking for game with non-stop action, think twice. If the mention of this game brings back pleasant memories from yester-year, then enjoy.

It's great to own all three of Don Bluth's games in one disc! I fondly remember the original Dragon's Lair at the arcade and how it drew crowds with its cartoony presentation. No other game was like that at the time. Then Dragon's Lair 2 came out years later and I would always go to play it in the arcade. Sadly, I never experienced Space Ace at the arcade but I did play the really hard Sega CD version some years ago.Basically it all boils down to: If you played and loved the original arcades then you should own this compilation. It's better than buying an overpriced DVD of one of these games when you can get them all in one for an affordable price. The best part is that it doesn't have that pause after each button press that I hated so much on the DVD. It ruined the experience. Not only that, but there is a direction icon of where you should go, unlike the arcade versions where you had to guess which button they wanted you to press. That's a nice touch.There were a few things that bothered me, like not being able to acquire the Game Over screen of Dirk turning into a skeleton. Unless I'm not figuring it out, but I don't see that animation screen anywhere. Also, in Dragon's Lair 2 (and this may be nitpicking) but the arcade always told you what level you were on, and each stage you would see Dirk rising into human form and looking around, but somehow that was omitted from this game. You can briefly see that animation screen for a split second in the Garden of Eden level just before you begin. I don't understand why they wanted to take that out. Just keep the original arcade experience!But hey, everything unless is intact and I think it's a great game to get to impress your friends! I impressed my girlfriend with it, so I think it would work for others, too! I just hope Don Bluth would give Dirk the Daring one last adventure. He deserves it!