While it deserves props for popularizing quick-time events and gorgeous animation, Dragon’s Lair has definitely been overexposed for more than 30 years now. Unfortunately, the major addition for its XBLA debut — Kinect integration — is poorly implemented, leaving an otherwise shallow and dated experience.
If the game actually had you assuming a horse-riding position, it’d make for a nice picture, but most Kinect-captured images show you stepping to the side or raising your arm.Controller gameplay will be familiar to modern-day gamers: by pressing a direction or button during animated sequences, you’ll make hero Dirk the Daring proceed onward (or die a humorous death if you fail). You can choose to receive onscreen prompts — which remove almost all challenge — or play old-school by observing the environment for cues (some of which are too subtle). However, when you play with Kinect, it’s obvious the game moves too quickly to recognize movement. The developers have changed the rules to make Kinect play more forgiving — you can fail stepping in a given direction or doing a two-armed sword swing a few times before you lose a life— but ultimately, this mode is worth one try at most. And the unbalanced co-op mode, where players take turns controlling Dirk, isn’t the least bit fun.
Unless you’re a diehard fan, avoid this Dragon’s Lair.
While some movement cues are too obscure, when a creature yells at you, it’s usually sword-swinging time.PUBLISHER: Microsoft Studios • DEVELOPERS: Digital Leisure • ESRB: Everyone 10+ • MULTIPLAYER: 2-player co-op (taking turns) • ACHIEVEMENTS: Challenging • COST: 800 Microsoft Points ($10) • RELEASE DATE: 5/18/12
+ The standard controller-based action flows nicely due to no disc loading.
- Sadly, it’s a short ride, with little added to increase replay value.
- The Kinect gameplay is uninspired and unresponsive; co-op play is a pointless addition.
? Why is this ten bucks?! This feels like a $5 game that’s using Kinect to bump up the price.
