After saving Daphne from the clutches of Singe the Dragon, Dirk settled down with his princess and had children. Life seemed perfect for our bumbling hero for a time.
Without warning, an evil wizard by the name of Mordoc kidnaps Daphne, whisking her away through time. Aided by a talking Time Machine, Dirk must travel through various fairytales and time periods to rescue his damsel in distress.
Like the original Dragon’s Lair, Timewarp uses simple play mechanics that require precise timing to proceed to the next scene. Basically a series of QTE, the player must judge the on-screen animation and decide if Dirk must move Up, Down, Left, Right or Swing his sword. The difference between the original and Timewarp is the sheer number of moves required to complete a scene. DL’s rooms were small, had a limited amount of moves, and they were easier to memorize.
Timewarp, on the other hand, has everything broken down into scenes. These scenes are long; they require intense pattern memorization, quicker reflexes, and they also require treasure collecting.
There are eleven items that must be collected before you can advance to the final scene with Mordoc. These items are randomly scattered throughout the game and glow a bright yellow when encountered. The first couple of treasures are encountered early on in the game when Dirk is escaping the wrath of his mother-in-law. When collected, the on-screen action freezes and the screen dims. A treasure system keeps track of the items Dirk has collected during his adventure; it can be accessed by pressing the Start button.
If you happen to miss a treasure by the end of the game, you will be sent back to the proper scene to collect it before proceeding to Mordoc. Some gamers may find this feature frustrating, but it adds replay value to Timewarp. Not only must you memorize the patterns for each scene, but you must figure out where each treasure will appear. This is not easy considering how fast the game plays.
Like all previous Digital Leisure releases, Dragon’s Lair II: Timewarp has an on-screen Move Guide, Subtitles, and an option for infinite lives. The Watch Game mode also returns; you can view the game in its entirety without actually playing it.
As a game, Dragon’s Lair II: Timewarp offers more replay value than the original. Even though the simple play mechanics are still present, they have been stepped up a notch.
The inclusion of the treasure system also ensures that gamers can’t complete the game as easily. Just remember that everything you learned from the original Dragon’s Lair doesn’t apply here, especially when you take the treasure system into account.
Whether you love or loath Laser Disc games, Dragon’s Lair II: Timewarp is time well spent. It expands on the original concept, offers extended gameplay via a treasure system, and it’s innovative enough to separate itself from the original. Don Bluth fans will appreciate the unique blend of gameplay, while newcomers will be intrigued by the odd mixture of QTE and treasure collecting.
No matter how you chalk it up, Dragon’s Lair II: Timewarp is worth the investment.
Mike Pittaro
Platform: Playstation 3 (Available on PSN)
Developer: Digital Leisure
Publisher: Digital Leisure
ESRB: T (Teen)
Price: $9.99
Meg size: 1280 MB
| Review Score | |
|---|---|
| Graphics |  |
| The HD visuals are amazing. | |
| Sound | |
| Classic Dragon's Lair sound effects are used throughout. | |
| Gameplay | |
| The treasure system extends Timewarp's longevity. | |
| Overall | |
|---|---|
| You shouldn't pass this one up. | |
