Dragon's Lair

Dragon's Lair, released in 1990 for the NES, is an unusual take on the famous arcade classic, which originally became famous for its cartoon graphics by Don Bluth. While the arcade version relied on laserdisc technology, the NES version offers a completely different gaming experience - challenging, idiosyncratic, but with cult charm.

In Dragon's Lair, you take on the role of Dirk the Daring, a brave but clumsy knight who fights his way through the dangerous castle of the evil dragon Singe to rescue the kidnapped Princess Daphne. Unlike the arcade original, the NES version does not rely on quick-time reactions, but on classic platform gameplay - with tricky jumps, dangerous traps and deadly enemies.

Dragon's Lair is known (and infamous) for its high level of difficulty: pixel-perfect jumps, sudden deaths and a lack of checkpoints demand patience and stamina. The animations are decent by NES standards, the music is dark and atmospheric - very much in the spirit of the original, but technically more limited.

Although it deviates greatly from the arcade original, the NES version of Dragon's Lair has achieved a certain cult status - precisely because of its challenge and the courage to completely rethink the concept.

Dragon's Lair on the NES is not a typical knight adventure, but a mixture of classic platform game and trial-and-error challenge. For fans of retro games with high standards and a legendary frustration factor - or for collectors who want to experience one of the most famous names in 80s gaming culture in an unusual form.