Dragon's Lair on Blu-Ray review

Ye olde tyme arcade game gets a new media facelift

GamesRadar+ Verdict

Pros

  • +

    Beautifully restored animation

  • +

    Move assistance

  • +

    Improved surround sound

Cons

  • -

    Same touchy

  • -

    frustrating game

  • -

    Short

  • -

    often dull commentaries

  • -

    Lack of deathless Watch mode

Why you can trust GamesRadar+ Our experts review games, movies and tech over countless hours, so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about our reviews policy.

Though he’s undoubtedly died millions of times, Dirk the Daring certainly has lived a long life through the many re-releases of the Dragon’s Lair. The latest reincarnation of the laserdisc-based, Don Bluth-animated arcade game comes in the form of a Blu-Ray disc, playing much the same way as the original.

With the illusion of control, you press the either the Select or directional buttons at precisely the right moment to queue up either successful moves, daring battles or a skin-stripping demise thanks to a giggling Lizard King, slimy lava monsters and googly-eyed purple beasties. You can also play it in the Blu-Ray-friendly PS3 using X button and either the directional pad or the left thumbstick.

More info

GenreArcade
DescriptionA great looking but pricey reissue of the infamous arcade game. It's slightly easier to play thanks to additional cues, but as classically frustrating as ever and somewhat glitchy on some Blu-Ray players.
Platform"PS3"
Release date1 January 1970 (US), 1 January 1970 (UK)
More
CATEGORIES
Latest in Games
inZOI Character Studio screenshot showing a young woman with short black/pink hair, black cat-like ears, and a black blouse with a bowtie
The creator of upcoming life sim Inzoi says he was "recklessly brave to even think about creating a game of this scale"
Rise of the Ronin
A year after its PS5 launch, Rise of the Ronin debuts on PC to "Mixed" reviews and performance complaints: "Stuttering on a 4090 is just... no"
Rise of the Ronin's photo mode offers some wonderful shots
On the heels of Rise of the Ronin's PC launch, its director says there's a "significant" amount of Japanese Switch gamers: "I am closely watching how this will change with the release of Switch 2"
Stardew Valley Castle Village mod
Stardew Valley Expanded creator is building an "even more ambitious" mod with a whole new city and "dungeons inspired by The Legend of Zelda"
Dino Crisis 2 art showing a young woman and man back-to-back amid tall green grass, both with their weapons drawn
Dino Crisis gets a fresh trademark filing by Capcom, but it might not mean the 26-year-old survival horror franchise will get a new installment like fans expect
Dragon Age 2
Veteran Dragon Age dev says one big delay is better than several small ones: "You are laying band-aid on top of band-aid on top of band-aid"
Latest in Reviews
Lenovo Legion Go S with FlyKnight gameplay on screen featuring player character holding bow and arrow with enemy ant in backdrop.
Lenovo Legion Go S Windows 11 review: “my heart aches for this mixed up handheld”
Talisman 5th Edition game components
Talisman 5th Edition review: "The characterful imperfections of the original game remain clear to see "
WWE 2K25
WWE 2K25 review: "A colossal package even if you never go anywhere near Virtual Currency"
Altered: Trial by Frost booster box and packs on a playmat
Altered: Trial by Frost review - "Satisfying enough to offer highly varied gameplay"
Three SteelSeries QcK Performance mouse pads on a wooden desk
I didn't expect to prefer a coarser mouse pad, but SteelSeries' new QcK Performance range has changed my mind
Boro and Alta sit on a bench together in Wanderstop
Wanderstop review: "Exalting the transformative power of tea"