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GameSpot Video Games, PC, Wii, PlayStation 2, GameCube, PSP, DS, GBA, PS2, PS3, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3

Space Ace, Dragon's Lair II set to singe DS

Conspiracy Entertainment Europe to cram more Laserdisc-based arcade games into a cartridge, sets early 2008 release for first Dragon's Lair on DS.
By Brendan Sinclair, GameSpot
Posted Sep 12, 2007 2:21 pm PT

While full-motion video games are best remembered now as an ill-fated gameplay concept from the days of the Sega CD, the idea didn't always seem so doomed. When Dragon's Lair first burst into the arcades in 1983, the game's Don Bluth animation blew other games' graphics out of the water.

The game quickly grew in popularity, and spun off a sequel in Dragon's Lair II: Time Warp, as well as a sci-fi counterpart in Space Ace. Now Conspiracy Entertainment Europe has announced its plans to bring all three games to the Nintendo DS. The DS port of the original Dragon's Lair was originally announced earlier this year, but Conspiracy today narrowed its release window to the first quarter of 2008. All three games are being developed by United Coders.

When it is released, Dragon's Lair will include two play modes for players: a 1983 arcade mode faithful to the original game, and a Director's Cut promising "new and unique gameplay options," as well as support for the DS touch screen and Rumble Pak, and also voice recognition through the system's microphone.

Conspiracy is promising that the first arcade-accurate handheld version of the game will include all the game's levels and death scenes, but it is not the first time the arcade's full-motion video style of play has been attempted on a handheld. A mobile version was released in 2005, and the Game Boy Color played host to a solid port of the game back in 2001.

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32 Comments

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BloodMist

I was a big fan of those games back when they came out, especially of the wonderful Don Bluth animation.These games are practically screaming for portable ports, and touch screen, AND microphone support, AND new content?Hell yeah!

Posted Dec 28, 2007 1:35 pm PT
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insinuendo

I've got fond memories of those games. They're very limited as well as dated now'a days. I wouldn't buy them again for the DS, I don't think.

Posted Sep 16, 2007 4:03 pm PT
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GonzoGuy

These games were great.
The gameplay was a little transparent and cheesy but it was really fun to watch in the arcade. They were all pretty hard but that didn't stop everyone at TimeOut from plunken quarters and memorizing the sequences. I never got to the end but I would often watch other kids beat the game.

Those were the days. I'm definitely getting this, if anything, to spoil my inner child. Hopefully the 2p options are fun and not just taking turns on the levels.

Posted Sep 14, 2007 9:29 am PT
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DiscGuru101

@123625: It could be beaten, but the dragon was tricky. Playing the whole game in reverse was tough to get use to at first.

Posted Sep 14, 2007 2:19 am PT
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Sunrie

I've never really been much of a fan of either, but it'll make for interesting gaming on the DS

Posted Sep 13, 2007 9:39 pm PT
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123625

wasnt the first one like impossible to beat.

Posted Sep 13, 2007 8:58 pm PT
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MrMartinLee

Played it in the arcade, then on the Coleco ADAM (cassette tapes, anyone?) and have been eyeing the Digital Leisure DVDs for a long time... but I'll wait a little longer for this...

Posted Sep 13, 2007 5:35 pm PT
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Rockman_00X

@DiscGuru and Shifty Pete

I don't think the DS port would make for a bad transition. I mean, look at FFIII and the opening FMV. Granted it didn't look like what it would look like on the PS2, It did darn good job of putting a rendered FMV on the DS. The DS, much like the Wii, has some power that has yet to be tapped into to display it's full potential. @Bonzanimal

I couldn't agree with you more.

Posted Sep 13, 2007 3:38 pm PT
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Shifty_Pete

Wait, now that we have DVD and Blu-Ray available, they're putting Dragon's lair on... a cart? Do they understand Dragon's Lair at ALL?

Posted Sep 13, 2007 9:40 am PT
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Bozanimal

They're right about one thing: when I saw it in arcades it "blew other games' graphics out of the water."

There's been nothing else like it since, in my opinion.

Posted Sep 13, 2007 8:07 am PT
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Rect_Pola

Like Mush_Mouth said, the games aren't that long overall. I'd say they should be a collection but there is a lot a high-grade animation to take into account. I guess for DS they'd have to be separate. I hope they make good use of the rumble and voice recognition.

Posted Sep 13, 2007 6:37 am PT
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FallenOneX

I spent about $30 on that game back in the day. Not much now, but it was like a grand to a 6 year old back then. Automatically bought.

Posted Sep 12, 2007 11:56 pm PT
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DiscGuru101

Wow. I never would have thought Dragons Lair would go hand held one day. -I hope the compression doesn't totally screw up the wonderful animation.

Posted Sep 12, 2007 11:00 pm PT
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joeymew

YES YES YES YES YES. I can't wait for these!

Posted Sep 12, 2007 10:35 pm PT
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STEALTHGAMER22

Yeah, I hope it lives up like the orginal and controls even better. Also looks better!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted Sep 12, 2007 10:20 pm PT
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Mush_Mouth

Fun game while it lasts. Too bad you can beat it in 15 minutes when you memorize everything, but it's huge fun to show off to someone who's watching.

Posted Sep 12, 2007 7:29 pm PT
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retrofraction12

cool!

Posted Sep 12, 2007 6:46 pm PT
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RaiKageRyu

It would be nice if all three were in.

Posted Sep 12, 2007 6:38 pm PT
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Nostradennis

I played Dragon's Lair 3D on the Xbox about a year ago. It supported Resolutions: 480p, 720p, 1080i, Widescreen and Dolby Digital 5.1 and was fun to play. Not bad for a 2002 video game.

Posted Sep 12, 2007 6:07 pm PT
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HardBUCKSHOT

I'VE played dragon's lair 2 and space ace back in the 90's.

Posted Sep 12, 2007 5:38 pm PT
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PacoL250

@lamprey263: Well I would have been normally too young as well, but this place specialized in super old stuff.

Stinks the arcade community in the USA is pretty much gone; at least there's XBLA for all my "I gots next" tendencies.

Posted Sep 12, 2007 5:28 pm PT
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lamprey263

@PacoL250 - I was too young to play it in the arcade without dying too much, but I did get through it when it did come out for SEGA CD; though, I never did get to try Space Ace or Dragon's Lair 2

Posted Sep 12, 2007 4:50 pm PT
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Lilac_Benjie

I love old games, but Dragon's Lair sucks.

Posted Sep 12, 2007 4:36 pm PT
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Pete5506

I don't know about this

Posted Sep 12, 2007 4:32 pm PT
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Rockman_00X

@spinoff

DL, much like the Wii, was like a new way to play video games in a sense. However, I don't know what "Wow" factor your talking about? It was pretty much a fully animated video game. It didn't have HD graphics or needed super expensive chip to play on. But it was a fun and new way to play a game. Games like this are rare. As corny as it was, it was impressive in the sense that it was fun and new, not needing super expensive technology to play.

Posted Sep 12, 2007 4:23 pm PT
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Jaysonguy

This is great.

It's not meant to be a huge system seller. It's fan service made to please DS owners and maybe push a few people who are on the fence to the other side.

Not all games have to have an earth shattering impact for everyone but this one is sure going to be felt by lots of fans.

Posted Sep 12, 2007 4:20 pm PT
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sirpyke29

I cant wait to play this...ya its a trip down memory lane and it is trial and error but that was the best about these games! Thank god I dont have to plunk down quarters for this game LOL

Posted Sep 12, 2007 4:07 pm PT
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jsnbase

@spinoff

You think? What's your point?

And 'overtly' doesn't mean what you think it means.

Posted Sep 12, 2007 4:03 pm PT
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spinoff

I see this as being nothing more than a nostalgia trip for older gamers or an impulse buy by the overtly curious. DL and its related games relied extensively on the "wow" factor of their presentation to make up for what was largely simple trial-and-error game play that won't stack up to the demands of most modern gamers.

Posted Sep 12, 2007 2:36 pm PT
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PacoL250

@lamprey263: Way to make me feel old

In all seriousness, I remember playing Space Ace at a local arcade and just loving it.

Posted Sep 12, 2007 2:34 pm PT
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/ (+4)
lamprey263

I want em!!! Jeez, I even remember when they had the arcade game at Chuck E Cheese many many years ago.

Posted Sep 12, 2007 2:26 pm PT
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devilgunman

It's been a long time...

Posted Sep 12, 2007 2:25 pm PT
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