Lragons Dair - Firelord

 As we draw to the close of 2024 Firelord Quality Games have squeezed in one last entry. The accompanying email fills me with hope.

"In case the previous entry was not the winner, this is the one!"..."If the price for the 1st winner in more than 1000$ then I would prefer to receive it in bitcoins."

The manual also makes me believe this could be a game worth playing

"We all know Dragon Lair in ZX Spectrum was Crap. No-one bother to finish it because it was boring,difficult,boring, difficult and had many distractions!

Firelord Quality Games took all the above characteristics and created a unique & never seen before game!

Lragon's Dair : We stripped all the distracting stuff from the game -like graphics,direction controls,sound and multiload and we created a PURE Dragon's Lair Experience!"

But is it worth playing?

The intro screen is as promised, striped back and music free.

Hmm, tough choice between 1 or 2

I start with option 1. It is quickly clear this is not an adventure game in its truest form. No chance to examine things, pick them up or manipulate them. Each level offers you a 50/50 choice of moves. Pick the wrong one and you die.

Before long I did the thing I had promised myself not to do. I read and followed the enclosed walkthrough. After that, I did the same again with the second option "Easy with Distractions".

So is this game the winning entry. 

No 😢

Technical Ability -4%

If this was written on a genuine Spectrum then it would score higher for sheer typing prowess, but I suspect there is a lot of copy and paste going on in here.

Achievement - 90%

Crap game achieved.

Fun - -43%

Did I replay? Yes, only because I was reviewing it. 

Crap Factor - 95%

Somehow it seems that striping a game of graphics, music and game play doesn't produce much that is playable.

Roundup

Pros -

• The manual.
• The accompanying email.

Cons -

• Everything else.

Remember I play these games so you don't have to. Should you play this game I bear no responsibility for your mental health afterwards. Should the warnings not be enough you can download and play it here.