Dragon's Lair (USA)/Dragon's Lair (USA).bin/doxview/dragons.dox

Text File | 1995-10-06 | 15.2 KB | 353 lines

Dragon's Lair
PC & Compatibles

Starting the Game

After the CD has been inserted, enter the drive letter of you CD-ROM
drive (example D:) and press ENTER.  Now type DRAGON and press ENTER.
When Dragon's Lair is loaded, the options screen will appear.  Use the
cursor keys to set the various options and then press ENTER to begin
playing Dragon's Lair.

The options are saved in a file called DLADJUST.DAT in the directory
C:\DLCDROM which will be created the first time you run Dragon's Lair.

Dragon's Lair requires a minimum of 4Mb RAM in EMS.  If you do not have
enough EMS memory available, a message will be displayed and Dragon's
Lair will not be loaded.  The more memory you give to EMS the better.
To do this you should have the following line in your CONFIG.SYS:

DEVICE = C:\DOS\EMM386.EXE
4000.

If you choose not to change your system files, make a boot disk by
typing INSTALL at your CD-ROM drive prompt.

Note that even if you have 4Mb RAM but you have a 150K/s CD-ROM drive,
slow processor, or select 12 frames per second, there may still be
pauses in the animation.

SOUND

Dragon's Lair only supports the Sound Blaster, true compatibles,
UltraSound and Ad Lib Gold sound cards.  You must have your sound
card set to DMA1 and interrupt set to 3,5, or 7.

FRAME RATE

If you select AUTO for the frame rate, Dragon's Lair will look at
your hardware to determine the best frame rate for your system
before playing.  If you select 12 for the frame rate, your computer
will be forced to play Dragon's Lair at 12 frames per second (which
may be beyond the capabilities of your computer).  Slower hardware
that is forced to play at 12 frames per second will have side effects
like pauses, speeding up, or even loss of sound.  If you select 6 for the
frame rate, this will force your computer to play Dragon's Lair at
6 frames per second.  This will skip every second frame ad animation will
not look as smooth as 12 frames per second with fast hardware.

FINE TUNING YOUR SYSTEM

Fine tuning your system can take anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour
to complete.  This will create a file to hold your configuration in
the C:\DLCDROM subdirectory called DLADJUST.DAT so you will only
have to do this once.

The reason for fin tuning Dragon's Lair to your system is to determine,
based on your processor, video card, and CD-ROM speed, how much of each
scene the game needs to prebuffer in RAM before it begins playback.
If you don't fine tune Dragon's Lair to your system, it may cause
pauses in the animation.

If you change your hardware, delete the DLADJUST.DAT file in the
C:\DLCDROM directory and fine tune Dragon's Lair to your new
system.

CONTROLS

You may use either the keyboard or a joystick to control Dirk the
Daring.  When using the keyboard, press the SPACE bar or "0" for
FIRE/SWORD button; "8" for UP; "2" for DOWN; "4" for LEFT; "6" for
RIGHT.  You may also use the cursor keys to play the game.  Press
the ESC key to end the game.

To pause the game, press the 'P' key.  Press 'P' again to resume
play.

PERFORMANCE

For optimum performance, you should have a 486DX, a 300K/s CD-ROM
drive or better, a local bus (or accelerated) video card, and 8Mb
of RAM or better (although not all are necessary to achieve peak
performance.)  The single biggest factor determining performance
is the CD-ROM data transfer rate - a 300K/s drive is strongly
recommended.

For more information, please read the README.DOC file on the
Dragon's Lair CD.

After pressing ENTER/FIRE button, the demo will automatically begin.
To start playing the game, simply press the FIRE button or SPACE.
You will know the game has started when you see Dirk walking across
a drawbridge in front of the castle.  The bridge has a hole in it
and several purple tentacles will appear.  As the tentacles begin to
move towards Dirk, press FIRE button once.  Dirk will draw his sword
and swing at the tentacles.  Next press the UP direction and Dirk
will climb back through the hold and run into the castle.

OBJECT OF THE GAME

You Dirk the Daring, are on a quest to rescue the Fair Princess Daphne
who has been kidnapped and is being held captive by Singe the Evil
Dragon.  To do this you must survive a perilous journey and defeat
all you adversaries.  Make your way through the castle and caverns
below by using the joystick or keyboard to move and the FIRE button,
SPACE bar or '0' to wield your sword.  Beware of your foes, as they
are numerous!

You must use your wit and reflexes to avoid the obstacles of each
scene.  These rooms will require many attempts to master. In general,
flashing items will either indicate danger (when on a creature) or
the direction to move (when on an object).  Remember: The timing of your
moves is critical.  Don't react too early or too late, or your quest
may end abruptly.

PLAYING DRAGON'S LAIR

You do not control all of Dirk's actions, rather you control his
reactions to the events that happen around him.  As you watch the
animation, you must decide in which direction Dirk should move
on the screen and when.

To finish a scene successfully, you must make a move or press the
FIRE button when Dirk is in danger.  Timing is very critical and
often you may make the correct move but at the wrong time.  Also,
many scenes require more than one move.  If you are having trouble,
watch the animation carefully and move Dirk in the safest direction,
or if no direction is safe, press the FIRE button to use Dirk's sword.

If you're sure you have made the correct move, make the move a little
sooner or a little later.  Don't be surprised if Dirk doesn't move
immediately after you have made a move.  You must wait for the animation
to finish, and if you made the correct move(s) you will continue on to
the next scene.

The game will end if you lose all of your lives, or when you reach the
Dragon's Lair and defeat the Dragon himself.  There you find Princess
Daphne who is very happy to be rescued...

HINTS

Note:  Scenes will not necessarily appear in the following order.

Drawbridge

Dirk will walk across the bridge and fall through a hole.  Several
purple tentacles will appear.  As the tentacles begin to move towards
Dirk, press the FIRE once.  Dirk will draw and swing his sword.
Halfway through the swing, press UP once; Dirk will put his sword away,
climb onto the bridge and run into the castle.

End of Corridor

Dirk stands at the end of a corridor in front of three doors.  As he
looks around, the roof starts to fall in and the floor to his left
begins to crumble away.  Dirk must move right to exit out the remaining
door as the floor falls away and the roof comes in.

Tentacles from Ceiling

As Dirk enters the room, a green tentacle will slither out of the
ceiling.  Dirk must chop the tentacle in half.  Dirk will then jump
to the back of the room.  Various objects will flash in the room
and Dirk must move in the direction of the flashing objects.

Snake Room

Snakes slither out of the ceiling and walls.  Dirk must chop the
snakes.  A skeleton head drops from the ceiling and flashes.  Pull
the skull and exit through the ceiling.

Pool of Water
Dirk approaches the small pool of water.  The floor and ceiling start
to crumble.  Dirk should follow the stone path and roll to avoid the
daggers coming out of the wall.  Jump into the pool and avoid the
water snakes.  Once out of the pool beware of the crumbling floors
and ceilings.  A big hairy spider will drop from the ceiling.  Dirk
should chop the spider and run out the door.

The Goons
Emerging in a stairwell, Dirk is attacked by small purple goons.  He
can kill the first, but must climb the stairs and kill two more
goons before exiting.

Sliding Stairs
As Dirk starts down the stairs, they become slippery and Dirk must
keep from sliding into the pit.  Purple tentacles come out of the
pit at the bottom of the stairs.  Dirk must slash and then avoid the
tentacles.  A chain hanging from the ceiling won't help him.  Go to
the hole and exit.

The Smithy
Dirk enters the forge room and is attacked by a magic flying sword.
A flying mace will also come at him.  He must jump aside to avoid
the anvil and parry a glowing spear.  As Dirk jumps to the forge,
he must battle the stone statue, who magically comes to life.

Giant Spinning Batons
As Dirk approaches these, he must pick the right movement to try
and run through them.  Once Dirk is passed, he is confronted by a
Cloaked Spectre.  Dirk must jump towards him and then must use
his sword to defeat the Spectre.  Avoid the growing vines on the
side of the pathway.

Closing Wall
As the wall closes up around Dirk, the door ahead of him will flash.
Dirk must jump towards the flashing door.

Room of Fire
Dirk must avoid the fire and lightning beings flung at him from all
sides.  Look behind the bench to escape.

Metallic Flying Horse
Dirk finds a room with a metal horse sitting in its center.
Reaching up from the gem on the horse's head, Dirk sits in the
saddle and awakens the sleeping mount.  The horse flies up and
carries the knight straight towards the pillars and a wall which
Dirk must avoid.  Watch out for curtains of fire!

Checkered Floor Knight
As Dirk enters the room the Black Knight will materialize.  The
Knight will bang his sword against the floor causing electricity
to flow along the checkered tiles,  but don't be shocked.  Dirk must
jump to the tiles around him that are not covered by electricity.
Once past this, Dirk must defeat the Knight and exit the room.

Haunted Hallway
Dirk is attacked by clattering skulls and a giant skeleton claw that
come out of the doorways.  Black ooze pours out from the doors on both
sides as a second skeleton claw approaches Dirk again.  More black ooze
slimes out of the doorways and must be avoided.  Dirk should jump out
the door into the crypt, where he is attacked by skeleton ghosts that
he can kill in one slash.

Large Wooden Platforms
As Dirk walks along a wooden platform suspended high up along the
castle's dark interior, the wood planks begin to crumble away.
He must jump to the remaining section of the platform and then
climb the rope back into the castle spire.

Bats
As Dirk walks down the stairs, bats will try to attack him as the
section ahead crumbles away.  Dirk must avoid the bats by jumping
across the hole.  Dirk must destroy the final giant bat.

The Lizard King
Dirk is confronted by a large walking lizard dressed in royal robes.
As Dirk draws his sword to battle the Lizard King, a pot of gold
comes flying past and takes the knight's sword with it.  Dirk must
follow the pot in order to retrieve his sword and battle the lizard.

Drink Me
As Dirk walks into the room, a sign on the north wall will flash.
Shortly after the door will flash.  Dirk should not drink the
potion, he should exit the room.

Checkerboard Corridor
The floor beneath Dirk's feet starts to flash and the checkerboard
sections begin to fall away.  Dirk must jump to the parts of the
floor that remain and then out one of the doors.

Magnetic Ball
As Dirk approaches the magnetic ball, his helmet and sword are drawn
away from him by the electricity.  The pulsating electricity then
starts to cover the floor, and Dirk must jump to the safe parts to
end up sitting on the throne.  The throne revolves into another
part of the castle, but the electricity follows.  Dirk must again
dodge the electricity.

Rapids/Whirlpools
RAPIDS: Dirk must paddle into the safe current in the rapids and
then straight into the tunnel at the end of the channel.
WHIRLPOOLS: As Dirk approaches a whirlpool, he must paddle around
the swirling water.  Dirk must be sure to grab the chain and swing
in the door as the boat smashes.

Lava Filed of the Mudmen
Dirk walks across a field of lava and is attacked by the Mudmen
who live there.  Realizing his sword would be useless, Dirk must
jump over several geysers, avoid the Mudmen, and run along a
stone bridge, before finally escaping through a hole in a cavern
wall.

Phantom Knight
Dirk must avoid the charging knight, while also avoiding the giant
thorns pushing up through the earth.  Dirk should jump into the
small cave to finally escape.

Rolling Balls
After Dark enters the room, a large ball will appear rolling up from
behind him.  Ahead of Dirk down the tunnel, smaller balls are rolling
up and down the walls.  Dirk must wait for a smaller ball to roll
by before moving away from the larger black ball.

Bubbling Ooze in Kettle
After Dirk enters the room, bubbling green ooze will start to pour
out of the kettle.  Dirk must chop the ooze monster in half just
before it tries to eat him.  Dirk must then face the Smoke Monster
that comes out of the kettle.  One quick slash will destroy him!

The Round Cage
The case of the cage surrounds Dirk and starts to glow.  Dirk must
jump through the crashing doors and follow the stairs up to cross a
bridge.  To cross this bridge through, Dirk must evade the gushing
geyser shooting up through the bridge.

The Dragon's Lair
Dirk is now inside the Dragon's Lair!  But beware, Singe the Dragon
is asleep and should not be awakened.   Throughout the room there
are balancing dishes and some of them are about to fall.  if a column
of balancing dishes flashes, Dirk should catch it, otherwise move
away from the dishes.  Eventually, the princess will tell Dirk what
he should do.  Listen carefully and follow her instructions.

Singe the Dragon is awake and he knows where you're hiding.  As
Singe reaches around the column to grab Dirk, Dirk must duck and
run away.  Dirk should then pull the magic sword out of the large
gem.  Singe will swing his tail trying to flatten Dirk; Dirk must
dodge the tail.  singe turns around exposing his soft belly.  Dirk
can now kill the Dragon and save the princess!


Copyright
'Dragon's Lair' is a registered trademark of Bluth Group, Ltd. -
(c)1993.  character Design (c) 1983 Don Bluth; (c)1993 all audio,
visuals and concept - used under the exclusive license of Epicenter
Interactive Inc.  Programming (c)1993 ReadySoft Incorporated.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Disclaimer
Although ReadySoft Incorporated believes this program performs
the functions described in this guide, the program is provided
"as is" without performance warranties of any kind, either
expressed or implied, including but not limited to, the implied
warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose.
The entire risk as to the quality and performance of this program
is with you.

Limited Warranty
ReadySoft Incorporated warrants the CD from manufacturing defects
for a period of 90 days from the date of purchase.  Should the CD
fail in the course of normal use within this 90 period, ReadySoft
will replace the CD.  It is the responsibility of the purchaser to
bear the cost of shipping these items to ReadySoft and to provide
proof of purchase verifying the purchase is within the 90 day
warranty period.

To receive warranty service contact ReadySoft at:  [phone]

Items Beyond Warranty
If the CD(s) fail beyond the warranty period, CD's will be replaced
for $20 U.S. (including shipping).  When sending goods back to
ReadySoft for repair from outside Canada, please mark the outside of
the package "Defective Canadian Goods being Returned for Repair".