View source for Dragon's Lair II: Time Warp

{{short description|1990 video game}}
{{about|the official 1990 arcade sequel|the 1980s home conversion of further scenes from the original (sometimes referred to as "Dragon's Lair II")|Escape from Singe's Castle}}
{{More citations needed|date=December 2010}}
{{Infobox video game
| title = Dragon's Lair II: Time Warp
| image = Dragon's Lair II - Time Warp Flyer.png
| caption = Arcade flyer
| developer = [[Sullivan Bluth Studios|Sullivan Bluth Interactive]]<br />[[ReadySoft Incorporated|ReadySoft]] (Amiga, ST, PC)<ref name=prerelease />
| publisher = [[Leland Corporation]]<br />[[Digital Leisure]]<br />[[ReadySoft Incorporated|ReadySoft]] (Amiga, ST, PC)<ref name=prerelease /><br />[[EA]] (iOS)
| designer = [[Don Bluth]]
| series = 
| engine = 
| released = '''Arcade'''<br />September 1991<ref>{{cite book | title=アーケードTVゲームリスト国内•海外編 (1971–2005) | trans-title=Arcade TV Game List: Domestic • Overseas Edition (1971–2005) | last1=Akagi | first1=Masumi | publisher=Amusement News Agency | year=2006 | url=https://archive.org/details/ArcadeGameList1971-2005/page/n123/mode/2up?q=dragons+lair| lang=ja | location=Japan | isbn=978-4990251215 | page=123}}</ref><br />'''Amiga, ST, DOS'''<br />November 1990<ref name=theonereleasedate /><br />'''CD-i'''<br />{{vgrelease|NA|1994<ref name="EGM65"/>}}'''Macintosh'''{{vgrelease|NA|November 15, 1996<ref>{{Cite web |date=November 15, 1996 |title=''Dragon's Lair II'' Now Available For The Mac |url=http://www.readysoft.com/pr7t.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19970102111932/http://www.readysoft.com/pr7t.htm |archive-date=January 2, 1997 |access-date=May 25, 2024 |website=[[ReadySoft]]}}</ref>}}'''DSiWare'''<br />{{vgrelease|NA|December 20, 2010|EU|July 7, 2011}}'''PlayStation 3'''<br />{{vgrelease|NA|June 1, 2011}}
| genre = [[Interactive movie]]
| modes = [[Single-player]], [[multiplayer]]
| platforms = [[Arcade game|Arcade]], [[CD-i]], [[DVD]], [[Blu-ray]], [[iOS]], [[PlayStation 3]], [[Wii]], [[DSiWare]], [[Amiga]], [[Atari ST]], [[Apple IIGS]], [[MS-DOS]], [[Macintosh]], [[Nintendo Switch|Switch]]
}}
'''''Dragon's Lair II: Time Warp''''' is a 1990 [[laserdisc video game]] by the [[Leland Corporation]]. It is the first true sequel to ''[[Dragon's Lair (1983 video game)|Dragon's Lair]]''. As with the original, ''Dragon's Lair II: Time Warp'' consists of an animated short film that requires the player to move the [[joystick]] or press a fire button at certain times in order to continue. It takes place years after the original ''Dragon's Lair''. Dirk has married Daphne, and the marriage has produced many children. When Daphne is kidnapped by the evil wizard Mordroc in order to be forced into marriage, Dirk's children and his mother-in-law are clearly upset by the abduction of Daphne, and Dirk must once again save her.

Home ports were announced for the [[Sega Saturn]],<ref name="EGM86"/> [[Philips CD-i]], [[3DO Interactive Multiplayer]], and [[Atari Jaguar CD]].<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://retrocdn.net/index.php?title=File:VideoGames_DE_1995-08.pdf&page=41|title=Release Liste|magazine=[[:de:Video Games|Video Games]]|issue=46|publisher=Future-Verlag|date=August 1995|page=43|lang=de|access-date=2018-10-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180914203501/https://retrocdn.net/index.php?title=File:VideoGames_DE_1995-08.pdf&page=41|archive-date=2018-09-14|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|last=Gore|first=Chris|url=https://archive.org/stream/Video_Games_The_Ultimate_Gaming_Magazine_Issue_79_August_1995#page/n13/mode/1up|title=The Gorescore - Industry News You Can - Upcoming Jaguar Software Titles|magazine=[[VideoGames & Computer Entertainment#VideoGames - The Ultimate Gaming Magazine|VideoGames - The Ultimate Gaming Magazine]]|issue=79|publisher=[[Larry Flynt Publications|L.F.P., Inc.]]|date=August 1995|page=14}}</ref> Only the CD-i version was released. The game was later ported to the [[Wii]] as part of the compilation release ''Dragon's Lair Trilogy''. A [[PlayStation 3]] port was released on June 1, 2011. A [[Nintendo Switch]] port of the Wii ''Dragon's Lair Trilogy'' compilation was released on January 17, 2019.

== Plot ==
Dirk the Daring must find and rescue Princess Daphne with the help of a well-spoken time machine. It seems that the time machine is (or has been) possessed by the brother of Mordroc, the foul wizard that has kidnapped Daphne. Dirk travels through several dimensions and historical eras searching for Daphne, some inspired by classic stories and [[fairy tale]]s such as ''[[Alice in Wonderland (1951 film)|Alice in Wonderland]]'' and ''[[Sleeping Beauty (1959 film)|Sleeping Beauty]]'', to prevent Mordroc from enslaving Daphne to his whim with the dreaded Death Ring. Voice actor [[Michael Rye]] reprises his role as the narrator in the [[attract sequence]], as he did with ''Dragon's Lair'' and ''[[Space Ace]]'':
{{Blockquote|Dragon's Lair: Time Warp. Spirited away to a wrinkle in time by the evil wizard Mordroc, Daphne will be forced to marry the wicked Mordroc unless Dirk can save her. Transported by a bumbling old time machine, Dirk begins the rescue mission. Do it for the children! Once the Casket of Doom has opened, Mordroc will place the Death Ring upon Daphne's finger in marriage, and she will be lost forever... in the Time Warp!}}

== Gameplay ==
Gameplay differs from the original in two important ways. First, it follows a [[Linearity (computer and video games)|linear]] sequence of events which flow one into the next, as opposed to the randomized sequences of rooms from the first game;<ref name="EGM86"/> "dying" in the sequel also forces the player to resume from a checkpoint in the level rather than starting a randomly different level as in the original. Second, golden treasures are scattered throughout the game; getting each treasure is required to reach the final scenes. If the player misses any, at the end of the game it loops back to the first treasure missed. Unlike in the first game, the actions the player must do are prompted by a brief flash of what Dirk should use or where he should go next. However, to retrieve a golden treasure, the player may need to make a move in a direction other than what is flashing.  Some scenes are randomly mirrored from left to right on a replay, limiting the player's ability to rely on memorizing the input sequence and requiring close attention during repeat attempts.

== Development ==
Development began in 1983 after the success of the original ''Dragon's Lair'', and finally reached [[video arcade|arcades]] eight years later. An advertisement from [[Don Bluth Productions]] featuring completed animation from stage 3 in the game had aired on television in 1984.{{citation needed|date=November 2017}} Creating the game's animation took three years.<ref name="EGM86">{{cite magazine|title=Dragon's Lair 2: The Daring Dirk Returns|magazine=[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]]|issue=86 |publisher=[[Ziff Davis]]|date=September 1996|pages=84}}</ref> The game's budget was $2.3 million.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97132412/the-los-angeles-times/|title=Video File|newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]|page=63|date=February 21, 1984|accessdate=March 8, 2022|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref>

The [[Amiga]], [[Atari ST]], and [[DOS]] versions were released in November 1990,<ref name=theonereleasedate>{{cite magazine|title =News: Dirk Does it Again!|date =November 1990 |url =https://archive.org/details/theone-magazine-26/page/n15/mode/2up|magazine=The One|publisher=emap Images|issue=26|page=16}}</ref> and cost £44.95.<ref name=prerelease /> An [[Apple IIGS]] version was also reportedly completed during the same period (IIGS-specific loading instructions and game features appear in the manual)<ref>{{cite web|title=Apple IIGS Owners|url=https://www.atarimania.com/st/boxes/hi_res/dragon_s_lair_ii_-_time_warp_readysoft_uk_i_4.jpg|publisher=atarimania.com|access-date=18 March 2025}}</ref>, but never released, unlike the other versions. In May 2022, a new [[Apple IIGS]] conversion was developed and released by Brutal Deluxe, based on the resources from the DOS version.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brutaldeluxe.fr/products/apple2gs/dragonslair2/?fbclid=IwAR3HLeIhy8nc6rJrepSgBEBU4m9mMhOcCMLpIZFC5x941n3bZ8pkJx-i7CE|title=Dragon's Lair II : Time Warp|date=May 2022|publisher=Brutal Deluxe Software}}</ref> The home computer versions by [[ReadySoft]] were developed over the course of about one year.<ref name=prerelease /> In a January 1991 issue of British gaming magazine ''[[The One (magazine)|The One]]'', David Foster was interviewed as the founder of ReadySoft and a programmer for the home computer versions of ''Dragon's Lair II''.<ref name=prerelease /> He said it spans six [[floppy disk]]s, due to higher resolution imagery than previous laserdisc games by the [[Sullivan Bluth Studios|Bluth Group]], such as ''Space Ace''.<ref name=prerelease />

Due to the arcade version of ''Dragon's Lair II'' having been unreleased at this stage in development, the game's home computer versions were made using a [[VHS|VHS tape]] as a reference, instead of a laserdisc.<ref name=prerelease /> Foster said, "conversion is obviously easier with the laser disc as you can get a good quality freezeframe. We [[Digitization|digitize]] a series of images from the laser disc, then we separate the foreground from the background, giving each element to the respective artists to touch up, which includes outlining all the characters ...  when you're converting from a high-resolution laser disc to a lower resolution screen a lot of detail is lost, so a lot has to be put back in".<ref name=prerelease /> The conversion is then edited to match the 16-color palette to that of the original footage, and [[Data compression|compressed]]. He said "On average it takes about two hours of 68030 [[System time|computer time]] to compress a single frame - that's thousands of computer hours in all. So we have four machines with 25Mhz processor speed working on it - two [[Great Valley Products]] '030s, a Commodore '030 board, and an [[Amiga 3000]]."<ref name=prerelease>{{cite magazine|title=Who Dares Wins|date=January 1991|url=https://archive.org/details/theone-magazine-28/page/n115/mode/2up|magazine=The One|publisher=emap Images|last=Nesbitt|first=Brian|issue=28|pages=116–118}}</ref>

== Stages ==
* Stage 1: Singe's Castle – Dirk must escape his angry mother-in-law who is furious about Princess Daphne's kidnapping by Mordroc. He must flee from her while getting past several creatures and obstacles in Singe's old castle, including a ravenous snake wearing a [[tam o' shanter (cap)|tam o' shanter]], in order to reach the time machine that will allow him to pursue Mordroc.
* Stage 2: Land Before Time – In [[prehistory]], Mordroc takes a moment to taunt Dirk as he battles [[Pterosaur|pterodactyls]], a [[Tyrannosaurus|T-rex]], and two bat-winged centaurs that carry Daphne away. As this happens, the tiny island they are on gradually crumbles into the sea.
* Stage 3: Dirk in Wonderland – In 1865, Dirk is materialized in [[Alice Liddell]]'s house and goes through the looking-glass that hangs over the fireplace.  While being dressed as Alice by enemy characters, he tumbles into Wonderland where he faces [[Tweedledum and Tweedledee]], the [[Queen of Hearts (Alice's Adventures in Wonderland)|Queen of Hearts]], her army of [[playing card]] soldiers, the [[Mad Hatter]] and the [[March Hare]], the [[Jabberwock]] and the [[Cheshire Cat]].
* Stage 4: Garden of Eden – In the [[Garden of Eden]], Dirk has to escape from guardian [[angel]]s, the advances of [[Eve]], two snakes (one wanting to eat Dirk and the other a smooth-talker), and finally, the ruin of Eden itself when Eve accidentally eats the forbidden apple.
* Stage 5: Beethoven's Creative Gust – In 1808, Dirk is shrunk to the size of a [[mouse]] in [[Ludwig van Beethoven]]'s study, where he must avoid the composer's constant playing the piano with his hands, his wicked hungry cat, and the sheer chaos of his creative gust.
* Stage 6: Ancient Egypt – In [[Ancient Egypt]], Dirk finds what appears to be Daphne (wrapped completely in linen bandages) but is actually Mordroc in disguise, leading Dirk on a wild goose chase as he explores an ancient tomb while narrowly avoiding poison gas, spiders, giant bats, corrosive [[acid]], scarabs, and a giant [[mummy]].
* Stage 7: The Ring – At his castle, Mordroc puts the Death Ring on Daphne's finger, which transforms her into a monstrous [[banshee]]. Dirk must avoid the monstrous Daphne's mindless attempts to devour him. He must get the ring off her finger, restore her to normal, and defeat Mordroc at the same time. In addition to the alternate scene in the non-arcade version, Dirk has to remove the ring from Daphne and throw it at Mordroc.
* Stage 8: Daphne Awakens – Although Mordroc is defeated, Dirk must fight off Mordroc's last surviving minions, who are trying to get their revenge on him for defeating their master, so that Dirk safely escapes the crumbling castle with Daphne.

During the course of the game, the player must find and collect "treasures" in order to reach Mordroc. In the ''Director's Cut'' version of the game, gathering all the treasures offers an alternate, shorter and easier second-to-last stage. In it, Dirk must get the Death Ring and then throw it at Mordroc. This also includes three death scenes that were not used in the final release.

==Release==
=== Home computers ===
Around the time the arcade version was out, an [[abridged]] version was released for the [[Amiga]] home computers by [[ReadySoft]]. It included only some of the scenes and most stages were absent altogether. It included the introduction reaching the machine, followed by the prehistoric stage, the Garden of Eden, and the final stage.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mobygames.com/game/dragons-lair-ii-time-warp|title=Dragon's Lair II: Time Warp for Amiga (1990)|work=MobyGames|access-date=2012-04-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131213013825/http://www.mobygames.com/game/dragons-lair-ii-time-warp|archive-date=2013-12-13|url-status=live}}</ref>

The game was followed by ''[[Dragon's Lair III: The Curse of Mordread]]'' also by ReadySoft. It presented an original storyline with Mordroc's sister, the evil witch "Mordread". She arrives at Dirk's and Daphne's home, and absorbing both the house and Daphne into an orb. This game incorporated the stages of Wonderland and Beethoven's piano from ''Time Warp'' but also included some original sequences: an intro, a stage on a [[pirate ship]], a stage in the time realm, and an original ending.

''Dragon's Lair II'' was released on [[DVD]] in 1998.

Following the release of ''[[Dragon's Lair (1983 video game)|Dragon's Lair]]'' and ''[[Space Ace]]'' in [[High-definition video|high-definition]] for [[Blu-ray]], Digital Leisure said they were working on a Blu-ray version of ''Dragon's Lair II'' for some time in 2008. The disc was released on June 2, 2009.

''Dragon's Lair II'' was released on the [[PlayStation 3]] on June 1, 2011.

A compilation titled ''Dragon's Lair Trilogy'' includes ''Dragon's Lair'', ''Dragon's Lair II: Time Warp'', and ''Space Ace''. It has been released for both the [[Wii]] and [[Nintendo Switch]].

== Reception ==
{{expand section|date=April 2022}}
{{Video game reviews
| Allgame = {{rating|2|5}} (Arcade)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Thompson |first=Jon |title=Dragon's Lair II: Time Warp (Arcade) Review |url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=9959&tab=review |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141114172031/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=9959&tab=review |archive-date=November 14, 2014 |access-date=April 3, 2022 |website=Allgame}}</ref><br />{{rating|1.5|5}} (DVD Video)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Miller |first=Skyler |title=Dragon's Lair II: Time Warp (DVD Video) Review |url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=21043&tab=review |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141114235030/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=21043&tab=review |archive-date=November 14, 2014 |access-date=April 3, 2022 |website=Allgame}}</ref><br />{{rating|3.5|5}} (PC)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hoffman |first=Joshua |title=Dragon's Lair II: Time Warp (PC) Review |url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=21089&tab=review |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141115102045/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=21089&tab=review |archive-date=November 15, 2014 |access-date=April 3, 2022 |website=Allgame}}</ref><br />{{rating|1.5|5}} (Xbox)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Miller |first=Skyler |title=Dragon's Lair II: Time Warp (Xbox) Review |url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=36792&tab=review |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141115142355/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=36792&tab=review |archive-date=November 15, 2014 |access-date=April 3, 2022 |website=Allgame}}</ref>
| EGM = 7.25 (CD-i)<ref name="EGM65">{{cite magazine|title=Review Crew: Dragon's Lair II|magazine=[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]]|issue=65 |publisher=Sendai Publishing|date=December 1994|page=46}}</ref>
| rev1 = CD-i
| rev1Score = 81%<ref name="Alesi 24">{{Cite journal |last=Alesi |first=Jason |date=October 1994 |title=Dragon's Lair 2: The Time Warp Review |url=https://archive.org/details/cdi-uk-08/page/n23/mode/2up |journal=CD-i |issue=8 |pages=24 |access-date=April 3, 2022}}</ref>
| rev2 = [[Power Unlimited]]
| rev2Score = 81% (CD-i) <ref name="Power Unlimited Game Database">{{cite web |date=November 1994 |title=Power Unlimited Game Database |url=http://www.powerweb.nl/database/img/index.php?page=database&&query%5border%5d=datum&ending=ASC&query%5bstart%5d=100 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20031020134027/http://www.powerweb.nl/database/img/index.php?page=database&&query%5border%5d=datum&ending=ASC&query%5bstart%5d=100 |archivedate=October 20, 2003 |accessdate=December 4, 2022 |website=powerweb.nl |language=nl }}</ref>
| AmAction = 60%
| AmFormat = 65%
| AmUI = 60%
| CVG = 4.2/10
}}
In the United States, it was the top-grossing new video game on the ''RePlay'' arcade charts in [[1991 in video games|October 1991]].<ref>{{cite magazine |title=RePlay: The Players' Choice |magazine=RePlay |date=October 1991 |volume=17 |issue=1 |page=4 |url=https://archive.org/details/re-play-volume-17-issue-no.-1-october-1991-600DPI/RePlay%20-%20Volume%2017%2C%20Issue%20No.%201%20-%20October%201991/page/4}}</ref>

The four reviewers of ''[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]]'' gave the CD-i version of ''Dragon's Lair II'' a 7.25 out of 10, commenting that it looks and plays just as good as the arcade version, and praising the addition of collectable items. One of the reviewers dissented with the majority opinion, saying that FMV games had lost their novelty and that the game was lacking in interaction.<ref name="EGM65">{{cite magazine|title=Review Crew: Dragon's Lair II|magazine=[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]]|issue=65 |publisher=Sendai Publishing|date=December 1994|page=46}}</ref> ''[[GamePro]]'' gave it a rave review. They applauded the sharp and colorful graphics, absence of slowdown, high frame rate, realistic sound effects, and outstanding controls, elaborating that "The CD-i's circular directional pad gives you quicker, more accurate button presses that help you get past every snake, dragon, and mother-in-law in sight."<ref>{{cite magazine|title=ProReview: Dragon's Lair II: Time Warp|magazine=[[GamePro]]|issue=67 |publisher=[[International Data Group|IDG]]|date=February 1995|page=106}}</ref> ''CD-i Magazine'' praised the game's Disney quality animation and sound. They commented that though as with all "interactive cartoons", the gameplay is very basic, there are more action-packed moments compared to its predecessor, and the graphics are among the best in its genre. They concluded, "DL2 is far from perfect, but it is a great improvement on the original."<ref name="Alesi 24">{{Cite journal |last=Alesi |first=Jason |date=October 1994 |title=Dragon's Lair 2: The Time Warp Review |url=https://archive.org/details/cdi-uk-08/page/n23/mode/2up |journal=CD-i |issue=8 |pages=24 |access-date=April 3, 2022}}</ref> [[Power Unlimited]] reviewed the CD-i version and gave a score of 81% writing: "Incredibly fast interactive cartoon with beautiful images. Here, too, you do not control a game character, but rather the course of the story. Incidentally, the controls have been greatly improved compared to the previous part."<ref name="Power Unlimited Game Database">{{cite web |date=November 1994 |title=Power Unlimited Game Database |url=http://www.powerweb.nl/database/img/index.php?page=database&&query%5border%5d=datum&ending=ASC&query%5bstart%5d=100 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20031020134027/http://www.powerweb.nl/database/img/index.php?page=database&&query%5border%5d=datum&ending=ASC&query%5bstart%5d=100 |archivedate=October 20, 2003 |accessdate=December 4, 2022 |website=powerweb.nl |language=nl }}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{wikiquote}}
* {{KLOV game|id=7648}}
* {{moby game|id=/dragons-lair-ii-time-warp_}}
* [http://www.cataroo.com/DBlair2.html Detailed Info on ''Dragon's Lair II: TimeWarp'']

{{Dragon's Lair}}
{{Don Bluth}}

[[Category:1990 video games]]
[[Category:Amiga games]]
[[Category:Arcade video games]]
[[Category:Cancelled 3DO Interactive Multiplayer games]]
[[Category:Cancelled Atari Jaguar games]]
[[Category:Cancelled Sega Saturn games]]
[[Category:CD-i games]]
[[Category:Cinematronics games]]
[[Category:Cultural depictions of Ludwig van Beethoven]]
[[Category:Video games about dinosaurs]]
[[Category:DOS games]]
[[Category:Dragon's Lair]]
[[Category:DSiWare games]]
[[Category:DVD interactive technology]]
[[Category:Fiction set in 1808]]
[[Category:Fiction set in 1865]]
[[Category:Full motion video based games]]
[[Category:Interactive movie video games]]
[[Category:IOS games]]
[[Category:LaserDisc video games]]
[[Category:Multiplayer and single-player video games]]
[[Category:PlayStation Network games]]
[[Category:ReadySoft Incorporated games]]
[[Category:Video game sequels]]
[[Category:Video games about time travel]]
[[Category:Video games based on Alice in Wonderland]]
[[Category:Video games developed in the United States]]
[[Category:Video games set in the 1860s]]
[[Category:Windows games]]
[[Category:Digital Leisure games]]
[[Category:Video games designed by Don Bluth]]
[[Category:Video games set in prehistory]]
[[Category:Cultural depictions of Alice Liddell]]
[[Category:Garden of Eden]]
[[Category:Cultural depictions of Adam and Eve]]
[[Category:Video games set in ancient Egypt]]
[[Category:Leland Corporation games]]