In 1983, Friday nights were a cherished ritual for me, spent at the local roller rink. It was a sanctuary from the mundane realities of school and chores, a place where laughter echoed and friendships flourished. The rink offered a bully-free zone where I could glide on wheels, indulge in sugary snacks, and lose myself in the rhythm of the music. Special events added to the allure, like the night we gathered to witness the premiere of Michael Jackson’s iconic “Thriller” music video, an experience that left one young girl so frightened she couldn’t hold her lunch.
This roller rink was also my gateway into the world of arcade gaming. Each week, my allowance transformed into a handful of quarters, eagerly fed into machines that housed classics such as Spy Hunter, Pole Position, Mr. Do, Q-Bert, Time Pilot, and my all-time favorite: Tempest. Fast forward to today, and I find myself revisiting one of those childhood games, Dragon’s Lair, now available on Steam for a modest —an amount that mirrors my monthly expenditure back in the day.
Reluctantly, I surrendered another 40 quarters to a game I had grown to loathe, hoping that nostalgia would bring satisfaction. However, the experience was far from fulfilling. Dragon’s Lair proved to be a frustrating exercise in quick-time events, albeit with stunning animation by Don Bluth that showcased the many creative and gruesome ways the protagonist, Dirk, could meet his demise. Yet, playing it on modern platforms like PC or Steam Deck in 2024 revealed a disjointed experience, with jarring transitions and an unnatural pacing that left little room for immersion.
As I struggled with the game, the realization dawned on me: my childhood failures could not solely be blamed on a lack of quarters. I simply wasn’t skilled at Dragon’s Lair. Perhaps I should have stuck with Time Pilot. Frustrated by my inability to conquer the same game that had bested me decades ago, I decided to explore the options available in the PC version. Unlike the arcade original, this iteration allowed for repeated attempts at challenging sequences and provided on-screen prompts for the necessary key presses.
After a long wait of 40 years, I finally managed to complete Dragon’s Lair in a mere 10 minutes. The experience felt anticlimactic; surely, defeating an entire game should take longer than that, even with helpful prompts. This brevity shed light on the repetitive nature of the game and the developers’ strategy to maximize their quarter collection before players could master the mechanics.
Despite my victory, a sense of hollowness lingered. To reconnect with the essence of my childhood gaming experience, I reached out to local arcades in search of a Dragon’s Lair cabinet. Unfortunately, none were available at the moment. Yet, I remain determined to confront the original arcade version of this quarter-devouring beast once more, armed with newfound skills and a pocket full of quarters. While I may not emerge victorious, the journey back to that nostalgic realm is one I am ready to embrace.
