Escape from Singe's Castle
{{Short description|1987 video game}}
{{Infobox video game
|title=Escape from Singe's Castle
|collapsible=
|state=
|image=Escape from singe's castle box.jpg
|developer=
|publisher=Software Projects (8 bit, Europe), Electronic Arts (Commodore 64, USA), ReadySoft (16 bit)
|series=Dragon's Lair
|engine=
|platforms=Amstrad CPC, Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum, Amiga, Atari ST, MS-DOS, Mac OS, Apple IIGS
|released=1987 (8-bit)
1989 (16-bit)
|genre=
|modes=Single-player
}}
Escape from Singe's Castle, also known as Dragon's Lair Part II - Escape From Singe's Castle, is a 1987 video game from Software Projects. The game is sometimes referred to as Dragon's Lair II, but is not the official arcade sequel Dragon's Lair II: Time Warp.
Gameplay
Players control Dirk the Daring, the player character from Dragon's Lair, who has returned to the lair of Singe the dragon in order to claim a pot of gold. Singe has laid traps throughout his lair, forcing players to guide Dirk across a number of differently themed screens in order to steal the gold and escape.{{cite magazine | last=Walker | first=Andy | title = Reviews - Escape From Singe's Castle - Dragon's Lair II| magazine = Crash| issue = 39 | pages = 120| publisher = Newsfield Publications Ltd| date = April 1987 | url=https://archive.org/details/Crash_No._39_1987-04_Newsfield_GB/page/n119/mode/2up | accessdate = 2016-04-23}} In the 8 bit versions, there are eight different levels.
In the 16-bit version, Dirk is supposed to rescue Daphne again, this time from the Shapeshifter. Unlike the earlier 8-bit version, this is a cartoon-based interactive movie, like its predecessor, where the player is supposed to choose the correct movement for Dirk in the right time.
Development
Bethesda Softworks developed the MS-DOS version of the game in 1989.{{cite web|url=https://archive.org/details/game-pro-uk-07/page/70/mode/2up|title=Bethesda A brief History|magazine=GamePro| date=March 1996 |page=71|accessdate=July 12, 2021}}{{cite web|url=http://www.bethsoft.com/html/about2.html|title=Bethesda Softworks History|publisher=bethsoft.com|accessdate=December 12, 2021|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/19970605103153/http://www.bethsoft.com/html/about2.html|archivedate=June 5, 1997}}
An Apple IIGS version had reportedly been completed by ReadySoft and scheduled to be released in 1991 (manuals from other ports list detailed IIGS-specific loading instructions and features),{{cite web|url=https://retro-commodore.eu/files/downloads/amigamanuals-xiik.net/Games/Dragon%27s%20Lair%20-%20Escape%20from%20Singe%27s%20Castle%20-%20Manual-ENG.pdf|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20240203104722/https://retro-commodore.eu/files/downloads/amigamanuals-xiik.net/Games/Dragon%27s%20Lair%20-%20Escape%20from%20Singe%27s%20Castle%20-%20Manual-ENG.pdf|title=Manual|website=retro-commodore.eu|access-date=February 3, 2024|archivedate=February 3, 2024}} but was never publicly released. In 2022, decades later with the original ReadySoft port still missing or lost, Brutal Deluxe created and released a new Apple IIGS port based on the PC version.{{cite web|url=https://brutaldeluxe.fr/products/apple2gs/dragonslair1/index.html|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20220504004305/https://brutaldeluxe.fr/products/apple2gs/dragonslair1/index.html|title=Brutal Deluxe releases Dragon's Lair: Escape From Singe's Castle for Apple IIGS |archivedate=May 4, 2022|accessdate=2022-05-30}}
Reception
{{Video game reviews
|rev1=Amtix!
|rev1Score=94%{{cite web|url=https://archive.org/details/amtix-magazine-18/page/n75/mode/2up|title=Escape from Singe's Castle|magazine=Amtix!|pages=76,77|date=April 1987|accessdate=February 3, 2024}}
|rev2=Computer Gamer
|rev2Score=94%{{cite web|url=https://archive.org/details/Computer_Gamer_Issue_24_1987-03_Argus_Press_GB/page/n9/mode/2up|title=Escape from Singe's Castle|magazine=Computer Gamer|pages=10,11|date=March 1987|accessdate=February 3, 2024}}
|rev3=Zzap!
|rev3Score=90%{{cite web|url=https://archive.org/details/zzapp_64_issue_022_600dpi/page/n77/mode/2up|title=Escape from Singe's Castle|magazine=Zzap!|pages=78,79|date=February 1987|accessdate=February 3, 2024}}
|rev4=Computer and Video Games
|rev4Score=80%{{cite web|url=https://archive.org/details/cvg-magazine-104/page/n61/mode/2up|title=Escape from Singe's Castle|magazine=Computer and Video Games|page=62|date=July 1990|accessdate=February 3, 2024}}
|rev5=Commodore User
|rev5Score=8/10{{cite web|url=https://archive.org/details/commodore-user-magazine-41/page/n65/mode/2up|title= Escape from Singe's Castle|magazine=Commodore User|page=67|date=February 1987|accessdate=February 3, 2024}}
|rev6=Aktueller Software Markt
|rev6Score=9/11{{cite web|url=https://archive.org/details/asm_magazine-1987-03/page/n5/mode/2up|title=Action Games|magazine=ASM (Aktueller Software Markt)|language=de|page=6|date=March 1987|accessdate=February 3, 2024}}
|rev7=Amiga Computing
|rev7Score=85%{{cite web|url=https://amigareviews.leveluphost.com/draglai1.htm|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20190927023759/https://amigareviews.leveluphost.com/draglai1.htm#dragonslair1ac|title=Escape from Singe's Castle|magazine=Amiga Computing|archivedate=September 27, 2019|date=May 1990|accessdate=February 3, 2024}}
|rev8=The Games Machine
|rev8Score=80%{{cite web|url=https://archive.org/details/the-games-machine-30/page/n35/mode/2up|title=Escape from Singe's Castle|magazine=The Games Machine|pages=36,37|date=May 1990|accessdate=February 3, 2024}}
}}
Allen L. Greenberg reviewed the ReadySoft game for Computer Gaming World, and stated that "Dragon's Lair II: Escape From Singe's Castle is an odd creature, an exceptional program which suffers from uninteresting game-play."{{cite magazine |last=Greenberg |first=Allen L. |title=As the Worm Turns - ReadySoft's Dragon's Lair II: Escape from Singe's Castle |magazine=Computer Gaming World |date=March 1992 |volume=1 |issue=92 |page=74 |url=http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/issues/cgw_92.pdf |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130511023432/http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/issues/cgw_92.pdf |archivedate=May 11, 2013}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb title|4933480}}
- [https://www.lemon64.com/games/details.php?ID=775 Escape from Singe's Castle at Lemon64]
- [https://worldofspectrum.org/software?id=0001498 Escape from Singe's Castle at World of Spectrum]
{{Dragon's Lair}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Escape From Singe's Castle}}
Category:Bethesda Softworks games
Category:Electronic Arts games
Category:Single-player video games
Category:Software Projects games