Escape from Singe's Castle

Software Projects
Company type	Video game developer and publisher
Industry	Video games
Headquarters	United Kingdom

Escape from Singe's Castle, also identified as Dragon's Lair Part II - Escape From Singe's Castle, is a 1987 title produced by Software Projects. Although occasionally referred to as Dragon's Lair II, it should not be confused with the official arcade follow-up, Dragon's Lair II: Time Warp.

Gameplay

In this game, players take on the role of Dirk the Daring, who ventures back into Singe the dragon’s domain aiming to seize a pot of gold. Singe has laid numerous traps across multiple themed stages, and players must skillfully navigate Dirk through these obstacles to successfully acquire the treasure and make an escape. The versions for 8-bit systems include eight distinct levels.

Conversely, the 16-bit edition centers around rescuing Daphne from the Shapeshifter. This iteration functions as an interactive cartoon-style movie, demanding precise timing of player commands akin to the original game.

Development

The 1989 MS-DOS adaptation was developed by Bethesda Softworks.

A version for the Apple IIGS was reportedly finalized by ReadySoft with plans for a 1991 release; manuals highlighted features unique to the IIGS platform. However, this version never saw an official launch. In 2022, Brutal Deluxe produced and released a new Apple IIGS port derived from the PC edition, addressing the long-standing absence of an original IIGS release.

Reception

Allen L. Greenberg reviewed ReadySoft’s version in Computer Gaming World, characterizing Dragon's Lair II: Escape From Singe's Castle as "an outstanding program that is hindered by dull gameplay."

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