I was watching Stranger Things and they had a quick cut to this old game from 1983. This is why that show appeals to people my age (41), it reminds them of their youth. I had forgotten all about Dragon’s Lair but was immediately transported back to the old arcade at putt-putt golf and games as well as Wyandot Lake, now Zoombezi Bay in Columbus, Ohio. It was the first arcade game I had seen that looked so realistic, just like a cartoon! I was captivated but at costing a dollar to play I could never spend the money.
Well, just this evening while putting away the Nintendo Switch I saw it was available as a download! So while everyone else were brushing their teeth I used my coins which reduced the price from $20 to $10 and I bought it. I bought it because it brings back memories and because I’m a collector of things from my past. The wife might protest if I had asked but at $10 I’m sure I won’t get into too much trouble.
As for Wyandot Lake I have so many fond memories of that place. At 14 years old and being too young to work my mom bought me a pass and would drop my friend Ryan and I off at Wyandot Lake all by ourselves. It was wonderful. We would walk around together, looking at all the girls in their swimsuits, playing arcade games, going on rides and playing putt-putt golf. It was a magical time indeed.
As I said I couldn’t afford to play Dragon’s Lair so my favorite game was Paper Boy. It had bicycle handles where you would steer the paper boy on his bike and deliver the paper to houses which had a subscription. If that ever comes out on the switch I might have to do another secret purchase.
But for now, I’m finally going to get to play Dragon’s Lair to my heart’s content. Or at least late at night when I have the Switch all to myself.
