Disney released some fantastic games back in the 16-bit gaming era. Aladdin and The Lion King were no doubt two gems that many gamers recall fondly on for the Sega Genesis and Super Nintendo. At the time, it looked like the film had come to life as you played each of these classics. Nighthawk Interactive has resurrected these titles and multiple versions of each game from the archives for a fresh release on modern consoles.
You’re only in trouble if you get caught
Aladdin, Abu and friends are all here to save Princess Jasmine from Jafar. In this special release, you’ll receive the Genesis title, a Press Demo and even a Final Cut version that implements gameplay improvements such as corrections to the game’s camera system, plus a lower and more reasonable difficulty level. Making your way through Agrabah and outrunning a tsunami of lava atop your magic carpet hits the nostalgic heart strings hard. The graphics have been upscaled for proper presentation for HD televisions and there are also special screen filters that can be enabled for added monitor effects. And there’s more…you’ll also receive the Game Boy and Super Game Boy versions of Aladdin in this collection for those that never played these mobile ports.
I laugh in the face of danger
In Lion King, the young cub Simba attempts to survive the wild after being exiled by evil Uncle Scar. Thanks to the always colorful and hilarious friends Timon and Pumbaa, he stands a fighting chance against formidable odds. For those that didn’t happen to pick this classic cart up in the 90s, get ready for a challenge. It was notorious for its gorgeous graphics and immense difficulty. It was one I never was able to personally beat and was hyped to get another opportunity at redemption. Aside from the Sega Genesis, Game Boy and Super Game Boy versions, you’ll also get to play the Super Nintendo port of The Lion King.
Included with all Aladdin and The Lion King version are quality of life features. Players can rewind up to 15 seconds, have Infinite Lives and have the luxury of Level Select in each title. I’m happy to see the additional options. It will allow a younger audience, such as my 10 year old daughter, to play two games that I absolutely loved during my childhood. There is also a Interactive Game Viewer which allows you to watch full playthroughs, where you can literally jump in at any point of the game and start playing. I might just beat this one yet.
Conclusion
Disney Classic Games: Aladdin and The Lion King is a fantastic collection for gamers that grew up playing these 16-bit classics on their Sega Genesis and Super Nintendo systems. With multiple versions included of each game, plus the quality of life features such as rewind, instant save states, Interactive Game Viewer and a Museum containing excellent gaming lore for fans, this is a must buy for retro gamers. Those without any nostalgic ties may not see the immense value here and that’s okay. The fact remains this is an outstanding package, featuring two iconic Disney games from Genesis and SNES era with loads of extras at a great price.
