Aladdin is one of Disney’s most popular movies, and a symbol of 90s animation. To this day, its characters are guaranteed to appear in Disney crossovers, from having themed rides and meet and greets at the parks, to Agrabah being a recurring world in Kingdom Hearts, to the characters being part of the Disney Infinity roster. When the movie was first released, a video game adaptation was inevitable. Predictably for a licensed game, it was made for both the Super Nintendo and the Sega Genesis. The Super Nintendo version was even developed by Capcom. While well received, the games were part of a nostalgic past. As such, they were rarely brought up by the industry once that era of gaming was over.
Decades later, the Sega Genesis version of the game was rereleased alongside the similar Lion King game, reminding people of its existence, and how different the Super Nintendo and Sega Genesis versions actually were.The games’ two versions are conceptually the same, being side scrolling escapades with levels vaguely based on the Disney movie’s iconic and set pieces. However, there are still drastic differences between the Super Nintendo and Sega Genesis versions.
The Super Nintendo Version
Oddly enough, the Super Nintendo won its “war” against the Sega Genesis in the realm of commercial success, but the console’s version of Aladdin did not sell as well as its Genesis counterpart. As a result, its own unique features are not as well known. While neglected in the remasters, this game was part of the Disney Classic Games Collection.
The Super Nintendo version of Aladdin is a streamlined platforming experience. Gameplay has the player be more reliant on knowing the obstacles and environment more than the Sega Genesis version. There is also a lot of swinging in the game. Aladdin’s main weapon is apples, meaning that the quickest way to finish enemies off will be with ranged weapons. There is also a Mario-like accessory that acts like a parachute, making it easier for the player to control their falls.
Aesthetically, the game is a straightforward Super Nintendo game. The color palette is varied even with the movie-inspired locations. Its sprites are competent, but nothing out of the ordinary, especially when compared to the Genesis version. The levels are not divided into worlds, but are their own individual stages with distinct backgrounds and enemies that are seldom recurring. Lastly, exclusive to the Super Nintendo version is Abu, Aladdin’s pet monkey, who follows the “street rat” on his adventures. The game, although not as recognizable as the Genesis version, has its perks, and it is easy to see why it ended up being Capcom’s second best-selling Super Nintendo game behind the innovative Street Fighter 2 and its numerous different versions.
The Sega Genesis Version
Aladdin is special in that even the developers differed between the two versions. Usually, that tends to happen with handheld versions of licensed games, but that is not the case with this game. Virgin Games USA developed the Genesis version. Most notably, its director, David Perry, was a programmer for Earthworm Jim.
The way Sega marketed the Genesis was an infamous part of early 90s pop culture, especially in the gaming world. “Blast Processing”, while not an actual thing, was Sega’s way to boast about its console’s hardware. To an extent, it seems Sega was not just bragging, as Sega Genesis games are being made to this day. Applicably, the Genesis version of Aladdin’s presentation is stronger than its Super Nintendo counterpart’s graphics, especially in the character department. The sprites are more detailed, the character animation is more fluid, and character movements incorporate more frames overall.
While it had platforming elements like most action games of the time, the Genesis version of Aladdin had a much stronger emphasis on combat. Unlike the Super Nintendo version, where Aladdin relies on his physical strength and apples to defeat enemies, this one has Aladdin wield a sword. It makes the game a bit easier to take seriously for those that are put off by the Super Nintendo version’s occasional cheesiness, and provides a fresh experience due to its emphasis on a melee weapon. Additionally, the game was more challenging than the Super Nintendo version, which probably explains why there are cheats to make the Aladdin-Lion King Remasters easier. Regardless, it is clear that the two versions of the game are very different from one another.
Disney Classic Games: Aladdin and The Lion King was released in October 2019 for PC, PS4, Switch, and Xbox One.