3RRSG Aladdin

The prince of Disney Genesis games…literally.

Remember way back when in the Genesis days when Disney meant
quality in video games? Those days may be gone, but the classics from
years ago can still stand the test of time. This game in particular is
pure Disney magic in the world of gaming, and I'll tell you why.

Like I said before, this game oozes Disney. Brought to us by the once
fine developer Virgin, the game has a flawless presentation. The intro
screens are attractive, with animated doohickeys from the movie
everywhere, and fantastic renditions of your favorite Aladdin songs.
Every level is preceded with a story screen over the deserts. Even the
options screen is cool, with three-quarters overhead view of nighttime
in Agraba. You will be treated to some serious eye candy later on in
the game, as you get to the melting cave and Jafar's palace. The
graphics in this game are fantastic, and this game does a great job of
staying loyal to the film and then some.

Remember Earthworm Jim? Well, it's along the lines of that. On
multiple levels. And for those who know, that's a very good thing. The
animation, for one thing, is superb. This is definitely some of the best
animation on the Genesis. Aladdin runs, jumps, and swings his sword
fluidly, without even an indication of where one animation frame ends
and where one begins. It's not a 3 frame animation…more like 10 or so!
The colors appear to be painted right on the screen, and every level
has its own unique feel and direction, making for a very appealing
gameplay experience.

The game basically tosses you out into Agraba and lets you control the
story. Using your sword and apples that you can collect, you can
defeat the palace guards throughout the city as you progress. Run
across steaming coals, jump on horizontal poles, climb on laundry
lines: everything you see Aladdin do in the movie can be done in this
game (including flying a magic carpet!) And that's all in one level!
There are different ways to defeat your foes, and you must figure out
how in order to proceed in the level. You can even make camels spit to
kill the guards! One nifty aspect is the merchant, which appears
periodically throughout the level to sell you a wish (continue) or an
extra life for a certain amount of gems that can be collected. Just
when you think you're down and out, the merchant could appear to
help you!

In between levels, there are little bonus stages including a Genie slot
machine game and an Abu game where you must run through the
streets while avoiding pots and picking up gems. This definitely ups
the replay value a bit, and makes it all worthwile.

The sound, once again, it pure Disney, and it really does a great job of
conveying the Aladdin atmosphere. You'll hear great renditions of your
favorite tunes from the movie, and the sound effects are crisp and
clean.

Overall, this is a highly recommended platformer that really stands out
above the rest. This is a must for any Disney fan and is a great choice
for a hardcore Genesis gamer as well.

Grades

Gameplay: 90%

Truly fun and creative, this is a gameplay experience you'll want to
keep going into. Plenty of variety as well!

Graphics: 100%

Fantastic. A truly superb effort. Some of the best animation ever seen
on the system, with level design and backgrounds that will make you
drool.

Sound: 90%

Strong in this area as well, you'll hear good renditions of your favorite
songs from the movie along with clear, albeit repetitive, sound effects.

Presentation: 100%

Pure Disney. Does a great job of conveying the sense of magic from the
film. It really is that good.

Replay Value: 85%

While it does get repetitive after repeated plays, it's still a solid
experience that should keep you interested for a while.

Overall: 90%

*The Overall rating is not an average of the preceding scores.

Review by: IronKnux