Platform Game Compilation Review: Disney Classic Game Collection

     

Disney Classic Games is a compilation of four classic games based on Disney animated films. It contains both the Virgin Games version of Aladdin as well as the Capcom version. It also includes The Lion King by Westwood Studios and The Jungle Book by Eurocom. The emulation in the compilation is handled by Digital Eclipse.

It is actually an updated version of Disney Classic Games: Aladdin and The Lion King. This time around, they popped in a bonus game, the Eurocom version of The Jungle Book. Game Boy, Sega Genesis, and Super Nintendo Entertainment System versions are included.

The big draw of the updated version is one that rectifies the most controversial part of the compilation. The two most popular versions of Aladdin, the Virgin Games version, which was primarily released on the Sega Genesis, is included alongside the Capcom version, which was primarily released on Super Nintendo Entertainment System. The original compilation only included the Virgin Games version. The Sega version has still not been included, but that one doesn't top most of the best of the 1990s games lists.

Like the original compilation, the Virgin Games adaptation of Aladdin includes both the Sega Genesis and Game Boy versions. The Capcom adaptation includes the Super Nintendo Entertainment System version. The prototype version of Aladdin that was compiled the same month as the version that was demonstrated at the Summer Consumer Electronics Show in 1993 is also included, which is worth playing as it is different from the final release.

The notoriously difficult video game adaptation of The Lion King by Westwood Studios is once again included. The Super Nintendo Entertainment System, Sega Genesis, and Game Boy versions are included. Emulation gives the ability to rewind and save game play states. This is a boon for all of the included games, but it is especially true for The Lion King. I wore out my hands and my brain from beating this game as a little girl. I really appreciate Digital Eclipse's emulator, as it was not as hard to reclaim Pride Rock this time around.

The Disney Classic Games Collection is a fantastic update of an already excellent compilation of 1990s platform games. The emulation is really great, as is expected from a Digital Eclipse release. Saving and rewinding are a blessing when playing these retro games. The Aladdin adaptation by Virgin Games and the Westwood Studios adaptation of The Lion King play just as well as in the previous version of this collection, Disney Classic Games: Aladdin and the Lion King. The addition of Eurocom's The Jungle Book is a neat little extra, but Capcom's version of Aladdin is the big draw here. Even better, people who own the original can also get the new version of the compilation as DLC. It's worth purchasing or upgrading as Capcom's version of Aladdin is worth it all on its own.

Final Verdict:

4½ out of 5

Platform Game Compilation Review: Disney Classic Games - Aladdin and the Lion King

Disney Classic Games: Aladdin and The Lion King is a compilation of two of the most well remembered platform game adaptation of Disney films. It brings the Virgin Games version of Aladdin and The Lion King by Westwood Studios to consoles and Windows through emulation by Digital Eclipse.

The headlining game is a bit controversial. There were three versions of Aladdin, one by Virgin Games, one by Capcom, and one by Sega. Since the 16-bit days, there has been a lot of debate over whether the Virgin Games or the Capcom version of Aladdin was the best. In most debates, the Virgin one, primarily released on the Sega Genesis, just barely comes out on top, over the Capcom version, which was primarily released on Super Nintendo Entertainment System. The Virgin game is the version included in this compilation. Digital Eclipse included both the Sega Genesis and Game Boy versions of Aladdin. The Genesis version is, without a doubt, the better version, but it's interesting to get to play the Game Boy port in the compilation as a curio.

The other game is not controversial at all, bar it's difficulty. The Westwood Studios game adaptation of The Lion King was released for both Super Nintendo Entertainment System and Sega Genesis. Both of those versions are included in the compilation, and this one really comes down to audio preference due to the difference in the sound hardware between the two systems. Digital Eclipse also included the Game Boy version of this game as well, although, like with Aladdin, it's merely a curio since it's not a great port.

A neat inclusion is a prototype version of Aladdin that was compiled the same month as the version that was demonstrated at the Summer Consumer Electronics Show in 1993. It's a really cool inclusion, and it's really neat to see what changed from the prototype stage to the final release. The level inside the lamp, in particular, is quite different. Since this is an unfinished build, I recommend you play through the full Sega Genesis version of the game first before trying the CES version.

Disney Classic Games - Aladdin and the Lion King is a nice compilation of two of the most popular Disney video game adaptations of the early 1990s. It was created by Digital Eclipse, the studio that has been releasing emulation-based re-releases since its release of Williams arcade games in 1994, so the emulation is quite good. The regular emulation features like rewind and save anywhere really help for these games, since the 16-bit era was one where difficult platformers were still the norm. This version of the compilation doesn't have Capcom's Aladdin included, which is a bit of a bummer, but what is there is done really well, especially the inclusions of the original artwork and the CES prototype of Aladdin.

Final Verdict:

4 out of 5

Platform Game Mega Review: The Lion King

The Lion King is a video game by Westwood Studios. It is a fondly remembered, if difficult, platform game recapping the events of the Disney animated film of the same name.

The most striking thing about the game is the art. Like Aladdin by Virgin Games, the art department had support from the artists at Walt Disney Feature Animation to ensure that the game captured the essence of the film. This resulted in beautiful backgrounds that highly resemble those in the film and amazing sprites that have highly detailed expressions and walk cycles. 

Like the film, the game features Simba as a lion cub and as a full grown lion. In the early sections, cub Simba roars at his enemies with his tiny voice, which causes them to get stunned or flipped over allowing him to stomp on them. When he becomes an adult, the enemies get tougher and so does he. Simba can now slash his claws at enemies as well as pounce on them to enact a two-pawed slash fest. 

The levels also get harder as they go on, but today's emulation-based compilations negate this aspect since it is now possible to rewind to before a failure occurred. The levels in the game take place at different parts of the film, from the early pride rock, safari and jungle areas, to the vegetation-deprived pride rock at the end. The levels are mostly straight forward, with easy to follow level layouts. The exception to this is a puzzle in the safari area where Simba needs to be thrown by monkeys in order to exit to the next level. He needs to roar at the right monkeys, so they will rotate in the correct order to have him be thrown in the order required for him to be thrown up and out of that location. This happens for several sections until the game returns to a standard platformer. This section of the "Just Can't Wait to Be King" area can be confusing and annoying, but if you keep an eye on the monkeys you can see the correct trajectory.

On the subject of the film's memorable musical numbers, the musicians at Westwood Studios did an excellent job making the music sound great in instrumental form on the Yamaha YM2612 FM synthesizer on the Sega Genesis aka Mega Drive and the Sony SPC700 sample-based audio chip on the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. The ports to Amiga, DOS, Game Boy, Game Gear, Master System, and Nintendo Entertainment System also do a good job translating the music to their respective sound chips. There are also sound clips on most versions which include spoken dialog as well as Simba's roars. The cub roar is just as cute here as it is in the film. 

The Lion King is an amazing translation of a film to a 16-bit video game. The art is amazing as it was supervised by Disney animators, the gameplay is fun for the most part, although the puzzle section in the safari can get annoying as it goes on a bit too long. One of the best aspects of the film was its music, and the musical pieces are translated quite well. Unlike Virgin Game's Aladdin, there is no clear cut winner in the music department here. The Genesis and SNES both have their charm and each sounds great, so either version is worth playing. Luckily, the emulation-based compilations by Digital Eclipse include both versions, so it is now easy to play either, or both, versions.

Final Verdict:

4½ out of 5

Contest To Win The Kyrandia Series from GOG.com

Update: The contest is over. Congratulations to chyron8472! Enjoy your games!

GOG.com has graciously given The Adventuress a download code for all three Legend of Kyrandia games, so I've decided to hold a little contest.

For a chance to win the code, simply post at this thread on The Adventuress forums why you would like to own The Legend of Kyrandia series. I'll pick a winner on the 5th of November. Good luck!

The Complete Legend of Kyrandia Series At GOG.com

After bringing The Legend of Kyrandia out of retirement last month, GOG.com now completes the series with Hand of Fate and Malcolm's Revenge available to purchase as well. The games are usually $5.99 USD, but for a few more days, if you purchase all three, you can pick all the games up in their Legend of Kyrandia Series Launch Discount promo for only $3.99 USD each ($11.97 USD total).

The Legend of Kyrandia is Available To Buy Again

The Legend of Kyrandia, the classic adventure game by Westwood Studios has been out of print for some time now.  That has changed, at least digitally, since the game's current intellectual property holders, Electronic Arts, have released the game on GOG.com for only $5.99 USD.