Disney's Aladdin Review

I've always loved Aladdin. Between the awesome setting, memorable characters (especially Genie) and outstanding soundtrack, Aladdin really is a pinnacle of Disney's famous "Renaissance" period. Disney did a great job providing people with loads of supplementary media for Aladdin too, including two direct-to-video sequel films and an 86 episode spin-off TV show. If you're like me though, you really wanted to spend some time in the Aladdin universe in video game form. Fortunately, we received two critically acclaimed video game adaptations, both in 1993, released just a few weeks apart from each other. Both games are simply titled Disney's Aladdin, but they're completely distinct games. One of them, developed by Virgin Games, was released on the Sega Genesis, while the other was developed by Disney's frequent collaborator, Capcom, and released on the SNES. This is a review of the SNES iteration.

 

Capcom's version of Aladdin is an all-around great action-platformer. There are several different stages, which are mostly adapted from various set pieces and scenes from the movie. I was blown away by some of the inventive level designs, especially the fantastical, dream-like world that Genie whisks you away to. In this stage, you're leaping from fluffy white clouds to giant balloons adorned with Genie's smiling face and then carefully balancing yourself on floating playing cards, all the while desperately trying not to fall into the infinite abyss beneath your feet. Even relatively straightforward stages like the bazaar that you navigate through at the outset of the game are teeming with detail and charm that add to and enhance the experience. Citizens of Agrabah poke their heads out of windows to shout at Aladdin and the commotion that he's causing. Eager children watch from high rooftops and balconies to observe our favorite pickpocket leap and somersault over city guards. There's also a bonus stage near the halfway point of the game that features Aladdin and Jasmine riding the magic carpet, and I was totally mesmerized by the beautiful backgrounds of Agrabah after dark, complimented by the twinkling glimmer of the stars high above in the indigo expanse of the sky.

 

I got the chance to really appreciate the intricacies of some of these levels, as I spent far too long stumbling through the difficult platforming sequences in many of the stages. While the platforming has a degree of precision to it, I still often found myself frustrated that it wasn't better. There were far too many times that I felt like my deaths were cheap and a result of floaty, loose controls. That Genie-themed world that I mentioned was wonderfully designed, but incredibly difficult and had me beating my head against the wall for hours before I could finally get through it. And nothing can compete with the maddening challenge of getting through the infamous magic carpet ride level where Aladdin has to escape the Cave of Wonders before a massive wave of lava swallows him. That was the ultimate test of my reflexes, as I had to avoid the overwhelming rush of lava and dodge falling boulders, while carefully adjusting the flying carpet's speed and direction to fly through the tight, winding tunnels of the Cave of Wonders. Anyone familiar with this game can speak to this stage's insane difficulty. I don't think I had felt such a sense of accomplishment from a video game since finishing Elden Ring last year. This achievement was made all the better by my two kids being right there to witness their father's god-like abilities.

 

The SNES version of Disney's Aladdin doesn't really feature combat in any meaningful way, as it's much more of a platformer. He can throw apples, which can kill small, weak enemies, or they can be used to stun most other foes. Aladdin's main method of defeating enemies is by jumping on top of them. This isn't necessarily a negative trait, and probably even feels familiar if you've played the Mario games. Though with that being said, it's hard not to feel incredibly envious of the players of the Sega Genesis version, as Aladdin wields a scimitar in that iteration. I've heard many people consider the Genesis version superior solely because of Aladdin's sword. Again, the whole "jumping on top of an enemy to damage them" mechanic isn't a big deal, but it does feel a bit underwhelming when our hero can only defeat the terrifying Jafar, who has transformed into a massive cobra by the end of the game, by jumping on his head several times. And as a side note on that final fight against "Cobra Jafar," this game suffers some extreme slowdown during that battle, which makes landing Aladdin's jump attacks much more difficult. This is really the only sequence of the game where I experienced any sort of poor performance.

 

Disney's Aladdin on SNES is fantastic. Capcom delivered a genuinely excellent action-platformer with a brilliant art style, creative stage designs and an undeniable sense of just good old fashioned fun. The occasional difficulty spikes can be frustrating, but with enough patience, the entirety of the game should be beatable. I look forward to trying out the Genesis counterpart someday, so that I can compare them, but I can confidently recommend Capcom's Aladdin.

 

VERDICT: Recommended
Reviewed on SNES