Aladdin is game for the Sega Genesis designed by Virgin released in 1993, based on the Disney film Aladdin.
The platformer had remarkably fluid graphics for the time through the use of cel animation. Five original compositions and five arrangements from the movie were composed by Donald S. Griffin at the request of Virgin's audio director, Tommy Tallarico, who did the Genesis instruments and incidental transition music.
Unlike the SNES version, the Genesis version was worked on by Disney animators under the supervision of Virgin's Animation Producer Andy Luckey and Virgin animators Mike Dietz and Ian Freedman. It should be unsurprising, therefore, that the series of Disney games on the Genesis in the early 1990s capture the mood of classic Disney animation better than any before or since. This was achieved by use of the "Digicel" process -- developed at Virgin Interactive by David Perry, Andy Astor, Mike Dietz, Andy Luckey and Dr. Stephen Clarke-Willson. The process successfully compressed the data from the animator's drawings into the limited processing capacity of the Sega Mega Drive.
Gameplay[]
The game mostly involves killing enemies with basic swordplay and jumping across ledges. Several levels were very different, including one level where Aladdin must escape from the Cave of Wonders on Carpet and another where he must jump across the Agrabah's rooftops. The game featured few bosses.
The player controls Aladdin, who must make his way through several levels based on locations from the movie: from the streets and rooftops of Agrabah, the Cave of Wonders and the Sultan's dungeon to the final confrontation in Grand Vizier Jafar's palace. The Sultan's guards and also animals of the desert want to hinder Aladdin in his way. He can defend himself with his sword or by throwing apples. Next to apples, Aladdin can also collect gems which can be traded for lives and continues with merchants. Finding Genie or Abu icons enables bonus rounds. The Genie bonus round is a game of luck played for apples, gems or extra lives. In Abu's bonus round, the player controls the little monkey and has to catch bonus items that fall from the sky, without touching any of the unwanted objects like rocks and pots.
Levels[]
A screenshot from the first level.
- Agrabah Market: Aladdin fights guards in the market, in a level based on the "One Jump Ahead" scene in the film. The music is based on "Prince Ali".
- The Desert: set in the Cave of Wonders desert, where Aladdin must find half of the beetle jewel that opens the way to the cave.
- Agrabah Rooftops: Aladdin gets the other half of the beetle jewel fighting with Gazeem (the thief featured in Aladdin's beginning). The music is based on "One Jump Ahead".
- Sultan's Dungeon: Aladdin fights his way out of the prison, although it is only a short part of the film. The music is based on "Arabian Nights".
- Cave of Wonders: Aladdin goes through the Cave of Wonders in search for the Magic Lamp.
- The Escape: the Cave is collapsing, and Aladdin fights through it.
- Rug Ride: the last part of the escape, riding on the Magic Carpet.
- Inside the Lamp: a surreal world inspired by the "Friend Like Me" musical.
- Sultan's Palace: Aladdin goes through the palace. The level includes a boss fight with Iago.
- Jafar's Palace: the final battle with Jafar (who like in the movie, becomes a cobra).
Control[]
The three fire buttons were assigned to three actions for Aladdin: throwing an apple, jumping, and swinging his scimitar. The apples used up a limited supply of ammunition and were useful for distractions and for stunning enemies, but did not do much damage.
Easter Eggs[]
- A pair of Mickey Mouse ears can be found hanging on a clothesline in The Desert. By positioning himself and pressing up, Aladdin 'wears' the ears and earns extra lives.
- A Sega Mega Drive can be seen in the background of the "Inside the Lamp" level.
- A Goofy totem pole also provides power-ups.
- In the level where Aladdin has to escape from the Palace Dungeon, some skulls in the background have Mickey Mouse ears. Additionally, in that level Sebastian (From Disney's the Little Mermaid) can be seen in the background in chains.
- Aladdin had digital music throughout the game, using .AMF files, a digital module format similar to .MODs. (AMF is the format used by Otto Chrons' Digital Sound and Music Interface, or DSMI)
- A cheat allows access to a cheat menu, featuring invincibility and a level select. Upon accessing this menu, players are greeted by the head of David Perry.
Arcade version[]
- There is known to be a bootleg arcade version based on the Japanese version of the game. In this version all cutscenes and health powerups were removed, and Aladdin dies in two hits.