Difference between revisions of "Aladdin (SIMS video game)"

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'''''Aladdin''''' is a multi-genre video game developed by [[SIMS]] and published by [[Sega]] on 1994-03-25 for the [[Game Gear]] and [[Master System]]. Although it has the same title as the Capcom and Virgin games released around the same time, it is a completely different game. This version of ''Aladdin'' has various stages, each switching mechanics between a runner, flyer, and platformer.
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[[Image:Aladdin - GG - USA.jpg|thumb|256x256px|North American Game Gear box.]]
 +
 
 +
'''''Aladdin''''' is a [[multi-genre video game]] developed by [[SIMS]] and published by [[Sega]] on 1994-03-25 for the [[Game Gear]] and [[Master System]]. Although it has the same title as the Capcom and Virgin games released around the same time, it is a completely different game. This version of ''[[Aladdin (universe)|Aladdin]]'' has various stages, each switching mechanics between running, flying, and a platformer with similarities to ''[[Prince of Persia]]''.
 +
 
 +
The Game Gear and Master System ports are practically identical, but the Master System's larger display allows for a better status bar and lets you see obstacles further away, so it's slightly easier.
 +
 
 +
==Personal==
 +
When I was complaining online about poorly-made portable games, a friend of mine mentioned that he beat this game so quickly after buying it he ended up returning it. That piqued my curiosity, so, I played the game and also beat it with little effort. Then, while making this page, I found that the Master System port was nearly the same, so I played through as well just to see what the differences were.
  
 
==Status==
 
==Status==
I don't own this game, but I beat the Game Gear port on 2019-09-05 on my first attempt.
+
I don't own this game, but I beat the Game Gear and Master System ports on 2019-09-05, each on my first attempt.
  
 
==Review==
 
==Review==
 +
{{Video Game Review|4|5|8|5|2|Master System}}
 +
 +
{{Spoilers}}
  
 
===Good===
 
===Good===
* Unlike a lot of tie-in games, this title very closely follows the game. The graphics, music, scenes, and dialogue are very accurate.
+
* Unlike a lot of tie-in games, this title very closely follows the source material. The graphics, music, scenes, and dialogue are very accurate.
* The game has fantastic pixel art, makes good use of parallax scrolling, and has a wonderful pseudo-3D effect in the chase scenes.
+
* The game has fantastic pixel art, smooth animation, makes good use of parallax scrolling, and has a wonderful pseudo-3D effect in some of the early chase scenes.
* Since the music is also right from the film, it has a nice professional sound and structure.
+
* Most of the music is directly from the film, which is already great, but it's also well-arranged for the hardware.
* The game comes with a detailed manual.
+
* The game comes with a detailed manual, though the European manuals are bland since they have to cram so much text in them.
 +
* Aladdin has plenty of actions at his disposal: walk, run, jump, crouch, tiptoe, slide, climb, throw, swing the sword. I just wish the levels were a bit larger and more varied to take advantage of all these actions.
  
 
===Bad===
 
===Bad===
* Although infinite lives is nice for getting you through the game, it pretty much guarantees that you'll beat it with just a little tenacity. Had they set a limit of something like three lives per section and then took you all the way back to the beginning of a section it would make more sense.
+
* Although infinite lives is nice for getting you through the game, it pretty much guarantees that you'll beat it with just a smidgen of tenacity. And, since you have so much health, it means you'll beat a lot of the stages on your very first try. Had they decreased the health and gave you three lives per section, the game would be more challenging without being unforgiving.
* There are a couple areas where, if you die, and try again, you'll be completely stuck and need to restart the game. This isn't too awful, since you can still use a password to get to the start of the main section.
+
* The game isn't paced well. The first eight stages of the game account for the first half of the film, leaving only two stages for the second half.
 +
* The controls are mostly responsive, but there are a couple issues. Going up and down stairs and jumping up to ledges require you to be in just the right spot to use them and ducking is a little slower than I would like. However, nothing ever became too frustrating.
 +
* The game's title doesn't distinguish it from the Virgin and Capcom versions of the game which is always a shameful marketing tactic, and the European box art is even the same as the Virgin box art which is especially bad. The US at least used different box even if they couldn't be bothered to change the title.
  
 
===Ugly===
 
===Ugly===
* The game is far too easy and too short. A total beginner can finish it in about an hour on their first attempt. Something else should have been added to the game like a hard mode,
+
* The game is far too easy and too short. A beginner can finish it in about an hour or two on their first attempt. Something else should have been added to the game like more levels or a hard mode to keep the challenge going.
  
 
==Media==
 
==Media==
 
===Box Art===
 
===Box Art===
 
<gallery>
 
<gallery>
 +
Aladdin - GG - Japan.jpg|Game Gear, Japan.<br/>This is pretty bad. It looks like Disney clip art placed over an unfinished coloring book and it doesn't accurately depict the game.
 +
Aladdin - GG - USA.jpg|Game Gear, North America.<br/>Fairly good art and unique for the platform. The characters are not totally accurate to the film, but it shows conflict between Aladdin and Jaffar which conveys an action game.
 +
Aladdin - GG - EU.jpg|Game Gear, Europe.<br/>This art is my favorite. Good quality and a nice action scene, but the title obscures the Genie a bit. However, it's the same art as the Genesis, which is a completely different game. Shameful.
 +
Aladdin - MS - EU.jpg|Master System, Europe.<br />Same as the European Game Gear, with with the Genie completely obscured.
 +
Aladdin - MS - Brazil.jpg|Master System, Brazil.<br />Same art, but this box reveals the most of the original painting.
 
</gallery>
 
</gallery>
  
 
===Documentation===
 
===Documentation===
 
<gallery>
 
<gallery>
 +
Aladdin - GG - USA - Manual.pdf|Game Gear, North American manual.
 +
Aladdin - GG - EU - Manual.pdf|Game Gear, European manual.
 +
Aladdin - MS - EU - Manual.pdf|Master System, European manual.
 +
Aladdin - MS - Brazil - Manual.pdf|Master System, Brazilian manual.
 
</gallery>
 
</gallery>
  
 
===Videos===
 
===Videos===
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xH1gHd_Nniw youtube.com/watch?v=xH1gHd_Nniw] - Longplay, Game Gear.
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{{#ev:youtube|xH1gHd_Nniw|256|inline|Longplay, Game Gear.|frame}}
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWwgY2CVKTE youtube.com/watch?v=XWwgY2CVKTE] - Longplay, Master System.
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{{#ev:youtube|XWwgY2CVKTE|256|inline|Longplay, Master System.|frame}}
  
 
==Links==
 
==Links==
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[[Category: Games]]
 
[[Category: Games]]
 
[[Category: Video Games]]
 
[[Category: Video Games]]
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[[Category: 1994 Video Games]]
 
[[Category: Video Game Prime Order - Action, Adventure, Strategy]]
 
[[Category: Video Game Prime Order - Action, Adventure, Strategy]]
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[[Category: Video Game Genre - Multi-Genre]]
 
[[Category: Video Game Genre - Platformer]]
 
[[Category: Video Game Genre - Platformer]]
 
[[Category: Video Game Genre - Runner]]
 
[[Category: Video Game Genre - Runner]]
 
[[Category: Video Game Genre - Tie-In]]
 
[[Category: Video Game Genre - Tie-In]]
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[[Category: Media Theme - Fantasy]]
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[[Category: Game Mechanic - Playable Non-White Character]]
 
[[Category: Game Gear Games]]
 
[[Category: Game Gear Games]]
 
[[Category: Master System Games]]
 
[[Category: Master System Games]]
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[[Category: Trope - Damsel In Distress]]
 
[[Category: Games I've Beaten]]
 
[[Category: Games I've Beaten]]
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[[Category: Video Games That Fail the Bechdel Test]]

Revision as of 12:33, 19 May 2020

North American Game Gear box.

Aladdin is a multi-genre video game developed by SIMS and published by Sega on 1994-03-25 for the Game Gear and Master System. Although it has the same title as the Capcom and Virgin games released around the same time, it is a completely different game. This version of Aladdin has various stages, each switching mechanics between running, flying, and a platformer with similarities to Prince of Persia.

The Game Gear and Master System ports are practically identical, but the Master System's larger display allows for a better status bar and lets you see obstacles further away, so it's slightly easier.

Personal

When I was complaining online about poorly-made portable games, a friend of mine mentioned that he beat this game so quickly after buying it he ended up returning it. That piqued my curiosity, so, I played the game and also beat it with little effort. Then, while making this page, I found that the Master System port was nearly the same, so I played through as well just to see what the differences were.

Status

I don't own this game, but I beat the Game Gear and Master System ports on 2019-09-05, each on my first attempt.

Review

Video Game Review Icon - Enjoyment.png Video Game Review Icon - Control.png Video Game Review Icon - Appearance.png Video Game Review Icon - Sound.png Video Game Review Icon - Replayability.png
4 5 8 5 2

Best Version: Master System

— This section contains spoilers! —

Good

  • Unlike a lot of tie-in games, this title very closely follows the source material. The graphics, music, scenes, and dialogue are very accurate.
  • The game has fantastic pixel art, smooth animation, makes good use of parallax scrolling, and has a wonderful pseudo-3D effect in some of the early chase scenes.
  • Most of the music is directly from the film, which is already great, but it's also well-arranged for the hardware.
  • The game comes with a detailed manual, though the European manuals are bland since they have to cram so much text in them.
  • Aladdin has plenty of actions at his disposal: walk, run, jump, crouch, tiptoe, slide, climb, throw, swing the sword. I just wish the levels were a bit larger and more varied to take advantage of all these actions.

Bad

  • Although infinite lives is nice for getting you through the game, it pretty much guarantees that you'll beat it with just a smidgen of tenacity. And, since you have so much health, it means you'll beat a lot of the stages on your very first try. Had they decreased the health and gave you three lives per section, the game would be more challenging without being unforgiving.
  • The game isn't paced well. The first eight stages of the game account for the first half of the film, leaving only two stages for the second half.
  • The controls are mostly responsive, but there are a couple issues. Going up and down stairs and jumping up to ledges require you to be in just the right spot to use them and ducking is a little slower than I would like. However, nothing ever became too frustrating.
  • The game's title doesn't distinguish it from the Virgin and Capcom versions of the game which is always a shameful marketing tactic, and the European box art is even the same as the Virgin box art which is especially bad. The US at least used different box even if they couldn't be bothered to change the title.

Ugly

  • The game is far too easy and too short. A beginner can finish it in about an hour or two on their first attempt. Something else should have been added to the game like more levels or a hard mode to keep the challenge going.

Media

Box Art

Documentation

Videos

Longplay, Game Gear.
Longplay, Master System.

Links

Link-MobyGames.png  Link-Wikipedia.png  Link-StrategyWiki.png  Link-TCRF.png