Compare & Contrast: Aladdin

Ayen: We have an interesting one for you all today. Why do I say we? Because I'm being joined today by special guest, Maybee, from Eyes on Final Fantasy.

Disney's Aladdin was made by Virgin Games and Capcom for the Sega Genesis and Super Nintendo respectively. These games came out around the same time, but are vastly different to the point of unrecognizably. The question that remains is, which company did the better job? That's what we're here to find out.

Aladdin was an animated movie that came out in 1992 and became one of many Disney's classics. It was like The Little Mermaid for boys. I have a lot of fond childhood memories watching the trilogy and the old cartoon show they used to have. Unfortunately, I missed both of these games growing up. I didn't have a Super Nintendo and the Genesis version just past me by, so keep in mind this is my first time playing both.

Maybee: Aladdin SNES and Aladdin Sega are really two completely different games. One is more calm, Mario- esque styled platforming, while the other is hack' n slash with a times you have to slow down and take things steady and use tactics by throwing apples now and again, changing up the pace. I have no idea why they choose apples as a weapon for Aladdin, while his character is a orphan street rat who's starving for just a piece of bread. Doesn't he want to eat them? Shouldn't they be used as health, like how Castlevania uses food to keep up your strength, even if it's just rotten tossed away chicken hidden by a doorway?

Ayen: Well, the SNES version does replenish health with a turkey.

 Hot potato!

Ayen: Yeah, this looks awesome. One thing to note is that Disney actually did the animation for this game, and it shows. Aladdin and the rest of the cast look exactly as they did in the movie.

We have two primary attacks and a jump button. You can even parry with the sword. There's some funny animation you can prompt when you hit certain enemies with apples, like a guard's underwear showing. Priceless.

All throughout each stage you can find apples, hearts, extra lives, and gems which are used as currency to buy more lives and continues. Genie and Abu heads can activate a bonus level if you get enough of them before the end of the stage.

Unlike The Lion King, Aladdin eases you into the difficult parts as you play through. It isn't until the halfway mark during the Cave of Wonders that things start to get harder for the player.

The Escape from the Cave level in particular was a giant pain in the ass! One part requires to jump on sinking lava platforms and wait for it to sink low enough to avoid the spikes on the ceiling, but jump too soon and the lava spits out fire to kill you. When I FINALLY made it through, I took more than a nanosecond grabbing hearts only for a boulder to kill me, so I had to do it ALL OVER AGAIN!

Oh, and bats. Damn every single bat in this game. Damn them to the lowest pits of hell where they can burn for an eternity!

And when that wasn't enough bullshit? Genie balloons. You have to jump and grab onto Genie balloons one at a time before they pop and try not to fall to your death. Good fucking luck!

The last level is a combination of every single challenge in the previous stages combined with the intent to make your life miserable, and at the end you face Jafar who is surprisingly easy all things considered. Honestly, all you do is throw apples at him. That's a reoccurring theme in this game. The bosses themselves aren't that hard, but the latter levels are certainly a pain in the ass

Maybee: However what tears apart one from the other is the beautiful graphics settings, amazing OST soundtrack which follows songs from the animated classic Disney flick, and the better gameplay. The Genesis version has better colors, better oomph, better excitement and playing through the game is a fun and action- packed adventure. The beginning level is the thrilling Prince Ali, a parading tune humming in the background as you brush through a vibrant Agrabah.

The SNES version however just feels dry, lacking and empty. The colors feel dry and depressing. For example take the Genesis version of The Cave Of Wonders level and the SNES's. The Genesis has a swinging, almost dangerous sounding tune, creative design, colorful fish, ancient Shiva Indian statues, and falling rocks you must avoid. The SNES' version of the level is just a very basic cave design, and a log that you must use to avoid drowning in the water. That's all.

  Logs.

Ayen: What happened to Aladdin? He looks pixelated as fuck! The guards in earlier levels are better define than he is. Also, Aladdin moves so slow that even the snails are telling him to get a move on!

There's no sword for you to use in this version, the only means of attack is throwing apples (which only stuns unless you're attacking lesser enemies) and jumping on them. Guys, you know you have four buttons, right? You can add some more attacks, you know!

On a positive note, the sound is good. Aladdin sounds like himself whenever he's hit. The music isn't half bad, either, as to be expected with the Super Nintendo. While the character sprites don't look the best in comparison with the Genesis version, I can't find much problem with the backgrounds and attention to detail. Seeing the palace for the first time is simply jaw dropping.

Another positive are the bosses. They're a little more challenging than the Genesis version. Jafar especially. He isn't just in the background zapping you. He's in the foreground with attack patterns to overcome and his serpent form is a lot harder, and at least you get to see him in his genie form even though you don't get to fight it. I guess since that scene was more about outwitting Jafar it made no sense to make it a boss fight. I still think it would have been awesome.

Maybee: The Genesis version feels more creative, alive, and like you're hanging out in a wild party- while the SNES version feels like you're sitting next to an alone, depressed guy who's so consumed by his awful life he's hasn't cleaned himself in days.

Things do improve for the SNES version, the depressed guy begins to take some medicine for his mental illness, while the Genesis version is when you have awoken up from the awesome party last night to find your self in the trash.

Yes, the last few levels on the SNES are quite incredible, while the Sega version- the last few levels are rushed. Music is even re-used for the final level. The last boss for the Sega is disappointing. It's just a small snake! However the SNES does the final boss right by having Snake Jafar take up most of the screen- he's large, powerful and makes Aladdin look small- and you feel small and gulp slightly in terror.

  Let me show you how SNAKE like I can be!

Maybee: The SNES version also has a beautiful and calm A Whole New World level whereabouts you take Princess Jasmine on a gentle carpet ride through the starlight sky, while you take it easy for a while- a break needed after some tricky levels, and just sit back, relax and collect gems. Gems are needed if you want to unlock a little extra something in the SNES version. Though it's so small, it's basically worthless and it's not worth your time and effort. So there's no point to the gems.

The Genesis version uses the gem system quite well. They are actually good for something. If you collect a certain amount, you can buy extra lives or a continue.

The SNES gives you the promise of something great if you somehow manage to collect all gems, and then slaps you in the face.

  Apu has just played the SNES version and collected all the gems. He's done. He's done.

Maybee: The SNES does have a Genie level bonus at the end- so does the Genesis, both of them depend solely on luck. You could end up with something fantastic like a new life or just win Jafar laughing in your face.

Even though the SNES version does improve things later on, it's not good enough and it doesn't save it from being a slightly average game. It's only the last level where things get bad for the Genesis, and the last few levels where things get good for the SNES.

Maybee: I love this level. Truly. 

Ayen: It's a good level.

 What is Grand Maester Pycelle doing here?

Ayen: In-between stages you get story based off the movie being told largely in the form of pictures and text. The Genesis version does take a lot of liberties with the story like having more interactions with Jafar's disguise long before Aladdin gets thrown into the dungeons.

The SNES version stays more true to events from the movie. Images have a lot more variety to them and even in-game cut-scenes and gameplay recreates the scenes from the movie a lot better. Now imagine if Disney did the animation for them, it'd be perfect! The only thing that really sticks out from the norm with the SNES version is this.

 I don't remember that part of the movie.

Maybee: The Genesis is just a better game overall. I think that the thing that pushes the SNES version to the ground though, is it's downright terrible carpet level, compared to the Genesis. The SNES has annoying falling rocks that are almost impossible to avoid and it's just no fun. It's scream and toss away your controller frustrating. However the Genesis has a pressure test. How well do you work under pressure? The level starts off slow and steady, but picks up speed as you go along, and it gets crazy fast! You begin to hold your breath as you try and hope that you do the right thing (which is press up or down in time) and pray that Aladdin will make it to the end of the level. If you fail the test, it's alright. The game is forgiving and lets you skip on to the next level after a few attempts. 

  Fun. Good times. Heart-racing level.

  Pain. Misery. Sorrow. Plenty of tears and not the happy tears. These tears are sad.

Maybee: Both games are pretty tricky and they're not really easy or simple for games aimed at children. Though, personally I feel like the Genesis version is the ten times better pick. It's fun, colorful, feels like your playing an actual Disney game, and it has the better soundtrack. The Genesis also uses more tracks from the Aladdin movie with Prince Ali, One Jump Ahead, Arabian Nights, Friend Like Me, and A Whole New World. The Genesis/Mega Drive version just feels more faithful and more Disney. Is the Sega version a perfect game? No, it's not without its flaws, though it's the better Aladdin game overall.

Ayen: In closing, this is actually a closer match than I thought it was going to be. While the Genesis version has heads over shoulders the best gameplay out of the two, SNES can become really fun once you get the hang of it and the stages are better put together than on the Genesis. The Genesis stages feel like they're all over the place and rushed as a result. Meanwhile, it feels as those Capcom took more time making their game and did their own thing with it, so props to them.

But at the end of the day, I have to give the victory to the Genesis version, even if it's just barely. You can't go wrong either way.

GEN Aladdin: Get it

SNES Aladdin: Try it