Aladdin is one of Disney's most dazzling animated features, beloved by young and old.
So when you discover that Disney was responsible for designing the animation in the new Aladdin video game, it's no surprise the game itself is a dazzler.Disney, in cahoots with Sega and Virgin Games, gets credit for this fanciful and delightful trip into movie magic ($59.99 for Genesis).
Most of you already know the story behind Aladdin, the young thief trying to stay alive on the mean streets of Agrabah.
Then he meets the lovely Princess Jasmine, and his life changes. When she is kidnapped by the evil Sultan Jafar, Aladdin and his faithful monkey companion Abu set off to rescue her.
A lot of thought and effort have gone into the design of this wonderful game, and it shows.
First, take a look at the graphics. Intricate detail and lovely pastels abound, bringing the game closely into line with the movie itself.
Then, watch the characters. Even if they make only brief appearances, they are animated perfectly, with changing expressions and fluid motion.
Game play is also excellent. Aladdin is multitalented; he can climb ropes, swing hand over hand along clotheslines, bound from flagpoles and even fly through the air while clinging to magic ropes. His movement is smooth and he's easy to control.
Aladdin must deal with many enemies. He has at his disposal a slashing scimitar and a collection of apples, which he can throw at attackers. He fights through several levels, including Agrabah Street, The Desert, Agrabah Rooftops, Sultan's Dungeon, the Caves of Wonder and even a magic carpet ride.
In each, he must complete a specific task - find a scarab, collect flutes - while making sure the smoke from an on-screen magic lamp doesn't disappear, signaling a life lost.
There are points to gather for whacking bad guys and collecting various icons. And there are tons of icons to collect, including blue hearts that restore strength; a blue vase, which marks the spot you'll return to if you die and still have lives left; and black lamps, which wipe out all on-screen enemies when they explode.
Collect a Genie token and clear a round and you go to the Genie Bonus Machine, a game of luck where you try to halt the machine on a valuable prize. The more tokens, the more times you can play.
Abu also gets a few bonus rounds of his own, where he tries to collect apples and extra tries while dodging pots tossed at him from above.
Aladdin isn't the most complex game going, and with adjustable difficulty even the novice can get through it without major problems. But it's a real masterpiece of animation and programming - and it's a lot of fun in the bargain.
Here's an excellent cart for children and a fine example for parents wary of video games of what can be done without gore and violence. If you've seen the movie, you'll love the game. If you haven't, you'll probably love it anyhow.
And it might inspire you to rent the movie. They make a great combination.
- The Legend of Zelda is one of the most popular video games of all time.
This role-playing epic, long a favorite of the stay-at-home crowd, is finally available for the traveler and his or her trusty Game Boy, and the translation to the tiny screen is a winner.
Briefly, Zelda ($29.99 from Nintendo) is the story of Link, who washes ashore on Koholint Island after a shipwreck. Link becomes involved in battling the bad guys annoying the islanders while trying to find a way off the island and back home.
If you're concerned about the translation from your television to GB's tiny two-color screen, fear not. The graphics are clean and sharp; the sound and music are excellent.
This is a beautiful translation of a game that has rightfully earned a slot in the Video Game Hall of Fame (hey, don't we need one of those?) If you're a Zelda fan, don't miss it.