Disney's The Lion King

[Melf]

The Lion King (http://www.sega-16.com/review_page.php?id=504&title=Lion%20King) is a faithful and enjoyable adaptation of Disney's classic film. Simba's quest to retake his kingdom from the evil Scar is a challenging and beautifully-crafted platformer that shows Disney and Virgin Interactive at their finest!

[David J.]

I still haven't played past the first level on the Genesis version, but I have come oh so close to beating the Game Gear version, which I love. Great games.

[Flash1087]

Hey, I remember this!

As a kid, I was always perplexed as to what the roar did early in the game, and I thought the 'chase' levels were kind of less-fun versions of the moose chase in Mickey Mania, as I played Lion King after that. Fun, though, and one of two Genny games I point to when I try to argue that not all movie games are terrible.

The other one? Aladdin, of course. :D

[morpheus21]

this is a great game and i remember when i finished it. i was really disapointed with the 'ending' but happy i was able to complete it. also in the review it is said that Nala is Simba mother which is wrong. Nala is Simba love interest and his mothers name was Sarabi.

[ary incorparated]

Yeah the snes version had special music with kind of voice camples in it does that make that version better or not,a bit more jungle kind of music every level you hear the semi chorus like a kind of human core,dont know how to explain but the music sounds like coming with Hmm and kind of voice samples in the background to make it a bit more into nature so the sound on snes is better.the game overal should be the same i think,but the game is great,and with the ending same as alien soldier eyh fun and you keep expecting more and then you get the uglyest ending ever made,and still hate those bring fabrik levels in alien soldier and the dark and boring looking ones.

[ary incorparated]

I completed the gamegear version great game you get a picture of simba in the end.

[Genesisdoes]

From the creators of Cool Spot and Aladdin, huh? I've gotta try it now even though I don't like the source material that much.

[Obviously]

This was a pretty fun game. A nice time waster.

[Flash1087]

this is a great game and i remember when i finished it. i was really disapointed with the 'ending' but happy i was able to complete it. also in the review it is said that Nala is Simba mother which is wrong. Nala is Simba love interest and his mothers name was Sarabi.

Yeah, I used to make that mistake all the damn time myself.

[ary incorparated]

Which version do you guys like most the snes one or megadive for so far youve played.

[kevinski]

I can't remember if I played the Genesis or SNES version, but I remember having no end of trouble in the Hakuna Matata level with those damn apes smacking me around. I never managed to make it past that level. And the second level was a bitch, as well, but I was able to get through it.

[Flash1087]

Mega Drive, er....Genesis, but only because that's the only one I finished. Only time I spent time in the SNES version was at a demo kiosk at a then-new Best Buy.

[Garlo]

It certainly is one of the best games on the Genesis, but I would have given it a bit lower score based on the trial and error parts (you know, the ones that have a 1up after you lose, no matter how many times you lose, wich means the developers knew that those parts would take many tries to complete) and the difficulty.

Haven't been able to finish it, tough.

[ary incorparated]

Great game lets keep it that i give it a 8 cause i can name ways more genesis titles that really deserve a 9 and not lion king tought its a reat one,the ape level level 2 yes i remember if you did somethin wrong the apes trow you right into the water.

[Ruudos]

Compared too the SNES version, the Genesis' music and FX sound near Playstation-like. Roars, smacks, and grunts sound like they should.


Is this a joke? Having played and beaten both versions (SNES and Mega Drive) I can tell you that the SNES version is superior noth in terms of graphics as in music. The Genesis' version of Toy Story is better than the SNES version though.

[ary incorparated]

Yess thats what i tought graphics cant really tell cause genesis version has fluider animation but the music on snes gave the jungle feel al the way and the sound FX of the snes version was indeed nicer then its genesis counterpart which wasnt bad at al also great but i prefer the snes version above the genesis one to.Toy story genesis version above snes i can live in that cause it had the cool race track in it and graphics in the game overal bit the same only somthimes noticable i bit more colourless,like the stage with the truck in the background the street lookes all F...cked up then on the genesis bit ack of colour but stil great.

[Alianger]

Oh c'mon, this game has too many frustrating parts to deserve such a high grade. After playing it through recently, remembering it as one of my favourites as a kid, I was really disappointed in it. The second level is tedious throughout, and the hit detection is messed up in the ostrich ride. The level with the gorilla boss is even worse, and when you get to the end levels simba plays stiffer than joe musashi in RoS.

[ary incorparated]

revenge of shinbi yess hes very stiff in that game,i remember the water level leven 8 or something,when you think you can jump and some ninja fool hits you while you tought he dissapeared,yes terrible i almost broke my controler on that part,i kept hating while he made that unike jump backwards into the water.still overall difficult but great.Yess lion king is good but more an average game a game that dissapears in the addic by the time.

[Zebbe]

Haha, remember that level of Revenge of Shinobi. Got without major problem to that point, then the lives ran away with those ninjas who jumped up from the water and threw ninja stars at you. Soon all my continues were lost and I was very pissed. Maybe I should try it again? :D

[ary incorparated]

hehehe the same feeling as i had i was pised too,how can it be and how unusual it was for the ninja to fal back into the water,but that stuf happense Hopefully you dont play to much that youlle see a bird for a ninja star and make the strange Backward Jump into the see.By the time its a fun game i tought i could finnish it,cause i saw Ben shinobi play it but im stil trying.

[HolyBloody16Bitter]

A 9, Holy Crap shitted review. Come on, this game deserves a 8 on a Megadrive. The SNES version is better, the sounds are better on that machine with this game. The game is good on the Megadrive, but a 9 is too way fanboy based.

[TwistedReality]

I loved the music and visuals of this one. I used to rent it allot as a kid. The "I cant wait to be King" level confused the heck out of me.

[Psy]

Having played this again, I can say the difficulty ramps up very quickly.

Level 1 (The Pride Lands) starts of okay nothing to changeling.
Level 2 (Can't Wait to be King) has some frustrating at parts.
Level 4 (the Stampede) is very frustrating and takes alot of patience
Level 6 (Hakuna Matata) Despite the frustrating boss this is the last bit of the game that were I had fun.

After Level 6 the game takes the kid gloves off, you are no longer young Simba, you no long can simply jump enemies, instead you have to use a attack and it take some skill to get Simba to anything other then standing there exchange blows.

There is a level select cheat (->,A, A, B, <start>) that you enter in the options screen, that is the only way you are going to be able to see the second half of this game.

I don't know why they made this game so difficult.

[Mr Smith]

I have never been able to beat this game - Scar always mauls me at the end.

[Melf]

I remember reading somewhere that you literally have to swipe Scar over 200 times to defeat him. WTF?

[Psy]

I remember reading somewhere that you literally have to swipe Scar over 200 times to defeat him. WTF?
Nope, you toss him over the side of the cliff after he starts laughing.

[Joe Redifer]

The platforming in this game is horribly bad.

[Benjamin]

There is a level select cheat (->,A, A, B, <start>) that you enter in the options screen, that is the only way you are going to be able to see the second half of this game.

I don't know why they made this game so difficult.

I don't recall it being so challenging having rented and beaten it as a kid. I tried to play the game today and skip to the later levels to see what all the fuss is about, but I can't get that level select code to work. Could you elaborate on that code? I tried it with the cursor highlighting the options screen and while in the options screen, but neither worked.

[Psy]

I don't recall it being so challenging having rented and beaten it as a kid. I tried to play the game today and skip to the later levels to see what all the fuss is about, but I can't get that level select code to work.

Show off




Could you elaborate on that code? I tried it with the cursor highlighting the options screen and while in the options screen, but neither worked.
Go into the options screen, you should be highlighting difficulty. Then push right, then A, then A again, then B, finally start. If you want to change difficulty (since it will change by entering the code) re-enter options after you have selected the starting level.

[Benjamin]

Nope, you toss him over the side of the cliff after he starts laughing.

After he starts panting. :) You know, Scar may take about 200 swipes all three encounters total, but that isn't much at all. I just played through the adult Simba stages. Really, this isn't that difficult. The game controls perfectly, and the only part that gave me trouble were the rolling boulders and that hyena cave maze. I cheated with GameFAQs to see the route, and that was that. :) Scar is among the easiest bosses I've encountered -- the challenge is really just the between fight platforming bits, and even those aren't really difficult.

I'd say as for tips:

1) Whenever you can, land on top an enemy for the maul attack. This is useful when the game has you landing on a platform below with an enemy on it.
2) Games with simple attacks = success is to button mash. Crouching swipes works well, and note that the paw swipes extend furthing than you'd think. You don't need to get really close to the hyenas at all to be effective.
3) Parts which require you taking on multiple enemies as once typically have a portion of the map better suited for the battle. Also, you're not on a time limit, and while you want to kill the enemy quickly, you also don't need to rush in to a group (especially on Be Prepared, where most time spent is just seeing where the lava dips land).
3) If you have trouble with the platform bits, note that Simba grabs with his paws. Those tiny ledge "hooks" need to hit around his paw to grab. Typically, you can advance simply by hitting the jump button at the ends of the swing cycle. Unless you're changing direction mid-leap, using the D-pad to control will more often than not just oversteer Simba into a pit below.

[Mr Smith]

Nope, you toss him over the side of the cliff after he starts laughing.
Done that with the invincible cheat, however, getting Simba to throw seems to be as easy as turning straw into gold, maybe harder in fact.

[Psy]

Done that with the invincible cheat, however, getting Simba to throw seems to be as easy as turning straw into gold, maybe harder in fact.
Yhea even with the 6 button controller where you just hit (X,Y or Z) it is hard to know when Simba will do a double swipe and when he will throw.

[Psy]

After he starts panting. :)

Sorry there is no audio for that so it is hard to tell



You know, Scar may take about 200 swipes all three encounters total, but that isn't much at all. I just played through the adult Simba stages. Really, this isn't that difficult. The game controls perfectly, and the only part that gave me trouble were the rolling boulders and that hyena cave maze. I cheated with GameFAQs to see the route, and that was that. :) Scar is among the easiest bosses I've encountered -- the challenge is really just the between fight platforming bits, and even those aren't really difficult.

Going through fire to get to the very top usually takes some health off me as I get block on all sides with fire and after waiting a few minutes and the fire not going away I proceed through the fire to get further up.

Tossing scar is annoying, the only way to avoid getting hit is to rapidly attack but doing so leaves you little time to react when he does start panting and if you attack while panting you have to wait till he pants again before tossing him.



I'd say as for tips:

1) Whenever you can, land on top an enemy for the maul attack. This is useful when the game has you landing on a platform below with an enemy on it.

Enemies can break out of a maul attack.



2) Games with simple attacks = success is to button mash. Crouching swipes works well, and note that the paw swipes extend furthing than you'd think. You don't need to get really close to the hyenas at all to be effective.

Okay when you are taking on one enemy.



3) Parts which require you taking on multiple enemies as once typically have a portion of the map better suited for the battle. Also, you're not on a time limit, and while you want to kill the enemy quickly, you also don't need to rush in to a group (especially on Be Prepared, where most time spent is just seeing where the lava dips land).

Easier said then done, on the last level it is easier to simply jump past some of the hyenas then fight them, yet if you fall might land on them.

[Benjamin]

Tossing scar is annoying, the only way to avoid getting hit is to rapidly attack but doing so leaves you little time to react when he does start panting and if you attack while panting you have to wait till he pants again before tossing him.

Once he's hurt enough to start panting, he'll pretty much do it every other swipe. He also stays in that sort of stunned position long enough to get ready for a throw.



Enemies can break out of a maul attack.

Okay when you are taking on one enemy.

Yes, but once broken out of the maul attack, you are in prime position to tack on the extra swipe or two to finish them off. No enemy retaliates after breaking the maul, at least not soon enough to deter anyone from using the attack.

Most of the game is a one-on-one encounter so long as you don't rush through the levels and activate/alert other enemies. The handful of times there is more than one, there either will be a systematic way to take them out or the level design will allow for a good advantageous spot.


Easier said then done, on the last level it is easier to simply jump past some of the hyenas then fight them, yet if you fall might land on them.

Beats falling to an instant death as in most other games. :) I take all the hyenas out just the same.

I'm not trying to brag or put you down in the least. Just really surprised that people think the game is so difficult. Perhaps it's because The Lion King followed the far easier Aladdin?

[Psy]

Once he's hurt enough to start panting, he'll pretty much do it every other swipe. He also stays in that sort of stunned position long enough to get ready for a throw.

Simba has no defence like Scar and you have to be close to throw, meaning you have to either mash the attack so Scar can't attack or try to bait scar to jump but be just infront of scar when he lands then throw but this sometimes backfires as if you take damage during this move (by scar landing on you) then hitting throw would just have Scar manual you to death.

The problem with mash attack is if you hit Scar while he is panting then he is no longer panting and trying to throw for your next attack won't work.



Yes, but once broken out of the maul attack, you are in prime position to tack on the extra swipe or two to finish them off. No enemy retaliates after breaking the maul, at least not soon enough to deter anyone from using the attack.

Unless you are at the edge of a platform then you'd be pushed off when the enemy breaks the maul.




Most of the game is a one-on-one encounter so long as you don't rush through the levels and activate/alert other enemies. The handful of times there is more than one, there either will be a systematic way to take them out or the level design will allow for a good advantageous spot.

It doesn't help that except for when your fighting Scar you don't know when Simba will throw or do a double slash. Even though the manual only says "To flip an enemy, press the SLASH button then immediately hit the JUMP button. If you are using the six button controller, press the X,Y or Z button." Yet most of the time this will make Simba do a double slash.



Beats falling to an instant death as in most other games. :) I take all the hyenas out just the same.

You have that too. But at the end lighting strikes causes fires that block your path and it is annoying black tracking and come back so the fire is no longer there. Yet if you are fast you can be on the other side before the lighting hits.



I'm not trying to brag or put you down in the least. Just really surprised that people think the game is so difficult. Perhaps it's because The Lion King followed the far easier Aladdin?
Because the game is unforgiving. Remember when using the level select cheat you only have the same amount health as you start level 1 with, it is also possible to reach the end with only that bit of health (which doesn't give you much room for error)

[Noiman]

A great game with excellent graphics and music, quite funny at times. 9/10 for me.

[RR1980]

I find that most Disney games are not that well designed I wonder if it's because they know the games will sell either way since they were based on popular Disney properties so kids will buy them regardless so they just don't put the effort into making the games any good.

[Mr Smith]

:o Lies! The first few levels as young Simba were awesome.

[VinnyT]

I find that most Disney games are not that well designed I wonder if it's because they know the games will sell either way since they were based on popular Disney properties so kids will buy them regardless so they just don't put the effort into making the games any good.

So you disagree with my review I take it.

[Sudo]

I liked pretty much all the Disney Genesis game. This, World/Castle of Illusion, Quackshot, Aladdin are all great, IMO.

[Alianger]

Yeah I thought most Disney games for the genny were great and not rushed at all. I suppose more adventure/rpg elements in these games would've made them more interesting and true to their sources but it wasn't such a popular genre back then.
Lion King wasn't among the best though, lots of memorization, sloppy hit detection and pixel perfect jumps makes it way too frustrating to play.. However the presentation is still very nice.

[Melf]

Castle of Illusion > everything else.

[Jesse813]

Great Disney Platformer w/ good graphics and music and lots of fun to play

[jerry coeurl]

This game isn't that difficult. Except maybe the stampede level.

Great game, imo. Well worth picking up for the low price you'll typically find it at. The animation is excellent.

[Baloo]

Castle of Illusion > everything else.

http://www.wpclipart.com/sign_language/thumbs_up.png

[mrpj]

As with Aladdin this is a great Disney platformer for the Mega Drive. The animation and sounds are great. It's a very challenging game though, with some frustrating deaths at times. I found it difficult to get Simba to grab hold of things and time my jumps right, but as you play through the game you do of course get used to the way the game works.

[Hiarcs]

Another excellent game.

[vintagegamecrazy]

I'll never understand the good scores this game gets nor for any other Virgin games for that matter.

[oldmanwinters]

I'll never understand the good scores this game gets nor for any other Virgin games for that matter.

Because they are better than just about every other 16-bit platformer and are the rare examples of solid movie adaptations to boot?

And Virgin really knew how to make some smoothly animated character sprites and great looking backgrounds.

[Duane Dibbley]

Is there some strategy to getting through the second level? For the ostrich part, I can't figure out when I'm supposed to double jump. The only way I've gotten through that one seems to be if I have a perfectly timed single jump, which is about every tenth try. Seriously, how is Simba supposed to be king if running into a bird's nest instantly kills him? Then there's the part with the swinging hippo tails, where I keep missing them and getting more insta-death. I like the first level of this game, but I'm pretty frustrated with the second.

[Mr Smith]

Whenever there are two bird's nests then double jump, also, don't forget you can duck too.

[Duane Dibbley]

Whenever there are two bird's nests then double jump, also, don't forget you can duck too.
When I double jump, Simba winds up running into something in the tree and dying. I can't even tell what is killing him, which is pretty frustrating. The instance I'm talking about is the fourth "round," where the game prompts you with two up arrows, and then there's a pink creature and some birds' nests in the tree.

[Duane Dibbley]

Well, I figured out how to get through that part by watching a video of someone playing it. Damn, this is a frustrating game! I got to the level after the stampede so far. The only reason I'm going to keep playing is because the review here makes it sound like the adult Simba levels are more fun.

[Forgotten Sin]

I always thought the Simba's Exile level was a pain. It's the furthest I've been able to get since I bought the game.

[GameX]

Afting playing, I can beat this level without a lot of problems. However, my record is "Hakuna Matata", the climbing on the damn-waterfall. This is ridiculous, you have the feeling you're getting higher and higher, but it's just an illusion: you're not moving at all.
I got to this level twice, but never beaten that part.

Except the difficulty level, I found this game excellent.

[oldmanwinters]

Well, I figured out how to get through that part by watching a video of someone playing it.

If I remember, the trick is to execute the initial jump a little earlier than you would normally think and then jump again when the ostrich is at its apex. But, yeah, as a kid I usually just tried to get lucky on a single jump. It's amazing how complicated they made that second level! Don't you love it when kid's games break your will to continue?:)

[agostinhobaroners]

In the Snes version the soundtrack is muffled, the resolution is lower (sometimes you don't see some platforms) and the roar sounds like a fag cat.
Genesis version FTW!

[Nightwolf]

As much i liked the megadrive, the music in snes is awesome. The chorus at first when you run the game is amazing!! Far, far better than megadrive. But the gameplay and graphics are very similar.

Nice game, but i really liked Aladdin more :) (Much more difficult, and that's a good thing to me)

[oldmanwinters]

As much i liked the megadrive, the music in snes is awesome. The chorus at first when you run the game is amazing!! Far, far better than megadrive. But the gameplay and graphics are very similar.


Yeah, that SNES music is spectacular, but ironically the Genesis makes better use of sound effects. The SNES's SFX always sound a bit muted to me and Simba says "cool" way too much.

I think the Genesis gameplay is tighter. Simba doesn't jump as high in the SNES which makes it harder for him to grab onto hippo noses in the 2nd level. Although the dreaded ostrich jump is (IMO) even harder on the SNES than it is on Genesis, probably due to the different screen resolution/formats and the jumping mechanic nuances.


Afting playing, I can beat this level without a lot of problems. However, my record is "Hakuna Matata", the climbing on the damn-waterfall. This is ridiculous, you have the feeling you're getting higher and higher, but it's just an illusion: you're not moving at all.
I got to this level twice, but never beaten that part.

Except the difficulty level, I found this game excellent.

You can take a shortcut that will let you start that section almost half-way up.

[Curryman123]

One of the better platform games on the system.

I was annoyed at first, but It's all about memorization and precise jumps.

Not bad at all.

7.5/10