Friday, October 3, 2014

Aladdin (Super NES, 1993)

I previously played the Genesis version of this game, and now it's time to check out the very different Super NES version. I hear it features less blood and fatalities.



While the Genesis version was developed by (teehee) Virgin, this game was developed by the masters at Capcom.

Younger people only know this company as the modern-day "Crapcom", but it was quite a formidable company back in the 90's.

...wild, uninhibited boning?

 ...oh.

The first couple of stages take place in the marketplace of Agrabah, where Aladdin does battle with guards. There's no sword in this version, and you defeat foes by jumping on their heads. You can also throw apples to stun or defeat some weaker foes, but it's barely necessary.

Our hero passes by Littlefinger's brothel as he dodges vicious pot-cobras. Left to his own devices, Abu the monkey would spend all of his money in there.

There are plenty of 1-Ups, and the difficulty is pretty low already. As a result, getting through this game is no problem, aside from a couple of trouble spots.

 There are also tons of jewels to collect throughout the levels. Regular jewels end up giving you extra lives (I think) after you collect enough of them, while red jewels are limited in number. Not sure what the result of finding all the red jewels is, as they're the big collection mission of the game.

Aladdin takes out one foe, but there's another guard firing arrows just past him. That sword from the Genesis version would be really useful right about now...

Some of the guards throw barrels at you, Donkey Kong style. GET OUT OF THE WAY, ABU!

NO! ABUUUU!!

Late in the Agrabah stages, Aladdin finds a sheet that can be used to glide. It's extremely useful for controlling jumps. Not sure if it's possible to miss it here, but I feel like it might be. Missing it would certainly make the game a lot harder (and less fun) to finish.

 Aha, this might be the answer. He uses the sheet to slide down ropes and get to the next area; without it, he likely wouldn't be able to continue here. Sweet palace in the background, too.

The first boss is Arabian George Zimmerman, seen here accusing Jasmine of stealing apples or something. This guy caps off the first level. By contrast, the first boss in the Genesis version was pretty far into the game.

How come this guy gets to swing a sword and I don't? Defeating him requires some precise timing, since you have to leap over his strike and bounce off his head before he raises the sword again. More importantly than all of that, Abu is HILARIOUS atop the tent there. He hops around and puts up his dukes.

This game utilizes a password system. Useful in the event that you somehow get a game over or can't get through this game in one sitting...

Music Break! Come with me and join the Church of Disney.

Aladdin and Princess Jasmine meet and immediately go to his place. Are we sure this isn't the city of  wild, uninhibited boning?

I want to live in a place where everyone just has sex all the time. ...Like Brazil.

This results in Aladdin getting handcuffed (in a bad way) and thrown into prison while Princess Jasmine is brought back to the castle. This is just like Chrono Trigger! Which Yakra are you, oldster?

 Wait, this hobo is really Jafar in disguise? Thanks for the spoiler, game! Well, maybe the movie gave it away instantly too. It has been a while.

Next stage is the Cave of Wonders. The blue color is less vibrant than the Genesis version, but the graphics themselves are a bit more detailed in this one. There's a mysterious, windy, treacherous stairway in the background, while the Genesis version...

...has lots of cave-blur in the background. Welp, it may be less detailed, but the Genesis version has more fluid animation.

At the end of the cave is a treasure trove that would make Smaug jealous.

It contains... a sentient magic carpet! It instantly starts getting all sassy with our heroes. Say what you will about Disney, but they're adept at giving personality to inanimate objects.

The next section is a river where you must ride logs under various low-hanging spiked ceilings while being harassed by vicious, rabid bats.

Beware! They go right for the junk.

Aladdin finds the magic lamp...but wait! What's Abu up to now?

HOMICIDAL! GENOCIDAL! ABUUUU!

Er, looks like he's trying to steal a jewel. Despite the best efforts of the magic carpet, Abu manages to trigger the defense mechanism of the cave.

That defense mechanism? The entire dungeon FILLS WITH LAVA.

Things get a lot trickier at this point, with damaging fire and lava underfoot. Weirdly, most of it isn't instant-death, but some of it is.

 Get through the platform section of the lava cave, and the most difficult stage in the game follows. Keeping ahead of the lava wave while not crashing into any rocks is a bit of an ordeal. The Genesis version of this level is even more difficult, featuring more dangers and a higher speed.

...penis?

...oh.

The next stage is the inside of the Genie's mind, which might also be the inside of Robin Williams' mind. He did voice and characterize the Genie, after all.

This is a tricky couple of stages, with a lot of tiny platforms to jump across. It's also bright and vibrant, unlike the Genesis version.

The Genie is brimming with personality. One of Disney's better and more iconic characters.

Also, the Genie has a very long tongue. His girlfriend must be thrilled. The local ants certainly aren't, though.

The next stage is the Pyramid. In the Genesis version, it's the Sultan's Palace. The two stages are completely different from one another, and I think the SNES wins this one. It's totally dependent on the player, though. Some people will like the Sultan's Palace more.

The Pyramid has really catchy music. It also has tons of sand-falls that can easily drag you into a pit.

Also, due to the sand, Aladdin can't grab onto platform edges here. Overall, this stage is shorter and easier than the Genie levels, at least. Those were the high point of the difficulty in this game.

The homicidal Abu wears a sarcophagus headpiece and attacks! This is a pseudo boss fight, won in one stomp. Some catchy music plays here too. Once Abu is free of the mask, we're off to...

...a romantic flight stage! Now that Aladdin is rich, Princess Jasmine is all about him. Just like real life!

This is a bonus stage of sorts, as you fly around collecting jewels while a relaxing SNES version of "A Whole New World" plays. This game has a great soundtrack in general.

I don't think the Genesis version has this level at all, so that's another point for the SNES version.

Time for the final level. The bastardly Jafar has kidnapped the princess and now I must rescue her (two steps back, eh).

Jafar's Palace is a fairly simple level full of armed guards. Of course, pacifist Nintendo-version Aladdin has nothing to fight back with. He's also no longer rich. Damn financial system collapse! Why must Aladdin pay for the corporate malfeasance of the subprime mortgage lenders?

The final battle pits Aladdin face-to-sneer with Jafar.

This is a difficult fight because you need to bounce off of his various summoned goons to gain enough air to land on him.

After that fight, he transforms into a GIANT SERPENT~!

This is a considerably easier fight, though. He follows a pretty steady pattern and it's easy to land multiple hits on him.

A cutscene follows where Serpent Jafar goes all Great Ape Vegeta and tries to squeeze Aladdin to death.

He also steals the lamp, which means the Genie has no choice but to grant him absolute power.

Now Jafar is a genie, or something. He's evil, so he's a RED genie. Lightsaber color-coding at its best!

Stuff happens, and he gets flushed into genie-land for all eternity.

Aladdin and the good Genie say their goodbyes, as I close the book on another game.

Some old guy waddles in and decrees that Jasmine now has the right to actually marry whoever she wants. It's a new day for women's rights in Agrabah!

She chooses Aladdin, even though most of his riches are gone, and proclaims that she loves him regardless. Good message for the kids. Then again, he still has all those jewels he amassed during the game...

"You Can Call Me Al" plays as everyone lives happily ever after.

Don't wanna end up a cartoon in a! Cartoon graveyard! Ooom! Ooom!

No word on who "Salary Man" is, but Princess Jasmine would probably be interested in him.

If you'll be my bodyguard! I can be your lonnnng lost pal!

I can call you Betty, and Betty when you call me, CALL MEEEE ALLLLLLL!


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2 comments:

  1. What home? I thought Aladdin was homeless...

    You'll notice that Jasmine still had to choose /someone/ to marry instead of deciding she'd rather be single because this isn't 2013 Disney.

    By FAR Chevy Chase's best song.

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  2. Is Capcom well-known for sucking now? This makes me so sad!

    A River Jordan reference for our Christian viewers!

    This is a game I played a lot as a kid so I'm feeling really nostalgic now.
    If I remember correctly, the red gems are for proving how much you rule.

    The plot-twist ending (Jafar's demise) still is great.

    Aladdin has a place, yeah, an illegal residence.

    I liked this post and story a lot. They GIF'd all the great moments. Such a good story.

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