Aladdin

A leap across a chasm, a slide beneath a blade and a scimitar in hand — this is not just a film turned into a game, this is one of the finest platforming experiences of its day. Aladdin on the Super Nintendo pulled off what film adaptations rarely manage: becoming a genuinely great game.

At its core is a brisk platformer in which Aladdin runs, jumps and climbs through the marketplaces, dungeons and cellars of Agrabah, and even flies through the Cave of Wonders themselves on a carpet. Unlike many adaptations of the time, Aladdin holds a scimitar, so fights with enemies are an equal part of the game alongside precise jumps and finding your way through the levels. Add to that throwing apples at range and sliding down ropes, so the action has a nice pace and variety.

Visually the game was among the best of its generation. The character animation is unusually smooth and the art faithfully captures the style of the source, with vivid colors and fluid motion that at the time felt almost like an animated cartoon in motion. It was precisely this smoothness of animation that was one of the main reasons the Super Nintendo version earned praise and became a reference example of what a well-made film license should look like.

It is worth knowing that there were two distinctly different Aladdin games, one for Sega consoles and another for the Super Nintendo, and each was created by a different studio with its own interpretation. The Super Nintendo version is a work in its own right, with an emphasis on combat platforming action, and it places honest demands on the player, especially in the later levels. Both versions, however, still fuel fan debates to this day over which is better.

Aladdin is proof that a licensed game need not be a corner-cutting product for a quick profit. It is a carefully tuned platformer that honors its source while standing firmly on its own feet as an honest challenge. For anyone who loves 16-bit platformers, it is a title that deserves a place in the library.

Why play: A beautifully animated and brisk platformer, one of the best film adaptations of the 16-bit era. A great choice when you want a colorful platformer with an edge.