The Lion King (video game)

Infobox VG
title = The Lion King


developer = Westwood Studios, Inc., Virgin Interactive, Dark Technologies
publisher = Virgin Interactive, Sega, Walt Disney Computer Software
designer = Seth Mendelsohn
released = 1994
genre = Platform game
ratings = ELSPA: 3+ VRC: GA
modes=Single player
platforms = Sega Mega Drive/Genesis, Super NES, NES, Game Boy, PC, Amiga, Game Gear, Sega Master System
media = 8 megabit cartridge, 16 megabit cartridge, Floppy disk, CD-ROM
requirements = Game controller, computer keyboard

"The Lion King" is a video game based on Disney's popular animated film. The title was published by Virgin Interactive in 1994, and was released on SNES, NES, Game Boy, PC, Sega Mega Drive/Genesis, Amiga, Master System and Game Gear. (The NES and Master System versions of the game were never released in North America.) It followed Simba's journey from a young carefree cub to the battle with his uncle Scar as an adult.

Gameplay

The game is a side-scrolling platform game, with the controlled character having to leap, climb, run and descend from platform to platform. There is an exception during the level "The Stampede", where Simba is running towards (or in the NES and Game Boy versions, running with the camera looking straight down on top of him) the camera dodging wildebeest and leaping over rocks.

In most versions of the game two bars appear on the HUD. To the left is the roar meter, which must be fully charged for Simba's roar to be effective.To the right is the health bar which decreases when Simba is hurt. At the bottom left of the screen is a counter showing how many lives Simba has remaining.Health can be restored by collecting bugs which come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Some rare health-damaging bugs also exist.

The player controls Simba (first as a cub, then later as an adult) in the main levels and either Timon or Pumbaa in the bonus levels.

Cub Simba

Cub Simba can roar, jump on enemies and roll. All three are used to combat enemies and have different effects. Rolling can also be used to access hidden areas and dodge attacks.

Adult Simba

Adult Simba is stronger and can slash and maul instead of defeating his enemies by jumping on them. He also has a more formidable roar, but can no longer roll.

Console differences

The sound and graphic quality of the game varied greatly due to the differing capabilities of the consoles.

The Amiga version omitted the "Can't Wait to be King" level, the bonus levels and the cutscenes, presumably to save disk space as the media was presented on floppy disks. [ [http://www.mobygames.com/game/amiga/lion-king/reviews/reviewerId,51114/ Amiga review] on MobyGames] The music for some levels was also remixed slightly differently.

The NES version omitted content even further, with only the cub Simba levels present and the removal of the short "Death Tag" piece of music that plays when Simba dies. The level music continues on instead. Levels were also shortened considerably.

The Windows 3.1 version relied on the WinG graphics engine, but a series of Compaq Presarios weren't tested with WinG, which caused the game to crash while loading. This led Microsoft to create the more stable engine DirectX, used to this day [ [http://othersiderainbow.blogspot.com/2006_10_01_archive.html OZ: The Other Side of the Rainbow] ] .

Graphics and sound

The sprites and backgrounds were drawn by Disney animators themselves at Walt Disney Feature Animation, and the music is adaptations of songs and orchestrations in the soundtrack.

Reception

"The Lion King" received largely positive reviews (something rare for games movie-to-game adaptations), including an 8/10 from "Electronic Gaming Monthly", and sold well, including 1.27 million units of the SNES version (often considered the superior version) in the United States.cite web | title=US Platinum Videogame Chart | url=http://www.the-magicbox.com/Chart-USPlatinum.shtml | work= [http://www.the-magicbox.com/ The Magic Box] | accessdate=August 13 | accessyear=2005] However, it receives criticism from players due to its difficulty. [ [http://www.sega-16.com/Review-%20Lion%20King.php Sega-16 review (Genesis)] ] [ [http://www.videogamecritic.net/snesfl.htm#Lion_King,_The Video Game Critic review (SNES)] ] . "Gameplayers" wrote on their November 1994 issue that "even on the easy setting, the game is hard for an experienced player".

Other "The Lion King" video games

Other two games inspired by "The Lion King" were released: "Timon & Pumbaa's Jungle Games" (1997) by Virgin for SNES and PC, "" (2000) by Activision for the PlayStation and Game Boy Color. Also, a game inspired by "The Lion King 1½" was released in 2003 by THQ for the Game Boy Advance.

References

External links

*moby game|id=/lion-king