10 Weird Versions Of Iconic Games You Didn't Know Existed
8. Aladdin On Game Boy
Whilst video games releasing across multiple platforms has been standardised for a long time now, it wasn’t always the case. Nowhere is this perhaps more readily apparent nor divisive as Disney’s Aladdin. Based upon the movie, two totally different games were released for both Mega Drive and SNES.
The question was and still is “which is better” but the true discussion should be around all the other adaptations this film got. It was also brought quietly to Master System and NES, as well Game Gear, Game Boy and Game Boy Color.
You’d think that the Game Boy versions would be ports of Capcom’s venture for Super Nintendo but that’s not the case (although that did release for the GBA in 2002). Instead, the Game Boy games are based on Virgin Interactive’s Mega Drive release.
A strange choice indeed considering one of the highpoints of this version was the hand-drawn animations which do not translate well to the underpowered handheld. The game runs quite poorly, with a chugging frame rate and gameplay that relies heavily on blind jumps. The later Game Boy Color port improves things, but not by much.
The two home console Aladdin games are the perfect representation of the difference in hardware during the 90s but the wider picture is much more confusing, with these Game Boy versions standing out as particularly odd curios.