Sega Saturday: Disney's Aladdin on Game Gear – A Portable Magic Carpet Ride
Welcome back to Sega Saturday, where we dust off the Sega archives for a weekly spotlight on hardware, games, or hidden gems from the house of Sonic. This week, we're hopping on a magic carpet for Disney's Aladdin on the Sega Game Gear – a 1994 handheld platformer that turned the 1992 Disney blockbuster into pixelated adventure gold.
The Basics: What You Get
Developed by Japan's SIMS Co., Ltd. and published by Sega, Disney's Aladdin launched as an 8-bit exclusive for the Game Gear and Sega Master System. It's a side-scrolling platformer where you control Aladdin, slashing through enemies with his scimitar, collecting jewels, and rubbing lamps for Genie power-ups. Levels faithfully recreate movie beats: marketplace chases, cave escapes, Jafar battles, and Agrabah rooftops. Cutscenes bridge stages, making it feel more cinematic than many contemporaries.
| Region | Game Gear Release | Master System Release |
|---|---|---|
| Europe | February 1994 | April 1994 |
| Japan | March 25, 1994 | N/A |
| North America | May 1994 | N/A |
The Game Gear version is nearly identical to Master System but optimized for portable play – tighter controls on the smaller screen, though it lacks an on-screen HUD (health shown via hearts). Expect 5-6 levels with bosses like Iago, Razoul, and Jafar, plus unlimited continues for casual fun.
Why It's a Sega Handheld Highlight
This isn't a watered-down port of Virgin's stellar Genesis or SNES Aladdin games (those had apples and rug-riding). SIMS crafted a unique take blending elements from both – sword combat like Genesis, but with more movie-accurate progression and cutscenes than either 16-bit version. Graphics pop on the Game Gear's color screen: fluid animations, vibrant Agrabah markets, and Genie's flashy assists. Soundtrack remixes movie themes chiptune-style – perfect for battery-draining sessions.
It was a massive hit: Topped U.S. Game Gear charts for three straight months (June-August 1994), UK's #1 Game Gear title in April, and named Best Game Gear Game at CES 1994 by GamePro for its sprites and polish. Reviews averaged 80-86% (Joypad, neXGam), praising visuals but noting easy difficulty and iffy jumps. In 2013, Complex ranked it among the top 25 handheld games ever.
Fun facts:
- Sega scored the Disney license after hits like Castle of Illusion – proving handheld magic sells.
- No password save; short playtime (30-60 mins) made it ideal for portables.
- Loose carts go for ~$11 today, CIB ~$19 – a steal for nostalgia.
Play It Today
No official re-release (yet – fingers crossed for Sega Ages), but emulation shines via Sega Game Gear apps or Evercade VS collections. Pair with fresh AA batteries for authentic drain!
This ad (likely from a 1994 Sega catalog, page 029) captures the hype: box art with Aladdin vs. Jafar, Genie flair, and that dreamy platform tease. A shining example of Sega's Disney dominance on handhelds.
What’s your fave Aladdin port? Drop it below – next Sega Saturday revs up soon!
Catch you next Saturday – Sega Forever!
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