The Mega Drive adaptation of Disney's Lion King, gorgeous and demanding. Magical animation, fearsome difficulty, a controversial yet memorable classic.
Your verdict
Category
Platformer1 player3+
Description
Simba battles Scar and his hyenas to reclaim the Pride Lands in this Disney Mega Drive platformer. Published by Disney/Sega, released in Europe in December 1994. Platformer with young and adult Simba, Pride Lands levels and iconic film music.
Lion King, The review
MAX
Art direction
★★★★★
"Iconic"
MAX
Music
★★★★★
"Legendary"
2/5
Story
★★★★★
"Classic"
An African savanna bathed in golden light, animation worthy of a Disney cartoon and warm colours: every screen looks like a scene from the film. The fluidity of the sprites and the richness of the settings overflow with majesty. This art direction, polished and sumptuous, magnificently restores the spirit of the feature film.
Taking up the immortal themes of Hans Zimmer and Elton John, from "Circle of Life" to "Hakuna Matata", the music transposes the film's magic with astonishing warmth. The FM chip restores the African soul and the emotion of the great swells. This careful adaptation remains one of the finest soundtracks drawn from a Disney film.
The Lion King is the international edition of Westwood Studios/Virgin's game adapted from Disney's The Lion King film.
Is Lion King, The still worth playing in 2026?
A 2D platformer by Virgin Games adapted from the Disney film, The Lion King offers a colourful and particularly difficult adventure where you play Simba from childhood to adulthood. The sumptuous art direction faithful to the film, the orchestral soundtrack and the precise handling make this title an excellent Disney adaptation. The legendary difficulty of the game is part of its charm. For anyone fond of polished Disney platformers or wanting a demanding 16 bit challenge, a valid recommendation today still on Mega Drive truly indeed here.
