Disney Games of the 8-bit/16-bit Era: The Top 5

Nothing mimics the magic of the movies quite like a Disney game. Today, Kingdom Hearts continues the tradition of bringing our favorite loveable Disney rogues from the big screen to life in game-form. On the contrary, the 8-bit/16-bit era gave us some of the most magical and memorable Disney adventures of them all. So then, join us as we count down the top 5 Disney games of the 8-bit/16-bit era.

 

Cast your mind back to the era before the iconic Sonic the Hedgehog. Hard to believe, but there was a time when Disney’s colorful cast littered our screens and reigned supreme in the process. First, to grace this list is the immortal Mickey Mouse.

 

Castle of Illusions Starring Mickey Mouse – Sega Mega Drive (1990)

The round-eared renegade first appeared on the Sega Megadrive in 1990. Although there were many iterations that followed, none of them quite capture the magic of the first. Mickey’s quest to save Minnie from the evil clutches of the sorceress Mizrabel cemented the console’s status in delivering high-fidelity Disney tributes. What’s more, its colorful game design and beautiful character sprites make this side-scrolling platformer a true cult classic. No question then, one of the top 5 Disney games of the 8-bit/16-bit era.

 

Aladdin – Sega Mega Drive (1993)

Second on this list is Disney’s Aladdin. Despite the SNES and the Sega Mega Drive, both releasing alternate versions, it was Capcom’s Sega equivalent that positively prevailed. Though, this is a clash of some dispute. Capcom worked closely with the film’s official art directors, and it shows. As a result, Sega’s retelling combines authentic character sprites and animations from the movie. Not to mention, an official OST. Also, the inclusion of a sword added a much-needed boost to combat. Whereas the SNES version, although pretty on the eye, focused primarily on park-core platforming and level traversal. Both have a place in my heart, but if I had to pick. Well, Sega’s entry pips SNES’s to the post any day of the week.

 

The Lion King – Super Nintendo (1994)

If Sega won the 16-bit console war with Aladdin, then the SNES evened the score with The Lion King. In truth, the SNES version, unlike Sega’s port, benefits from crisp sound quality, lush pre-rendered backdrops, and original character sprites. Lovingly hand-drawn by the official Disney animation team, these charming, high-fidelity models still stand up today. All in all, Simba’s journey from cute cub to a proud lion is one of the most fun of all. A welcome entry to the top 5 games of the 8-bit/16bit era.

 

Duck Tales – Nintendo Entertainment System (1989)

Duck Tales on the NES is a classic side-scroller that follows the illicit exploits of scrouge McDuck and his insatiable appetite for gold. On his quest to foil Flintheart Glomgold, a fellow loot hunting rival, we witness bright and beautiful pixel-art and some quirky in-game systems in between. Besides, using Scrooges cane as a pogo stick and a walloping device does have its perks. That said, Duck Tales deserves a spot on the top 5 Disney games of the 8-bit/16bit era.

 

MICKEY MANIA (1994, Super Nintendo/Sega Genesis)

Last but certainly not least, we have Mickey Mania. The Genesis gem that helped catapult us to nostalgia heaven. Mostly, this was due to the authentic settings which pay tribute to the classic cartoons. As a result, we witness the timeline of Micky Mouse events. From Steamboat Willie to Prince and The Pauper, each scene cooks up eye-popping, pixel-rich, visual candy. More importantly, the game reflects our much-loved Disney cast in a faithful but fun way.

 

That caps-off our list of the top 5 Disney games of the 8-bit/16-bit era. What are your all-time fav Disney quests? Have your say in the comments.