The Lion King

About

In Disney's The Lion King game, players journey with Simba the lion through 10 levels, from cub to king, while overcoming enemies and obstacles. The experience features memorable music from the movie and involves problem-solving, bug collecting, and battles with hyenas. Characters Pumbaa and Timon accompany Simba on his quest to reclaim his rightful place in the Pride Lands.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

64%

Audience ScoreBased on 42 reviews

music3 positive mentions

optimization3 negative mentions

The game evokes strong nostalgia, bringing back fond memories of childhood gaming experiences.
It runs smoothly on modern systems without crashes or major technical issues, allowing players to enjoy the game as they remember it.
The graphics and music, while dated, still capture the charm of the original game, making it a fun experience for fans of the movie.

The game is simply a re-release of the original DOS version with no modern enhancements, leading to a lack of features like saving progress and improved controls.
Many players experience frustrating bugs, glitches, and input lag, making the game feel unplayable at times.
The price is considered too high for a game that has not been optimized for current systems, leaving many feeling disappointed with their purchase.

graphics
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
14%
43%
Overall, the graphics of the game are praised for their quality and faithful representation of movie scenes, particularly in comparison to other versions from the '90s. However, some users note issues such as low frame rates, bugs, and a lack of polish, indicating that the graphics have not aged well since its 1994 release.
- “I have played the Sega Genesis and the Super Nintendo versions, and this version has the best graphics and music quality.”
- “One of the best movie-based games of the '90s, with cool graphics and faithful playable reproductions of the movie scenes.”
- “It offered some of the best graphics, character animations, fast responsive movement, and sound available on the Mega Drive (that's the Genesis for the American folks).”
- “The graphics are also pretty rough, and it's clear that the game hasn't aged well.”
- “The game is buggy, and there are a lot of issues with the sound and graphics.”
- “You should know the graphics aren't that good because it's a game from 1994!”
optimization
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The optimization of The Lion King is widely criticized, as it runs on a DOS emulator with minimal enhancements for modern systems, resulting in strange controls, stuttering performance, and numerous bugs. Reviewers feel that the lack of effort in porting the game makes the $9.99 price tag unjustifiable, highlighting the absence of any significant improvements or optimizations.
- “It's clear that this is just a DOSBox emulator, and it's not optimized for modern systems.”
- “The game is buggy and unoptimized, and it's clear that little effort went into porting it to modern systems.”
- “10 € shameful hidden emulator with zero optimization for PC.”
music
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
17%
33%
The music in the game is generally praised for its atmospheric quality and integration with gameplay, enhancing the overall experience. However, some players feel that the use of original MIDI versions fails to capture the brilliance of the compositions by Hans Zimmer and Elton John, particularly during key moments like boss fights. Overall, while the music contributes positively to the ambiance, it may not fully meet the expectations set by its renowned composers.
- “The art is incredibly pretty, the music is really atmospheric and the gaming mechanics are varying enough to make each level unique.”
- “Great animation, fun gameplay, and good music.”
- “I have played the Sega Genesis and the Super Nintendo versions, and this version has the best graphics and music quality.”
- “The first little hyena boss fight is supposed to play some boss fight music, but it doesn't; it just stays ambient like the entirety of level 1.”
- “Even the soundtrack is the original MIDI version, which really doesn't do the amazing music of Hans Zimmer and Elton John justice at all.”
gameplay
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The gameplay is praised for its variety and uniqueness across levels, enhanced by great animations and atmospheric music. Players appreciate the engaging mechanics, including changes as the character grows, which add challenge and fun to the experience. However, some users express concerns that not everyone may find the gameplay easily enjoyable.
- “The art is incredibly pretty, the music is really atmospheric, and the gaming mechanics are varied enough to make each level unique.”
- “Great animation, fun gameplay, and good music.”
- “The bonus phases, the secrets, and the gameplay change when Simba grows up make it varied, funny, and challenging.”
stability
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The stability of the game is highly inconsistent; while some players report a smooth experience with no crashes or glitches, others encounter significant bugs, audio issues, and crashes that severely impact gameplay. Overall, the game's porting to PC appears to be poorly optimized, leading to a frustrating experience for many users.
- “The game is buggy, and there are a lot of issues with the sound and graphics.”
- “I encountered numerous glitches and crashes during my playthrough, which made the game nearly unplayable at times.”
- “The game is buggy and unoptimized, and it's clear that little effort went into porting it to modern systems.”
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its beautiful art and immersive music, complemented by diverse gameplay mechanics that ensure each level feels distinct and engaging.
- “The art is incredibly pretty, the music is really atmospheric, and the gaming mechanics are varied enough to make each level unique.”
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players appreciate the humor in the game, noting that the varied gameplay elements, such as bonus phases and secrets, combined with Simba's growth, create a funny and challenging experience.
- “The bonus phases, the secrets, and the gameplay change when Simba grows up make it varied, funny, and challenging.”