Games From The Magic Kingdom -- Disney Titles Offer Fun, Less Violence

Disney has long held a special place in the hearts of kids and parents alike. Where better to turn to get away from violence than the Magic Kingdom? While not all video games based on Disney characters live up to Disney standards, many provide alternatives to the gritty violent games that fill most store shelves.

Some of the best games for Super Nintendo and Sega Genesis are based on Disney characters. Parents like the relatively nonviolent themes of these titles, while players of all ages will find these games challenging.

"Castle of Illusion: Starring Mickey Mouse," for Sega Genesis, was the first and one of the best 16-bit Disney games. It begins with the evil Mizrabel, a k a Snow White's nasty stepmother, snatching Minnie Mouse. Mickey tracks her down through haunted forests, flooded sewers, toy shops and Candyland. Golly, gee, it's fun!

"Castle of Illusion" set the standard for story, graphics and game play for Disney cartridges. Never big on guns, Mickey Mouse throws apples at his enemies. Though fruit remains his weapon of choice, he uses magic in later games.

Sega followed "Castle of Illusion" with the stunningly bad "Fantasia." Though filled with some of the best graphics seen on Sega Genesis, "Fantasia" is plagued with unreasonable challenges and poor controls. The story is about Sorcerer apprentice Mickey Mouse's search for musical notes in the magical worlds of Fantasia. But the game is so hard to follow that few players can pass the game's halfway point.

In 1992, Capcom released "The Magical Quest: Starring Mickey Mouse." Known for creating some of the best Nintendo titles, Capcom lived up to its reputation. "The Magical Quest" is easy to play and features attractive animation as well as a creative story line starring the full Disney cast.

Mickey Mouse isn't the only Disney character in video games. Sega released "Quackshot," a fun but difficult game with Donald Duck, in 1992. "Quackshot" would be more enjoyable if it allowed players to save their progress at the end of each game.

Capcom and Virgin Interactive released separate but similar versions of "Aladdin" last year. Each game features chases through the streets of Agrabah, magic-carpet rides through the Cave of Wonders and battles with Jafar. Electronic Games magazine named the Virgin Interactive version, played on Sega Genesis, its cartridge game of the year. While both games are exceptional, the Sega version looks more like the movie.

Like Mickey Mouse, Aladdin uses apples as his preferred weapon, though he has a sword and a spitting camel in the Sega/Virgin game.

Following the success of "Aladdin," several Disney feature films have been converted to video games. Sunsoft recently released "Beauty and the Beast" for Super Nintendo. The game can be played from the perspective of either Belle or the Beast. (Gaston is still a jerk, either way.) It's not a perfect game, but it does capture the feeling of the movie.

High Tech Expressions' "Mickey's Ultimate Challenge" is the latest Disney title for Super Nintendo. The game may not interest players older than 12 but is well-suited for younger kids. Mickey has no enemies in this Ultimate Challenge; he simply solves a few puzzles in his quest to save a tiny kingdom from earthquakes. Players can control either Mickey or Minnie.

Virgin Interactive plans to release "The Jungle Book" for both Sega and Nintendo this summer. Considering the success of "Aladdin," "Jungle Book" could be one of the year's hottest cartridges.