The Lion King

From Sega Retro

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The Lion King Title.png

The Lion King
System(s): Sega Mega Drive, Sega Master System, Sega Game Gear
Publisher:
Sega Mega Drive
Virgin Interactive,
Sega Master System
Sega Game Gear
Sega
Developer:
Genre: Action

















Number of players: 1
Release Date RRP Code
Sega Master System
EU
MK-27081-50
Sega Master System
DE
MK-27081-18
Sega Master System
ES
MK-27081-06
Sega Master System
FR
MK-27081-09
Sega Master System
PT
5,990$5,990
Sega Master System
UK
MK-27081-05
Sega Master System
IT
MK-27081-13
Sega Master System
AU
FLIO00SEC
Sega Master System
BR
028450
Sega Game Gear
JP
¥3,8003,800 G-3363
Sega Game Gear
US
2549
Sega Game Gear
US
(Majesco)
1205
Sega Game Gear
EU
T-70158-50
Sega Game Gear
DE
T-70158-18
Sega Game Gear
ES
T-70158-06
Sega Game Gear
FR
T-70158-09
Sega Game Gear
UK
T-70158-05
Sega Game Gear
IT
T-70158-13
Sega Game Gear
BR

The Lion King (ライオンキング) is a platform game developed by Westwood Studios, Inc., Virgin Interactive, and Dark Technologies, and published by Virgin Interactive, Walt Disney Computer Software, and Sega for the Sega Mega Drive, Sega Game Gear, Sega Master System, and several other consoles. It was developed for the Lion King franchise and follows a story and plot similar to the film. Due to this, it was one of the first games that featured a protagonist that get's older during the game's progress. The gameplay also changes from mainly platforming to a more action oriented approach.

Although intended for children, the game was often criticized for its difficulty even with easier settings. Despite the difficulty, it was rated positively by reviewers and gamers alike.

Localised Names

Language Localised Name English Translation
English The Lion King The Lion King
Japanese ライオンキング Lion King
French Le Roi Lion The Lion King
German Der König der Löwen The Lion King
Spanish El rey león The Lion King
Italian Il Re Leone The Lion King

Production Credits

Mega Drive Version

Westwood Studios:

Creative Director/Producer: Louis Castle
Programming: Rob Povey, Barry Green
Assistant Programming: Ronald Pieket-Weeserik
Programming Support: Milo X Ballan, David "Hmmmmm" Dettmer
Lead Designer: Seth Mendelsohn
Assistant Designer: Erik Yeo
Background Art: Joseph B Hewitt IV, Kevin Oxland VIE UK, Hans Piwenitzky, Rick Parks
Animation: Cindy Chinn, David Dame, Penina Finger, Elie Arabian, Matt Hansel, Aaron Powell
Animation Clean-Up: Doug Verhaal, Barbarajo Shillings, John Pedraja, Mike Muehlendorf, Ken Seward
Audio Direction: Paul Mudra
Music & Sound: Matt Furniss-Krisalis Software, Ltd.
Sound Driver: Krisalis Software, Ltd.
Manual Design: Edith Laramore
Quality Assurance Coordination: Glenn Sperry
Quality Assurance:Kenneth Dunne, Michael Lightner, Jesse Clemit, Chris Rubyor, Brad Roberts, Troy Leonard, William Baca, John & Patrick Sweeney
Executive Producer: Brett W Sperry
Vice President Product Development: Christopher D Yates
Special Thanks To: Colin Gordon-VIE UK, Dave Chapman-VIE UK, Felix Kupis, Ted Morris, Lawrence Hiler-Chip Level Designs, David O'Riva-Bitmasters, Donna, Tony, Samantha & James Castle, Linda, Jennifer & Kimberly Green

Disney Software:

Senior Producer: Patrick Gilmore
Assistant Producer: Michael Giacchino
Artwork: John Fiorito, Alex Schaeffer, Christina Vann, Ann-Bettina Colace
Additional Art: Katy Adams, Thomas Ang, Tom Breeden, Kurt Dumas, Hugh Jamieson, Roddy Novarro, Rob Titus
Art Support: Arden Ishimaru
Storyboards/Concept Art: Erik Wiese
Additional Music: Jeff Rona-Media Ventures, Inc.
Software Production Admin.: C. Steve Booth
Production Assistant: Joseph Santos
Product Analyst: Eric Ventura, Joseph Reyes, Toby Espiritu, Julius Baldueza, Daryl David

Disney Animation Services:

Producer: Paul Curasi
Creative/Technical Consultant: Chuck Williams
Production Coordinator: Cammie Cavallin
Assistant to the Producer: Annette Laguer
Business Manager: Darrell Brown
Production Assistant: Cyndi Sager
Production Designer: Keith Newton
Supervising Animator: Chris Bradley
Animators: Anthony Michaels, Aaron Blaise, Darko cesar, Serguei Koushnerov, Rob Corley, Travis Blaise, Branko Mihanovic, Sasha Dorogov, Elliot Bour, Phil Boyd, Tim Hodge
Assistant Animators: Merritt Andrews, Caroline Clifford, Craig Crasso
Clean-Up Artists: arden Chan, Kevin Proctor, Anthony Stanley
Image Processing Specialist: Pamela Darley
Assistant Editor: Gary Blair
Support Associate Trainee: Brent Tiano
Special Thanks To: Roger Allers, Ruben Aquino, Clare Baren, Jeff Dixon, Don Hahn, Rob Minoff, Ruben Procopio, Bob Stanton

Virgin Interactive Entertainment:

Vice President: Neil Young
Production Coordinators: Robb Alvey, Jeff Ziel
Assistant Coordinators: David Fries, Jeff Buccellato
Design Support: David Bishop, Chris Baver, Jared Brinkley, Sarah Thompson-VIE UK, Julian Rignal
Q/A Manager: Dave Maxey
Q/A Group Head: Chris McFarland
Lead Analyst: Jon Williams
Analyst: Scott Manning, Chad Soares, Stacey Mendoza, Craig McCoy, Paul Shoener, Chris Rausch

Additional Testing: Paul Villaneuva III, Eric Reid, Josh Kales, Anthony Nicholas, Joshua Madson, Richard Chan, Jay Yi, Mark Holloway, Duane Peralta, Josh Coon, Colin Elliott, Mike Galindo, Candace Galindo

Master System and Game Gear Versions

Developed in the UK by Syrox Developments
Produced and Programmed by: Dominic Wood
Graphic Artists: Mark Knowles, Tony West, Mickey Adams, John Green, Jim Studt, Jason Green, Kevin Watts, Andrew Cambridge, Kevin McMahon
Music and Sound: Krisalis, Matt Furniss
Virgin Interactive Europe:

Product Producer: Ian Mathias
Test Manager: Kevin Turner
Testers: Tony Hinds, John Martin, Paul Welton, Simon Humber, Tony Byus, Michael Wenn, Carl Perrin, Alon Malka

Disney Software:

Sr. Producer: Patrick Gilmore
Assistant Producer: Michael Giacchino

Sega of America:

Producer: Rhonda Van
Assistant Producer: Erik Whaiberg
Product Manager: Chrissie Huneke
Test Lead: Crisi Albertson
Assistant Leads: Kimberly Rogers, Ben Cureton
Testers: Sam Saliba, Rachael Bristol, Jeffery Kessler, Joel Breton, Carey Camacho, Bill Person, Blair Bullock, Gregg Vogt, Todd Morgan, Don Carmichael, Maria Tuzzo, Amine Khoury, Ben Szymkowiak, Randy Kriedt, Kif Davis, Daniel Wong, Bart Larrenaga, Mark Griffin

Promotional Material

Physical Scans

Mega Drive Version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
56 №1, p156-159[1]
94
79 №157, p87
80
94
90 №23, p46
87 №67
86 №6, p15
93 №36, p82-85[2]
87 №26, p58-61[3]
95 №47, p94-97[4]
79 №61, p44-46
90 №39, p38/39
90 №42, p11
Sega Mega Drive
86
Based on
14 reviews
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
1700 igr dlya Sega (RU)
98
[5]
Beep! MegaDrive (JP) NTSC-J
68
[6]
CD Consoles (FR)
56
[7]
Cool Gamer (RU)
90
[8]
Computer & Video Games (UK)
79
[9]
Computer + Video Giochi (IT)
79
[10]
Digitiser (UK) PAL
81
[11]
Electronic Games (1992-1995) (US) NTSC-U
100
[12]
Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) NTSC-U
80
[13]
Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 1 (RU)
90
[14]
Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 2 (RU)
70
[15]
Famitsu (JP) NTSC-J
58
[16]
Freak (IL)
87
[17]
Game Players (US) NTSC-U
94
[18]
Game Players (US)
94
[19]
GamePro (US) NTSC-U
88
[20]
Gamers (DE) PAL
27
[21]
GamesMaster (UK) PAL
90
[22]
GamesMaster (UK) PAL
87
[23]
Games World: The Magazine (UK) PAL
86
[24]
Igry Sega Luchshiye iz luchshikh. Vypusk 1 (RU)
80
[25]
Joypad (FR) PAL
93
[2]
LeveL (CZ)
85
[26]
MAN!AC (DE) PAL
81
[27]
Mega Fun (DE) PAL
82
[28]
Megazin (SI)
88
[29]
Micro Kid's Multimédia (FR)
75
[30]
Magazina Igrushek (RU)
75
[31]
Mean Machines Sega (UK) PAL
87
[3]
Novaya Real'nost' (RU) Bootleg
73
[32]
Player One (FR)
95
[33]
Play Time (DE) PAL
84
[34]
Power Up! (UK)
86
[35]
Saturn Fan (JP) NTSC-J
65
[36]
Sega Magazin (DE)
88
[37]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
79
[38]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
90
[39]
Sega Force (SE)
80
[40]
Sega Mega Drive Review (RU)
84
[41]
Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J
64
[42]
Sonic the Comic (UK) PAL
90
[43]
Todo Sega (ES)
95
[44]
Tricks 16 bit (RU)
90
[45]
VideoGames (US)
70
[46]
Sega Mega Drive
81
Based on
44 reviews

The Lion King

Mega Drive, US
Lion King MD US Box.jpg
Cover
Lion King MD US Cart.jpg
Cart
Mega Drive, EU
Lion King MD EU Box.jpg
Cover
LionKing MD EU Cart.jpg
Cart
Mega Drive, JP
Lion King MD JP Box.jpg
Cover
TheLionKing MD JP CartTop.jpg
Thelionking md jp cart.jpg
Cart
Mega Drive, AU
LionKing MD AU cover.jpg
Cover
LionKing MD AU Cart.jpg
Cart
The Lion King Megadrive AUS Manual.pdf
Manual
LionKing MD AU Cart Silver.jpg
Silver Cart variant
Mega Drive, AU (Sega Platinum Collection)
LionKing MD AU Box Platinum.jpg
Cover
LionKing MD AU Cart Top.jpg
LionKing MD AU Cart.jpg
Cart
LionKing MD AU Cart Silver.jpg
Silver Cart variant
Mega Drive, UK
LionKing MD UK Box.jpg
Cover
Mega Drive, FR
Lion King MD FR Cover.jpg
Cover
Mega Drive, DE
LionKing MD DE Box.jpg
Cover
Mega Drive, ES
LionKing MD ES Box.jpg
Cover
Mega Drive, IT

Mega Drive, KR

LionKing MD KR cart.jpg
Cart

Master System Version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
86 №27, p114[47]
75 №48, p149
87 №39, p73
Sega Master System
83
Based on
3 reviews
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
Computer & Video Games (UK) PAL
83
[48]
Gamers (DE) PAL
67
[49]
Mean Machines Sega (UK) PAL
86
[47]
Player One (FR)
75
[50]
Play Time (DE) PAL
80
[51]
Sega Magazine (UK) PAL
87
[52]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
87
[53]
Todo Sega (ES)
90
[54]
Video Games (DE) PAL
60
[55]
Sega Master System
79
Based on
9 reviews

The Lion King

Master System, EU
LionKing SMS EU cover.jpg
Cover
LionKing SMS EU Cart.jpg
Cart
Master System, UK
LionKing SMS UK cover.jpg
Cover
Master System, FR
LionKing SMS FR cover.jpg
Cover
Master System, DE
LionKing SMS DE cover.jpg
Cover
Master System, ES
LionKing SMS ES cover.jpg
Cover
Master System, IT
LionKing SMS IT cover.jpg
Cover
Master System, BR
LionKing SMS BR cover.jpg
Cover
LionKing SMS BR Cart.jpg
Cart
LionKingSMSBRManual.pdf
Manual
Master System, AU
LionKing SMS AU cover.jpg
Cover
Master System, PT
LionKingSMSPTCover.jpg
Cover

Game Gear Version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
85 №6, p21
68 №48, p149
Sega Game Gear
77
Based on
2 reviews
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
Electronic Games (1992-1995) (US) NTSC-U
100
[56]
Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) NTSC-U
78
[57]
Famitsu (JP) NTSC-J
55
[58]
GamePro (US) NTSC-U
73
[59]
Gamers (DE) PAL
67
[60]
Games World: The Magazine (UK) PAL
85
[61]
Mega Fun (DE)
67
[62]
Player One (FR)
68
[50]
Play Time (DE) PAL
81
[51]
Sega Magazine (UK) PAL
86
[63]
Todo Sega (ES)
95
[64]
Video Games (DE) PAL
72
[55]
Sega Game Gear
77
Based on
12 reviews

The Lion King

Game Gear, US
LionKing GG US Box Back.jpgNospine.pngLionKing GG US Box Front.jpg
Cover
The Lion King GG US cart.jpg
Cart
Lionking gg us manual.pdf
Manual
Game Gear, US (Majesco)
LionKing GG US Box Back Majesco.jpgNospine.pngLionKing GG US Box Front Majesco.jpg
Cover
LionKing GG US Cart Majesco.jpg
Cart
Game Gear, EU
LionKing GG EU Box Back.jpgNospine.pngThe Lion King GG EU box front.jpg
Cover
The Lion King GG EU cart.jpg
Cart
Game Gear, JP
LionKing GG JP Box Back.jpgNospine-small.pngLionKing GG JP Box Front.jpg
Cover
LionKing GG JP Cart.jpg
Cart
Game Gear, BR
<div style="margin:auto; max-width:Expression error: Unexpected < operator.px"> 320x120px
Cover
Game Gear, FR
LionKing GG FR Box Back.jpgNospine.pngLionKing GG FR Box Front.jpg
Cover
Game Gear, DE
LionKing GG DE Box Back.jpgNospine.pngLionKing GG DE Box Front.jpg
Cover
Game Gear, ES
LionKing GG ES Box Front.jpg
Cover
Game Gear, IT
LionKing GG IT Box Back.jpgNospine.pngLionKing GG IT Box Front.jpg
Cover
  1. File:CDConsoles FR 01.pdf, page 156
  2. 2.0 2.1 File:Joypad FR 036.pdf, page 82 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:Joypad FR 036.pdf_p82" defined multiple times with different content
  3. 3.0 3.1 File:MeanMachinesSega26UK.pdf, page 58 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:MeanMachinesSega26UK.pdf_p58" defined multiple times with different content
  4. File:PlayerOne FR 047.pdf, page 90
  5. 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 117
  6. Beep! MegaDrive, "January 1995" (JP; 1994-12-08), page 24
  7. CD Consoles, "Novembre 1994" (FR; 1994-xx-xx), page 155
  8. Cool Gamer, "9" (RU; 2002-10-13), page 117
  9. Computer & Video Games, "December 1994" (UK; 1994-11-15), page 87
  10. Computer + Video Giochi, "Gennaio 1995" (IT; 199x-xx-xx), page 98
  11. Digitiser (UK) (1994-11-14)
  12. Electronic Games (1992-1995), "November 1994" (US; 1994-1x-xx), page 110
  13. Electronic Gaming Monthly, "November 1994" (US; 1994-xx-xx), page 46
  14. Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 1, "" (RU; 1999-xx-xx), page 326
  15. Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 2, "" (RU; 2000-xx-xx), page 118
  16. Famitsu, "1994-12-16" (JP; 1994-12-02), page 39
  17. Freak, "1/95" (IL; 1995-xx-xx), page 1
  18. Game Players, "Vol. 7 No. 11 November 1994" (US; 1994-1x-xx), page 154
  19. Game Players, "Vol. 7 No. 12 December 1994" (US; 1994-1x-xx), page 54
  20. GamePro, "December 1994" (US; 1994-xx-xx), page 108
  21. Gamers, "Januar 1995" (DE; 1995-01-08), page 20
  22. GamesMaster, "November 1994" (UK; 1994-10-20), page 46
  23. GamesMaster (UK) "Series 4, episode 5" (1994-10-18, 24:00) (+6:59)
  24. Games World: The Magazine, "December 1994" (UK; 1994-10-28), page 15
  25. Igry Sega Luchshiye iz luchshikh. Vypusk 1, "" (RU; 2000-12-07), page 110
  26. LeveL, "Leden 1995" (CZ; 1995-01-24), page 41
  27. MAN!AC, "01/95" (DE; 1994-12-07), page 62
  28. Mega Fun, "12/94" (DE; 1994-11-23), page 108
  29. Megazin, "Letnik 2, Številka 16, December 1994" (SI; 1994-xx-xx), page 27
  30. Micro Kid's Multimédia, "Décembre 1994" (FR; 1994-1x-xx), page 56
  31. Magazina Igrushek, "2/1995" (RU; 1995-xx-xx), page 66
  32. Novaya Real'nost' (RU) "Episode 12" (1995-09-01, ) (+0:00)
  33. Player One, "Novembre 1994" (FR; 1994-1x-xx), page 94
  34. Play Time, "1/95" (DE; 1994-12-07), page 100
  35. Power Up!, "Saturday, November 12, 1994" (UK; 1994-11-12), page 1
  36. Saturn Fan, "1995 March" (JP; 1995-02-08), page 41
  37. Sega Magazin, "Dezember 1994" (DE; 1994-11-17), page 16
  38. Sega Power, "December 1994" (UK; 1994-10-20), page 44
  39. Sega Pro, "December 1994" (UK; 1994-11-03), page 38
  40. Sega Force, "7-8/94" (SE; 1994-10-19), page 24
  41. Sega Mega Drive Review, "1" (RU; 1995-04-03), page 89
  42. Sega Saturn Magazine, "September 1995" (JP; 1995-08-08), page 87
  43. Sonic the Comic, "January 6th 1995" (UK; 1994-12-24), page 11
  44. Todo Sega, "Noviembre 1994" (ES; 1994-1x-xx), page 42
  45. Tricks 16 bit, "Tricks Sega Gold 800 igr" (RU; 1998-03-20), page 105
  46. VideoGames, "December 1994" (US; 1994-1x-xx), page 97
  47. 47.0 47.1 File:MeanMachinesSega27UK.pdf, page 114 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:MeanMachinesSega27UK.pdf_p114" defined multiple times with different content
  48. Computer & Video Games, "February 1995" (UK; 1995-01-15), page 90
  49. Gamers, "Januar 1995" (DE; 1995-01-08), page 23
  50. 50.0 50.1 Player One, "Décembre 1994" (FR; 1994-1x-xx), page 149
  51. 51.0 51.1 Play Time, "1/95" (DE; 1994-12-07), page 104
  52. Sega Magazine, "January 1995" (UK; 1994-12-15), page 108
  53. Sega Pro, "December 1994" (UK; 1994-11-03), page 73
  54. Todo Sega, "Noviembre 1994" (ES; 1994-1x-xx), page 46
  55. 55.0 55.1 Video Games, "2/95" (DE; 1995-01-18), page 113
  56. Electronic Games (1992-1995), "April 1995" (US; 1995-0x-xx), page 95
  57. Electronic Gaming Monthly, "December 1994" (US; 1994-xx-xx), page 46
  58. Famitsu, "1995-01-20" (JP; 1995-01-06), page 40
  59. GamePro, "December 1994" (US; 1994-xx-xx), page 250
  60. Gamers, "Januar 1995" (DE; 1995-01-08), page 22
  61. Games World: The Magazine, "December 1994" (UK; 1994-10-28), page 21
  62. Mega Fun, "01/95" (DE; 1994-12-21), page 32
  63. Sega Magazine, "January 1995" (UK; 1994-12-15), page 112
  64. Todo Sega, "Noviembre 1994" (ES; 1994-1x-xx), page 47