The Jungle Book

n/a

Mega Drive Master System Game Gear
The Jungle Book
System(s): Sega Mega Drive, Sega Master System, Sega Game Gear
Publisher: Virgin Interactive Entertainment Ballistic (US re-release) Majesco Sales (US; re-release)
Developer: Disney Software Virgin Interactive Entertainment Eurocom Entertainment Software Syrox Developments
Distributor: Majesco Sales (US re-release)
Licensor: The Walt Disney Company
Sound driver: GEMS
Genre: Action, Adventure, Arcade
Number of players: 1
Release Date RRP Code US 1994-07 $69.9569.95 T-70176 EU 1994-07 T-70176-50 DE 1994 T-70176-18 ES 1994 T-70176-06 FR 1994 T-70176-09 PT 199x UK 1994-07 £44.9944.99 T-70176-50 SE (Rental) 199x IT 1994 T-70176-13 CZ 1994 2.165 Kč2.165 AU 1994 FJUN01SMC BR 199x 046580 EU 1993-12 MK-27069-50 DE 1994 MK-27069-18 ES 1994 MK-27069-06 FR 1994 MK-27069-09 PT 199x PT (Purple) 1996 3,990$3,990 UK 1993-12 £32.9932.99 MK-27069-50 IT 1994 MK-27069-13 AU 199x FJUN01SEC BR 199x 027330 US 1994-01 T-70118 US (Majesco) 2001 $14.9714.97 1198 EU 1994-01 T-70118-50 DE 1994 T-70118-18 ES 1994 T-70118-06 FR 1994 T-70118-09 UK 1994-01 £29.9929.99 T-70118-50 IT 1994 T-70118-13
Non-Sega versions Game Boy Game Boy Advance IBM PC Nintendo Entertainment System Super NES Windows PC

The Jungle Book is a licensed video game based on the 1967 Disney film with the same name.

Story

The game follows the plot of its namesake film (which is based on the 1894 book by Rudyard Kipling). Mowgli, a young boy who has been raised by wolves, must leave his home in the jungle and return to the human village because the tiger Shere Khan is now hunting him. Mowgli must fight jungle wildlife and ultimately Shere Khan himself to reach his village. During the journey, he meets Bagheera, Baloo, King Louie, and the hypnotist snake Kaa as well as the evil Shere Khan.

Gameplay

Master System and Game Gear versions

The game is a platformer played as the "man-cub" Mowgli. For four of the levels, the goal is to collect the eight gems hidden throughout the level. The level ends as soon as the last gem is collected. For the other levels, Mowgli must find his mentor Bagheera, a black panther, who waits at the end. Gems may appear in these levels but are not necessary to collect. Some of the levels end with a boss encounter. Every level has a time limit of nine minutes.

Mowgli moves with and and ducks with . He jumps with in the Master System version or with in the Game Gear version. He grabs vines automatically when he jumps in front of them. He can climb vertical vines with and or move along horizontal vines with and (he can also walk on top of horizontal vines). He can also use swinging vines to jump to higher places. Mowgli can throw bananas at enemies with in the Master System version or in the Game Gear version. He has unlimited bananas, and they can be aimed in eight directions with the D-Pad. He can find items that give him a limited supply of double bananas or boomerangs.

Mowgli's health is indicated by a snake in the corner of the screen, which grows shorter whenever he takes damage. He loses a try if he loses all of his health. He instantly loses a try if he falls into a bottomless pit or water. If Mowgli loses all of his tries, the game ends, but the game can be continued an unlimited number of times.

Items

	Gem
	The goal of some of the levels is to collect the 8 gems hidden within them before time runs out. In the other levels, gems can be collected for bonus points.
	Fruit
	Collect for bonus points at the end of the level.
	Banana Bunch
	Items besides gems and fruit are found inside banana bunches, which are opened by shooting them.
	Heart
	Restores two segments of Mowgli's health.
	Head
	Gives the player an extra try.
	Two Bananas
	Increases Mowgli's firepower by letting him rapid-fire bananas. Lasts for 50 shots.
	Boomerang
	Changes Mowgli's weapon to boomerangs for the rest of the level, which are more powerful than bananas and return to him after thrown.
	Tribal Mask
	Temporarily makes Mowgli impervious to damage.
	Figleaf
	Checkpoint where Mowgli is revived after losing a try. Mowgli retains any gems that he has collected after being revived.
	Frog
	Increases Mowgli's jump height for the rest of the level. Found in King Louie's Temple.

Scenes

	Jungle by Day
	Map: 1️⃣
	Collect 8 gems.
	Great Tree
	Map: 1️⃣
	Collect 8 gems.
	Dawn Patrol
	This is a bonus level where Mowgli can collect fruit for bonus points. The player proceeds to the next level without losing a try if Mowgli is harmed by an enemy or falls into a bottomless pit.
	By the River
	Map: 1️⃣
	Reach Bagheera.
	In the River
	Map: 1️⃣
	Reach Bagheera.
	Tree Village
	Map: 1️⃣
	Reach Bagheera.
	King Louie's
	Maps: 1️⃣ | 2️⃣
	Reach Bagheera.
	Falling Ruins
	Maps: 1️⃣ | 2️⃣
	Reach Bagheera.
	Jungle at Sunset
	Map: 1️⃣
	Collect 8 gems.
	Jungle at Night
	Map: 1️⃣
	Collect 8 gems.
	The Wastelands
	Map: 1️⃣
	This level consists solely of a fight against Shere Khan.

Mega Drive version

The game is a platformer designed around exploration. The player must collect a certain amount of gems within a time limit (similar to previous Virgin games Global Gladiators and Cool Spot). After finding the gems, Mowgli must find a character, usually Bagheera but also Baloo or sometimes a boss. Each level is designed with a great deal of verticality and generally lacks simple horizontal paths. Instead, Mowgli must climb trees, swing from vines, and climb on animals to make his way across. Mowgli can be moved with and , ducks with , and jumps with . He automatically grabs vines when he touches them and can climb up and down them with and . When on the ground, he can also use and to see the areas above and below him. He can travel in tree holes and huts by pressing .

Mowgli has several weapons, which can be selected by pressing and used by pressing . His initial form of offense is throwing bananas, which are weak but unlimited. Most enemies require can sustain at least one hit from a banana before being defeated. Mowgli's other weapons are stronger but limited; he can find ammunition for them in the jungle. Mowgli can use his weapons while crouching or jumping. He can throw his weapon directly upward with +. He can also stand in place and throw his weapon in any direction by pressing to shoot, to lock in place, then any direction on the D-Pad to aim. All of his weapons are projectiles that he throws, except for the Mask of Invulnerability, which renders him immune to damage. It also finite but can be replenished by finding items.

Mowgli's health is indicated by his portrait in the corner of the screen, which is truncated whenever he takes damage. He loses a try if he loses all of his health. Additionally, most levels have bottomless pits or water, which cause Mowgli to instantly lose a try if he falls into them. If Mowgli loses all of his tries, the game ends, but the player has unlimited continues.

There are three difficulty levels (Practice, Normal, and Hard), which changes the time limit (7 minutes for Practice, 6 minutes for Normal, and 4 minutes for Hard) and the number of gems required (8 gems on Practice, 10 gems on Normal, and 12 gems on Hard) for each level.

Weapons

	Banana
	The basic weapon. Weak but unlimited and long range.
	Double Banana
	Mowgli throws two bananas at once for double damage.
	Boomerang Banana
	A medium-range weapon that returns to Mowgli after it is thrown, potentially hitting a target twice.
	Pea Shooter
	The strongest weapon, same long range as bananas.
	Mask of Invulnerability
	Activate to make Mowgli invulnerable. He can still throw bananas while invulnerable. It ticks down while active and ends when it runs out of time or when switched off.

Items

	Gem
	The objective of each level. There are 15 hidden in each level, and the player must collect 8 gems on Practice, 10 gems on Normal, and 12 gems on Hard. Collect all 15 gems to play a bonus level.
	Heart
	Replenishes some of Mowgli's health.
	Compass
	Found in each level. Gives the player a compass for the rest of the level that points in the direction of the closest gem.
	Hourglass
	Adds another 30 seconds to the timer.
	Fruit
	Collect for bonus points at the end of the level.
	Stones
	Gives Mowgli more stones for his Pea Shooter weapon.
	Boomerang
	Gives Mowgli more boomerangs for his Boomerang Banana weapon.
	Banana Stand
	Gives Mowgli more bananas for his Double Banana weapon.
	Mask
	Gives Mowgli more time for his Mask of Invulnerability.
	Elephant
	Checkpoint where Mowgli is revived after losing a try. Mowgli retains any items that he has collected after being revived.

Chapters

	Jungle by Day
	The Great Tree
	The Dawn Patrol
	The River
	Baloo and the River
	The Tree Village
	The Ruins
	Collapsing Ruins
	Jungle at Night
	The Wastelands

Bonus level

Bonus level

Mowgli enters a bonus level after the current level is completed if the player finds all 15 gems. The bonus level is a cavern filled with fruits for bonus points. It has a short timer and ends when time runs out. There are five different bonus level layouts, which repeat after they have all been played.

History

Development

Development of the Mega Drive version was started by the Virgin Games USA development team, led by famous programmer David Perry. Before the game was completed, they were switched to work on Aladdin instead. When Aladdin was completed, Virgin wanted the team to go back to The Jungle Book and finish it, but they ended up leaving the company to form Shiny Entertainment and do work that would later result in Earthworm Jim. Eurocom Entertainment Software was then contracted by Virgin to finish the game and develop most of the other game versions.

As with many games published by Virgin Interactive Entertainment, the game was partially PAL optimized by speeding up music but leaving the gameplay untouched. The game's music plays too fast when it is forced in 60 Hz mode.

Legacy

The Mega Drive version of the game was re-released as part of Disney Classic Games Collection for the Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4 in 2021. The Super NES and Game Boy versions of the game are also included, with new features such as save states, video filters, and widescreen aspect ratios. The collection also includes multiple versions of Aladdin and The Lion King. Since the collection was previously released for the same platforms in 2019 with only Aladdin and The Lion King, a DLC was added to the previous collection to add The Jungle Book.

Versions

Localised names

Also known as

Language	Localised Name	English Translation
English	The Jungle Book	The Jungle Book
French	Le Livre de la Jungle	The Jungle Book
German	Das Dschungelbuch	The Jungle Book
Spanish	El Libro de la Selva	The Jungle Book
Italian	Il Libro Della Giungla	The Jungle Book

Production credits

Master System and Game Gear versions

Syrox Developments

• Programmer: Dominic Wood
• Graphic Artists: Jock Green, Mark Knowles
• Music and Sound: Eurocom Ltd

Virgin

• Product Producer: Matthew Spall
• Software Manager: Ian Mathias

Source:

In-game credits

---

• Cover artist (US): Greg Wray

Source:

Uncredited

Mega Drive version

Virgin Interactive Entertainment

• Produced by: Robb Alvey
• Assistant Producer: David Fries
• Executive Producer: Neil Young
• Virgin UK Producer: Matt Spall
• Product Planning: Randy Fujimoto
• Game Design: David Bishop, Bill Anderson, Erik Yeo, David Perry, Eurocom Entertainment, Robb Alvey, Julian Rignall
• Animation by: Mike Dietz, Edward Schofield, Doug Tenaple, Shawn McLean, Roger Hardy, Clark Sorenson, Jeff Etter, Allyn Welty, Dean Ruggles, Bob Steele, David Simmons
• Background Art by: Christian Laursen, Lin Shen, Nick Bruty
• Music and FX: Tommy Tallarico
• Music by: Tommy Tallarico, Joey Kuras, Mark Miller, Donald S. Griffin, Dr. Stephen Clarke-Willson, Keith Arem
• Sound Effects: Joey Kuras
• Virgin Studios Coordinators: Harvard Bonin, Barry Pringle Sr.
• Production Coordination: Christina Camerota
• Q.A. Management: David Maxey, Paul Moore, Mike McCaa, Adam Ryan
• Lead Product Analysts: Bijan Shaheer, Nick Camerota
• Product Analysts: Chris Rausch, Stacey Mendoza, Chris Nelson
• 24hr Test Crew: David Fries, Ken Love, Bijan Shaheer, Robb Alvey, Craig McCoy, David Maxey, Jared Brinkley, Eric Harshman, Stacey Mendoza, Chris Rausch, Virgil The Cat, Jeff Gordon, Jim Getz by, Paul Shoener, Chad Soares, Jon Williams
• Special Thanks to: Dr. Stephen Clarke-Willson, Martin Alper, Justin Heber, Keith Greer, Bert Pelascini, Seth Mendelsohn, Jared Brinkley, Richard Branson, Richard M. Sherman, Robert B. Sherman, Ted Warnock, Sean Wilson, Ben Medina, Andy Hollins, Tim Bromley, Henry Nagel, Mick Love

Eurocom Entertainment Software

• Programmed by: Tim Rogers, Tim Swann
• Produced by: Hugh Binns
• Art by: Steve Wilding, Adrian Mannion, Colin Garratt, Steve Bedser
• Levels Designed by: Mat Sneap, Steve Wilding, Adrian Mannion
• Play Testing: Mark Hetherington
• Special Thanks to: Jon Williams, Dave Looker, Richard Alton, Ian Sneap, Neil Baldwin, Steve Duckworth, Ian Denny, Andy Bee, Nigel Bentley, Ashley Finney, Andi Smithers, Matt Dixon, Simon Garrigan, Paul Bates, Robert Watkins

Disney Software

• Producer: Patrick Gilmore
• Assistant Producer: John Santos

(c) 1994 Virgin Interactive Entertainment

(c) 1994 The Walt Disney Co.

• Licensed by: Sega Enterprises, Ltd.

Source:

In-game credits

---

• Cover artist: Greg Wray

Source:

Uncredited

Magazine articles

Main article: The Jungle Book/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

Main article: The Jungle Book/Promotional material.

Physical scans

Mega Drive version

Sega Retro Average
Publication Score Source High Score (JP) 80 Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming (UK) 82 №23, p28-31

	81
Based on 2 reviews

Sega Retro Average

Publication Version Score 1700 igr dlya Sega (RU) 70 Alaab Alcomputtar (SA) 79 Consoles + (FR) 93 Cool Gamer (RU) 90 Computer & Video Games (UK) 80 Digitiser (UK) PAL 89 Electronic Games (1992-1995) (US) NTSC-U 91 Electronic Games (1992-1995) (US) NTSC-U 91 Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) NTSC-U 70 Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 1 (RU) 70 Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 2 (RU) 80 Freak (IL) 93 GameFan (US) NTSC-U 88 Game Players (US) NTSC-U 89 GamePro (US) NTSC-U 85 GamePro (DE) 80 Gamers (DE) 80 GamesMaster (UK) PAL 90 Joypad (FR) PAL 96 Mega (UK) PAL 90 Mega Force (FR) PAL 89 Mega Fun (DE) PAL 83 Mega Power (UK) PAL 92 MegaTech (UK) PAL 83 Megazin (SI) 79 Mean Machines Sega (UK) PAL 75 Player One (FR) 94 Play Time (DE) 85 Power Up! (UK) 90 Sega Magazine (UK) PAL 90 Sega Magazine (UK) PAL 84 Sega Power (UK) PAL 90 Sega Pro (UK) PAL 88 Sega Zone (UK) PAL 83 Sega Force (SE) 82 Sega Mega Drive Review (RU) 82 Sonic the Comic (UK) PAL 92 Todo Sega (ES) 93 Tricks 16 bit (RU) 80 Video Games (DE) PAL 86 VideoGames (US) NTSC-U 90

	85
Based on 41 reviews

The Jungle Book

Mega Drive, US
Cover
Cart Manual

Mega Drive, US (cardboard)
Cover
Cart

Mega Drive, EU
Cover
Cart Manual

Mega Drive, FR
Cover
Cart Manual

Mega Drive, FR (Blister pack)
Cover

Mega Drive, DE
Cover
Cart

Mega Drive, ES
Cover
Cart Manual

Mega Drive, IT
Cover
Cart

Mega Drive, PT
Cover

Mega Drive, SE (Rental)
Cover

Mega Drive, AU

Mega Drive, AU (Silver)
Cover
Cart Manual

Mega Drive, BR
Cover
Cart

Master System version

Sega Retro Average
Publication Score Source

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Based on 0 review

Sega Retro Average

Publication Version Score Aktueller Software Markt (DE) 83 Console Mania (IT) 90 Consoles + (FR) 90 Game Power (IT) PAL 60 Joypad (FR) 85 Joypad (HU) PAL 84 Mega Force (FR) 70 Mega Fun (DE) PAL 74 Mean Machines Sega (UK) PAL 88 Megazone (AU) PAL 61 Player One (FR) 93 Sega Magazin (DE) 86 Sega Magazine (UK) PAL 84 Sega Power (UK) PAL 84 Sega Pro (UK) PAL 85 Sega Force Mega (UK) PAL 94 Sega Force (SE) 86 Sonic the Comic (UK) PAL 85 Todo Sega (ES) 85 Video Games (DE) PAL 62

	81
Based on 20 reviews

The Jungle Book

Master System, EU
Cover
Cart Manual

Master System, FR
Cover
Cart

Master System, DE
Cover
Cart

Master System, ES
Cover
Cart

Master System, IT
Cover
Cart

Master System, PT
Cover

Master System, PT (Purple)
Cover

Master System, AU
Cover
Cart

Master System, BR
Cover
Cart Manual

Game Gear version

Sega Retro Average
Publication Score Source

{{{{{icon}}}|L}}
Based on 0 review

Sega Retro Average

Publication Version Score Aktueller Software Markt (DE) 83 Console Mania (IT) 90 Computer & Video Games (UK) 80 Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) NTSC-U 62 Freak (IL) 93 GamePro (US) NTSC-U 70 Joypad (FR) 92 Megablast (DE) PAL 74 Mega Force (FR) 88 Mega Fun (DE) PAL 74 Player One (FR) 90 Power Unlimited (NL) 87 Sega Magazin (DE) 87 Sega Magazine (UK) PAL 85 Sega News (CZ) 85 Sega Power (UK) PAL 84 Sega Pro (UK) PAL 93 Sega Zone (UK) PAL 76 Sonic the Comic (UK) PAL 85 Todo Sega (ES) 82 Video Games (DE) PAL 79

	83
Based on 21 reviews

The Jungle Book

Game Gear, US
Cover
Cart Manual

Game Gear, US (Majesco Sales)
Cover
Cart

Game Gear, EU
Cover
Cart Manual

Game Gear, FR
Cover

Game Gear, FR (Blister pack)
Cover

Game Gear, DE
Cover

Game Gear, ES
Cover

Game Gear, IT
Cover

Technical information

Main article: The Jungle Book/Technical information.

ROM dump status

System	Hash	Size	Build Date	Source	Comments
✔	CRC32 3fb6d92e MD5 2e1c1f784c9463152cd1a772f87677af SHA-1 306021e52501c9d51afd9c51acf384356c84ffbf	2MB	1994-08	Cartridge (US)
✔	CRC32 b9709a99 MD5 03a83c6c7392549b47b006c6e9c38fe0 SHA-1 b96dcaf595a713eeec54257e8cee6306d7748baf	2MB	1994-08	Cartridge (EU)
?	CRC32 20b97d87 MD5 2260d42cf65b4f8aa945ad558d99f6b3 SHA-1 df79f4d61d1de7f9a3ed056f98a94dcad2ae8e18	1MB	1993-09	EPROM cartridge	Featured at Winter CES 1994.			Page
?	CRC32 695a9a15 MD5 ed224898befb4fb246175e46f9982821 SHA-1 f65b5957b4b21bd16b4aa8a6e93fed944dd7d9ac	256kB		Cartridge (EU)
?	CRC32 90100884 MD5 895e858a9ed0204284fdf247542eb706 SHA-1 14a5d4ea99ee91aec948d62cab56fc1c05cc7c45	256kB		Cartridge (EU)
?	CRC32 30c09f31 MD5 9212dda9031449afffa6903921286bea SHA-1 f9da97db661f8ef7e7af87a83d23100c2fed4fb0	256kB		Cartridge (US)