The Lion King: Simba's Mighty Adventure is a platformer video game based on Walt Disney Pictures′ animated film The Lion King. It was developed in a collaboration between Torus Games and Paradox Development, and published by Activision. It was released for Game Boy Color and PlayStation in December 2000. Unlike the previous The Lion King video game, it adhered more closely to the events in the film and the storyline carried on into The Lion King II: Simba's Pride, with Simba having to battle his evil uncle Scar, rescue his daughter Kiara (the protagonist from The Lion King II: Simba's Pride), and finally battle Zira. This game was the only console-based platform game to involve The Lion King II: Simba's Pride. All other games based on the title were educational or puzzle games and were released on the PC.

Gameplay

The game's gameplay varied between the two consoles.

Game Boy Color

The game is mostly a side-scrolling platform game with occasional levels where the camera is top-down. The gameplay is very similar to the first The Lion King video game, in which the player takes control of Simba and must leap and run between platforms while fighting enemies and avoiding pitfalls. During levels Simba can collect pawprint-shaped tokens which add to the overall score. The game supports the Game Link Cable accessory.

PlayStation

Due to the PlayStation console's 3D graphics capabilities the gameplay became slightly more varied. Simba's capabilities are identical to the first The Lion King video game in which he can roar, leap, roll and run.

Graphics and sound

Game Boy Color

In the Game Boy Color version of the game there was only one piece of music used on every level. Some of the animation for both adult Simba and cub Simba was recycled from the previous The Lion King video game.

PlayStation

In the PlayStation version, voices, music and sound effects from the film were used. Clips from the films are placed between levels although many of the lines were redubbed by other Lion King-related actors, including but not limited to Cam Clarke, Jim Cummings, and Kevin Schon.

Reception

Game Boy Color

Nintendo Power gave a positive review, praising the level design but also pointing out that certain jumps may necessitate overly precise execution. Jeuxvideo.com liked the graphics and controls but called the music repetitive. Gamekult praised the graphics, animation, and the level design. They criticized the repetitive music and felt the game was too short.

PlayStation

IGN wrote: "The game's biggest problem is that the control is very sluggish and unresponsive [...]" Jeuxvideo.com expressed disappointment in the PlayStation version after the excellent Game Boy Color version. The graphics were deemed average and the controls awful. AllGame gave a positive review saying: "Nice graphics and good control are its strengths, while ordinary gameplay and some perspective problems are its drawbacks." Gamezilla summarized: "It isn't a terrible game to purchase, but you should probably buy it only if it is on sale". 4Players compared the game unfavorably to Crash Bandicoot and Rayman.