''Pocahontas'' is a1996

platform game A platformer (also called a platform game, and sometimes a jump 'n' run game) is a subgenre of action game in which the core objective is to move the player character between points in an environment. Platform games are characterized by levels wi ...

based on the 1995 animated film of the same name. The Genesis / Mega Drive version was developed by

Funcom Funcom Oslo AS (formerly Funcom N.V. and Funcom Productions AS) is a Norwegian video game developer and publisher that specializes in online games. It is best known for the massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) titles ''Conan Ex ...

on contract with Disney and was released on January 1, 1996. It was followed by a later version for the

Game Boy The is a handheld game console developed by Nintendo, launched in the Japanese home market on April 21, 1989, followed by North America later that year and other territories from 1990 onwards. Following the success of the Game & Watch single-ga ...

developed by Tiertex Design Studios and released on June 10, 1996, nearly a year after the film's premiere. A

Super Nintendo Entertainment System The Super Nintendo Entertainment System, commonly shortened to Super Nintendo, Super NES or SNES, is a Fourth generation of video game consoles, 16-bit home video game console developed by Nintendo that was released in 1990 in Japan, 1991 in No ...

version of the game was under development, but was canceled due to development being too far behind to coincide with the Genesis release.Pocahontas
- SNES Central

Gameplay

In the game, the player plays as

Pocahontas Pocahontas (, ; born Amonute, also known as Matoaka and Rebecca Rolfe; 1596 – March 1617) was a Native American woman belonging to the Powhatan people, notable for her association with the colonial settlement at Jamestown, Virginia. S ...

and Meeko, switching between the two frequently to overcome obstacles, with the help of Flit as an NPC. Along the way, the player gains various new abilities from various animal spirits by helping them. The game follows the plot of the film, but with many variations in situations and events.

Reception

Disney's ''Pocahontas'' for the Sega Genesis received a mixed, yet generally favorable, reception upon its release. Critics praised the game’s faithful adaptation of the Disney movie’s visuals, noting the clean, vibrant graphics that effectively captured the look and feel of the animated film. ''Electronic Gaming Monthly'' highlighted the game’s use of Disney’s signature cell art style, which was a hallmark of the brand at the time. The game also garnered positive remarks for its incorporation of animal spirits to solve puzzles, a feature that added an engaging, albeit simplistic, layer of strategy. However, criticisms were raised about the game's control mechanics, which some found to be stiff and unresponsive. Andrew Baran; Mark Lefebvre; Mike Desmond; Sushi-X
"Review Crew"
''Electronic Gaming Monthly Issue 080''. March 1996. p. 28. Archived from the original on December 3, 2022. Retrieved December 7, 2024. While ''GamePro'' found the gameplay to be accessible and enjoyable for younger players, it also noted that the game lacked the dynamic energy of other Disney titles like ''Aladdin'', making the experience feel slower and less exciting for more seasoned gamers."Quick Hits"
''GamePro Issue 092 Volume 08 Number 05''. May 1996. p. 72. Archived from the original on May 30, 2013. Retrieved December 7, 2024. The challenge level of ''Pocahontas'' was another point of discussion, with some reviewers from ''Electronic Gaming Monthly'' pointing out that while the game could be addictive during a first play through, its replay value was limited. ''GamePro'' similarly categorized the game as appropriate for beginners, citing its easy puzzles and gentle difficulty curve, which might not satisfy players looking for more complex gameplay. However, the game's combination of environmental exploration, character-switching mechanics, and light puzzle-solving was generally appreciated, offering a moderately engaging experience. Overall, while ''Pocahontas'' might not have achieved the same iconic status as other Disney video game adaptations, its blend of strategy, visuals, and storytelling made it a solid title for younger audiences and Disney fans, even if it lacked the broader appeal and polish of other contemporary action games.

References

External links

* 1996 video games Black Pearl Software games Cancelled Super Nintendo Entertainment System games Disney Interactive Studios games Disney video games Funcom games Game Boy games Pocahontas (franchise) Sega Genesis games Sega video games Side-scrolling platformers Single-player video games THQ games Tiertex Design Studios games Video games about birds Video games about raccoons Video games based on animated films Video games based on Native American mythology Video games based on real people Video games developed in Norway Video games developed in the United Kingdom Video games featuring female protagonists Video games featuring Native American protagonists Video games set in 17th-century Thirteen Colonies Video games set in the 1600s Video games set in Virginia {{platform-videogame-stub