Before “cross-platform” became the standard, getting a game on multiple systems was exciting — and often confusing. During the 8-bit and 16-bit eras, a “multi-platform release” rarely meant the same experience. Hardware differences, unique development teams, and creative choices often turned a single title into several very different games.
Take Aladdin for example. The Mega Drive version by Sega was fast, smooth, and action-packed, while the SNES version by Capcom delivered tighter platforming and gorgeous animations. If you grew up with only one version, going back and trying the other is like discovering a completely different game built from the same concept.
The same is true for Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. On the SNES, it was a colorful side-scrolling beat ‘em up with co-op play. On the Mega Drive, it shifted into a one-on-one fighting game. And the Game Boy version? A simplified platformer that distilled the experience down to its basics. One franchise, three entirely different approaches — and a perfect example of how your childhood experience depended on the system you owned.
This trend showed up everywhere. Mortal Kombat and Street Fighter II hit nearly every platform imaginable, but each version was unique. The Mega Drive and SNES ports brought the arcade experience home, while the Game Boy and Master System versions were stripped-down, quirky reinterpretations. Even Jurassic Park offered two distinct experiences: an exploration-heavy, atmospheric adventure on SNES, and a faster, action-oriented game on the Mega Drive.
Other classics followed the same pattern. The Lion King played similarly across platforms but had noticeable changes in level layouts and music. NBA Jam felt slightly different on SNES and Mega Drive, from sound quality to animation timing. And Micro Machines adapted brilliantly to each system, from the NES to the Game Gear, turning the same core concept into a fresh experience every time.
That’s the beauty of the 8-bit and 16-bit eras. Playing a game on one platform didn’t mean you had “seen it all.” Revisiting the same title on a different system could feel like discovering a whole new game. Today’s ports are nearly identical across platforms, but back then, every version had its own personality, its own quirks, and its own magic.
So next time you boot up your MiSTer or Analogue Pocket, try the version you never played as a kid. You might be surprised at just how different — and how fun — that alternate take really is.
I much prefer the SNES version of Aladdin, the music and gameplay is much better, the Megadrive version is good but so different.
I do too, I grew up with the SNES version but playing the Mega Drive version years later was a fun experience.