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Disney’s Pocahontas Game Review

Disney’s Pocahontas is a 1996 platform video game published by Disney Interactive for Sega Genesis. It’s a pretty good, underappreciated Disney game adaptation.

‘Pocahontas’ is one of those underrated Disney movies that is flawed, but so admirable in what it does right that it surely needs more love. And the same would ultimately happen to its gaming adaptation as I found this game truly impressive in the areas where it excels at, but obviously problematic in some other aspects.

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First off, the graphics. Wow, does this game look amazing. It’s so faithful to the source material, in fact, that the color palette is exactly the same, the character designs are faithful, and simply the smooth, polished feel to it is really impressive for the year of 1996. The world building and level designs left a lot to be desired, but at least the game is sprinkled with many great details such as superb colors, gloriously animated action scenes and an almost painterly quality to the forest which very much felt alive in its immediate surroundings.

The score is repetitive for sure and the sound effects needed more variety, but at least the game includes all of those great songs from the original in its cues. I particularly liked Just Around the Riverbend in this instance. But again, the game needed more versatile level designs as most felt too repetitive and easy.

Another problem here is the game’s very short length as it can be beaten in an hour or so, if the player knows what he/she is doing of course. That length is a real hurdle when it comes to its repeat value, though I have personally replayed it countless times by now. The bigger problem has to be the difficulty level which is too low. The game is obviously intended for children as the puzzles can be quite easy and the risk of death is all too rare.

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But let’s finally talk about the gameplay. Disney’s Pocahontas in my opinion offers a very unique gameplay that needs more love how interesting and different it is. Instead of high-octane action that define the games of its period, this one is all about adventure and puzzles while still being set in my beloved platformer genre.

Pocahontas herself can only go so far without the use of her friend Meeko the raccoon. He is greatly utilized here as he is a valuable co-op asset in a way, and I loved that you as a player have to help them both come to the end of the level. That was superbly utilized for sure.

Even better is the use of the spirits. I absolutely loved those animal spirits and how they gave her running, jumping, swimming and scaring off the settlers abilities, all very important to use when the right times would present themselves. The puzzles are easy, but mostly very interesting with the boulder pushing and jumping on branches being the highlights. My personal favorite level is the last one where time is of the essence.

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Thus, the game became sort of a spiritual successor to the original film and a perfect accompaniment as it utilizes a no-violence approach at gaming and emphasizing pacifism and the Native American ideas such as respect for all living things. Couple that with many immediate touches that pay honor to the movie and you’ve got one hell of a faithful adaptation. I just wish the levels were more numerous, though those that we got are admittedly quite long.

Disney’s Pocahontas is admittedly very easy and way too short. But other than those hurdles, this game is a beautiful adaptation of its source material that benefits from terrific graphics, many great cartoony touches, and a terrific, unique gameplay that utilizes adventure and puzzles remarkably well.