Debunking the Difficulty - The Lion King (SNES) 

"2nd level isn't that hard", then proceeds to do some of the most complicated/convoluted platforming in any game with the monkey flipping, backtracking, etc.

The irony of a level with a name that means 'no worries' being one of the hardest levels in the game.

As a young kid I got to the last level and could never figure out how to throw him off. Every few years I RU-vid how to do it, in hopes of feeling the void in my heart.

Additional tips to debunk the difficulty. The ostrich double jump: wait till the ostrich’s beak gets to the blue tree in the background, then double jump. You can skip almost every bad guy and damage boost through almost every level. There are LOTS of full healths. Kid Simba fighting hyenas: let them bite you, use your invincibility frames to have them bight at you again, then jump on them… insta kill without them jumping. Look at speed runs to see what I’m talking about. Level hakuna matata: ALWAY go as far right as you can when going down water slides (there are 2 sections). Hold right as you go down. This will let you skip big chunks of the level. You can skip the floating log part completely and go straight to the log waterfall. The log waterfall: You can climb the waterfall fast and easy. Stick to the middle row of logs that fall in a repeating pattern. You can see Ryu jump straight up a few times to the log above him (that’s the one and only row you can do that in). Stick mostly to that row of logs and it’s easy. The pattern is 1,1,0,1,1,0,1,1,0. Jump to ANY other log for the 0, then jump back the the repeating row and do a straight up jump. The lava level: one of the easiest levels in the game. Just damage boost through EVERYTHING. Don’t stop for anything. There is a full health every 10-20 seconds if you run at full speed. Do slow down to avoid anything. Ryu skipped the 1st checkpoint. Hit the 1st stalagmite not the 2nd one. This will open a path the the CP. Difficulty changes the number of lives and continues. Easy= 8 lives. Normal= 3 lives. Hard= 0 lives. It also changes how many hits the hyenas take to kill. By the time you get to adult Simba, the difficulty makes no difference. The Pumba mini game CAN drop a 1 up… but this has only happened once for me.

2:17 So if you get 100 bugs, Timon starts throwing out 1ups and it ends when you miss a 1 up or you get to 8 lives. I know this because I have accomplished it exactly once.

The dude standing off-screen is really getting all the sweet Lion King strats from Ryu. What a lucky guy. Yes, that's a joke about Ryu looking at the wrong camera for most of the video.

i beat this a few months ago, I game overed on the last level once and still came back through the whole thing again. I was pretty glad I brought it home eventually.

Man this game was nightmare fuel for me as a kid. The death animation of kid simba was so scary for me, his face looks so weird, and the continue screen with rafiki, something about the sprites in the dark background would make me very uneasy. Those things made me get scared of dying in the game, and since the volcano stage had the same music as the continue screen, that stage was terrifying for me. All the stuff trying to kill you, it was nightmare.

14:03 - This was your shot to say "Patience Iago"!

I remember when I was playing this game as a kid. I actually beat this game. With my cousin. We did play on easy, but we did it. I remember all the levels you just played, as well as the nervous break down this game gave me, and my cousin. Lol. Good times.

I played this game as a kid in the hospital when I had to have surgery. The rage I would experience. The nurse would tell me I need a break. 😂

29:25 I believe someone actually managed to talk to the people who worked on this, where they asked them about the difficulty and they apparently actually admitted they did make some hitboxes less forgiving cause some higher up told them they wanted it harder so that it would make money through repeated rentals. Since it was back when they had actual licenses with those stores so they would receive a portion of the rental fee.

"It's simple." Yeah, because you have how to do it laid out in front of you. Imagine being 8 or 9 years old and having to figure it out yourself.

Super solid content. Some things I never realized were revealed like the effectiveness of pouncing on hyenas and scar lol I just slapped them forever. I also didn't know you could roll into the gorilla's coconuts to counter them. Just endured the onslaught and he moves on anyways. Cool content as always. Ever try sunset riders on the snes?

Mind Blown on the stampede level. I remember that's where I got blocked when renting this back in the day.

I love this video because it reinforces everything I have always thought when I hear how hard this game is. It is hard if you're new to it, but there is nothing random about this game whatsoever. Every single thing moves exactly the same way every time you play. So essentially it's just remembering what to do. Nothing is too terribly difficult to pull off. There are still Nintendo games I've played a hundred times I've never beaten (robocop!). This one I mastered at 11 or 12 and used to be able to pull off no damage runs. Although I do remember the last bit being a bit more difficult, but that could just be because it's at the end so not a lot of time to practice

Regarding the monkey puzzle section, according to Louis Castle, the co-founder of Westwood Studios, that section of the game was originally quite short and only required you to roar at a couple of monkeys. Development of the game was nearly done, but when Disney saw it, they asked them to make it more difficult. This is because at the time, Blockbuster were renting games out, and Disney had data that showed that if people got a certain way through a game before having to return it, they were unlikely to go on to buy it. So, Westwood Studios extended that monkey section to make the game harder near the beginning, as that was a relatively quick/easy way to do it that wouldn't eat up a lot more dev time.

Would love to see a Judge Dredd completion. I rented is a thousand times as a kid on snes and couldn't beat it

"Its not that hard": The guy who memorized every enemy location, boss pattern, and who knows cheaty tricks like standing in a particular area of the screen to auto-win a level. "Just despawn the fire"

7:23 "Now you swing at the balls here." Now I can't unsee it. Thanks for ruining my childhood game. 😣

Cool man thanks, i never got past the waterfall myself back in the day lol now i know what it looks like to get past that part XD

Always looking forward to this series!

Well played! I always enjoy these videos!

I love playing the Lion King when I had the Genesis I got hooked on playing The Lion King, and Aladdin. It's easy to beat the game back then when I was 9 lol.

I remember getting stuck at the lava part for years where you have to jump and hit the stalagmite. I couldn't figure it out for the life of me. Eventually I came back as a teenager and BEAT IT! Thanks for the walkthrough Ryu. This series is awesome.

Had this on Genesis and SNES. Got it on my 12 birthday for the Genesis and picked up the SNES version years later. Took a few hours for me to beat it after I got it and until not too long ago I never knew people considered this game difficult.

"...if The Lion King is as bad as its reputation." It's like playing the entire SMB3 in a frog suit :p It's a fun game and super cute :D

I never beat this game as a kid because I didn’t know you had to throw scar off the edge. I did everything else up the end until scar panted at me and was very confused as to why he wouldn’t die and didn’t fight back.

20:14 i recommend dropping the rock that's on the left of your rock to open the left passage way because there's a CHECKPOINT there. For most it's far more useful than the 1up on the right.

These videos are awesome. All of these games should be inducing major rage but the most chill-ass dude ever is playing them. Maybe that's the secret to beating them.

Ryu said at 21:30 there were no checkpoints yet in the stage, but at 20:25 if you knock down the first stalagmite wouldn't you be able to get the checkpoint there?

My first SNES game... loved every bit but the ostrich, the cascade and the 8th level lava cross.... needed ultra intinct to beat it! Thanks for the video from Italy

@ryu In the volcano level there is another checkpoint if you drop the left stalactite instead of the right one, and the bats are dispatched easier if you hit the X button, Simba does a double slash on his hind legs, I had no idea you could roll into the oranges to hit the monkey, I always waited till he was done throwing and exposed his back to jump on, great videos, love your content and this series

I hardmoded Hakuna Matata as a kid and just jumped over all the gorilla's coconuts until he slapped the ground in anger. I didn't know you could roll into the coconuts until YEARS after the fact, long after I moved out of the house. It also took me a few years to pass that waterfall. The center logs take turns being just close enough to eachother for an easy jump up.

I beat this game multiple times as a kid. Once you get past the I want to be king part it is easier. It is still way more difficult than you think the game would be, but being able to tell where you can jump and how took so many attempts.

I got this game for my 9th or 10th birthday. Took forever to beat it but I eventually did it. That Hakuna Matata level was the bane of my existence back then!

Oh yeah, the stampede level. This game was so cool back in the day. I didn't know all of these free strats though Kind of glad though. I like the challenge

Lion King reminds me of Aladdin. I think you should also do Aladdin for the snes. Never beat it as a kid, maybe I can now.

I played this when I was 6 and my sister was 4 and like a week ago she randomly said “Do you remember that lion king game with those stupid monkeys?” Haha we never passed that level.

Wow, this game is pure childhood memory! This was the first game I had on my Super Nintendo that I got for my ninth birthday. And I spent soooo much time with it. But of course, like all children I knew who had his game I was never able to beat it. It took me literally months to get through the second level. After this, it took me a long time to get through the stampede. The Hakuna Matata Level was the one I couldn't finish as a child. I remember myself sitting in front of the TV together with a friend. And we never, NEVER completed this level. Always failed the waterfall part. As a young adult I found my way back to this game and finally was able to clear Hakuna Matata and later the whole game. I had big problems with Be prepared, but I found out, that for me it is the easiest way to just run through. I don't fight and just run without stopping. I get a lot of damage, but there are so many Health Bugs, that the damage will be healed up before the next part of the level. Works for me :-D

Second level on the hippos - you don't need to go for the tails, there is a hitbox on a nostril and an ear of a hippo, so just go through the top. To get the continue you just hop off the giraffe when he raises head.

I actually did beat this game when I was younger! I was stumped for a bit in the second level, but eventually I got it after doing random stuff, and somehow I memorized and optimized it little by little, figuring out which monkeys were actually needed to progress. The cave level is indeed the worst, and I couldn't help remembering how similar it was to Alladin's cave level, it even had the same annoying bat enemy to deal with. I still believe one just took the assets from the other, the background, the lava spewing rock, the lava drops from the ceiling, the platform your ride on are all incredibly similar! The final fight with Scar took me some tries, until I eventually figured out you just have to throw him in the pit, then it's incredibly easy, you can do it in seconds by going near the edge and judo throwing him when he jumps at you :D

I think the only real issue is that this is an old-school game that doesn't tell you about some of the game mechanics like rolling to flip the hedgehogs and how you mash attack while jumping on an enemy as adult Simba to pummel your enemies. I'm sure you press two buttons to throw scar too if memory serves. I didn't even know you could do the roll thing to repel the ape's rocks. I always just jumped on him after he throws his attack and he gets hurt that way.

I never knew you could roll into the ape's projectile. I thought you had to wait and dodge and then jump on him when he pounds the ground

Thank you for the video. I was always able to get to the final battle with Scar but could never beat him. A friend of mine actually learned a trick, not sure if it's really well known. But in the first level you get the health extender, and the roar meter extender. You'll have to make sure you get the continue in the hidden area as well. You then purposely use up all your lives. Continue the game. When you start back up, you'll see that you have the extended health meter. Go back through grabbing the extenders and the continue. Then purposely die. It takes 7 or 8 times, but you'll have a massive energy bar and road meter.

1:53 The golden cockroach shield thingy filled up your life.

20:00 if you knock down the left stalactite you will fall down a different area with a check point.

As a child, this was my world! Everyday turned on the PC and played this. Got stuck in lv 6 (hakuna matata) at the waterfalls, never saw simba grew up. Then found my way up, grew up into an adult simba, walked my way through, couldn't defeat scar then. Oh, the memory :")

I never understood how people disliked that game. I LOVED the Lion King. Its one of the best Games I have played on SNES and Genesis alike. The Music is awesome, it feels great to play young and later grown up Simba etc. - And its a short game, you can just sit down and finish it and feel good. Its awesome!

14:00 Can't believe you missed the chance to say the strategy is: Hakuna Matata

I remember beating this as a kid without too much difficulty, but as an adult I can't get past the ostrich run for the life of me. That double jump trips me up no matter what I do.

One of my all time favorite as a kid! Loved the waterfall level

I saw more dead simba screens than I was prepared to see as a kid. Fun for the whole family 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦

on the second level when you get to the "hard" part you can avoid the tails and get up high by grabbing the hippo's nostril. Also if the pig is in front of the tree it is a single jump if it is after double.

I literally just beat the game this morning had to come here for couple pointers thanks.❤

Beat this game when I was in high school. Spent an entire summer vacation figuring out how to beat the final boss. LOL

I'm suprised to discover I actually got to the last boss as a kid, but sadly I didn't know I had to throw Scar over the edge so I never finish the game...

I loved this game but i never was able to climb that damn waterfall, i didn't have enough patience. Now that i know how it works many years later, maybe i'd finally be able to climb it. Thanks for the tips, Ryu.

saw a speed run of this game and i'm still astounded

I first played this on DOS. It’s such a nostalgia bump for me. I remember trying to brute force level 2, and I’m not sure I ever actually beat it legit.

It should be noted he didn't kill Scar by chucking him off the Cliff.😂😂It was actually the hyenas that ended him.

I do remember level 2 being challenging, but I loved it. I think that was my favorite part of the game. I was a baby though so maybe I'm wrong ;p

I played this on sega genesis and I always reached Be Prepared stage but could never beat it. Years later I decided to tie up loose ends and beat it. Got that much needed closure.

2nd level is a hard as hell learning curve. The Lion King is about memory. Once you have the game down to a science. It's really a fast play through, but going in with no experience. You figure it out. Kinda like the super star wars games. Hard as hell but you learn to play the game by it's rules. We put X amount of time in and see Y amount of result. If you increase X by enough, Y will result in finished games. On the other hand, discussing difficulties of video games tends to head to the absurd. Kinda like spicy, cold, hot, pain, etc... You can't exactly hammer more than an ish in many cases.

Both the Mini games, you can randomly find 1ups, or continues. They are however, incredibly rare.

Also in the gorilla boss u don't have to roll the barrels back u can just jump over them and soon as he's gonna slam jump on top. 2nd there Is a checkpoint if you go down the first skelectite

Today I learned (after loving this game so much) that you can roll into the gorilla's boulders in Hakuna Matata level. Nice!

you kind of remind me of bootsy from cinemasacre i love the short segment of bootsy beats i'm quite glad i found your videos

15:11 I didn't know about the roll, but it seems not very efficient in the second half. On the Sega version you simply jump over the nuts until he tries something different and you jump on his back, and you won't take damage.

my fav video games from childhood!

A game I could never beat but always wanted to was Kiki KaiKai, the predecessor to Pocky and Rocky. I have also really been into Cobra Triangle since you covered it and you already know how insane that game is.

beat this game as a kid, it is very fun. still have it

I made it to the end.. and had no clue how to beat scar bc I never used the “throw” the entire game. Had to beat it again and I smashed buttons in anger. Finally realized i needed to throw him off the edge.

4:30 you can line yourself up to that hippos ear and jump straight up to grab that platform skipping the rhino tails

I saw the lion king thumbnail and was instantly reminded of that hippo level, that usually where me and my brother stopped playing.

This was one of my Classics as a kid. I actually love The Lion King movie out of all the Disney movies. I remember me and my friend used to always be able to get to the last level to where the lava is, but we would always get stuck because we never knew what the fuck to do. Turns out you had to jump and swipe at that stupid spike in order to ride it across the lava but we never knew that and they didn't have the internet back then, well I mean they did but it really wasn't what it is today I think it was like Windows 94 or some shit like that LOL

Yeh man, nostalgia epidemic! Ur my new, not so AVGN , N I only cought on to that a few years back! THANKS man for the Time Warp!

Had the game on Sega as a kid. Never got past the Hakuna Matata stage.

I remember playing this game so much as a kid. My first real road block was the waterfall. Nothing before that was too difficult. Those damn logs though.

This series is so sick dude. Loving it!

Omg this video game was INSANELY difficult! Same with Aladdin!! Never beat it to this day SMH…

My first SNES game back in the 90's was Drakkhen. That was a hard game. My second game I got become my all time favorite. Final Fantasy II(FFIV)

When I was a kid I managed to get to the very last battle with scar but I had no idea how to throw him off a cliff so I never beat it lol.

I played this game so much. I beat the game without the cheat code. I think the only level I had a lot of issues with was the jungle. Then my cousin told me the BARRY code and my life wasnt the same after that XD

Like your vibe dude. Subbed!

You say it isn't hard, but as a 5 year old, I've only gotten to Scar and never knew the combo to finish the game lol.

The "bug" run gives you plenty of stuff.. continues bugs, etc... You just don't die enough to realize ;)

Hakuna Matata stage was the hardest in my opinion. But I beat this whole game at 7yrs old

"Coool" is a wicked shot of nostalgia. . . My oh my

Would love to see you play Earthworm Jim. Used to play it on Super Nintendo

Love this series Ryu. There is a Sega game that I played as a kid and never could beat. I don't see many people talking about this game, and I would love to see you tackle it one day. It's called Grenada and it's a tank game with powerups. It's fun but gets difficult in later stages and lives are not very plentiful. I think I rage quit after getting a game over and being returned to the start haha.

nah i found this game hard when i was a kid. And i was a kid that played and had beaten a lot of hard games. This game was still hard for me in my teens lol. Good game

Ryu, you are an amazing platformer, but for most that many consecutive successful jumps on that log section is mind boggling

Debunked? You just confirmed the insanity that this game is! :P

Let's see you try debunk a traditional roguelike, such as NetHack or Ancient Domains of Mystery.

The only thing that ever gave me a problem with this game as a kid was just the logs, outside of that it wasn't difficult.

Ryu’s the Bob Ross of video games. “Just take your time, you’re in no rush.”

Great game!!!! i remember playing it on PC.

Now that you got into SNES territory, here's a suggestion for debunking: the Super Star Wars trilogy of games.

I think constantly repeating “it’s so simple” and “it’s not hard” is just making people feel bad :P