Duck Tales
REDISCOVER RETRO GAMING - CLASSIC 8-BIT NINTENDO NES
NINTENDO NES
Game Title:Duck Tales
System:Nintendo NES
Players:1 Player
Genre:Action/Platform
Developer(s):Capcom
Release Date(s):1984 - JAP
1990 - US |
Disney's Duck Tales is an action platformer video game developed by Capcom and based on the Disney animated TV series of the same name. It was first released in North America for the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1989.
The story involves Scrooge McDuck traveling around the globe collecting treasure and outwitting his rival Flintheart Glomgold to become the world's richest duck. The game sees you play the role of Scrouge McDuck as he travels around the world in search of five treasures to further increase his fortune. Scrooge is able to attack enemies and get around using his cane. On the ground, he can swing his cane to attack enemies and break open or throw certain objects. While jumping, Scrooge can bounce on his cane like a pogo stick to attack enemies from above. This also allows him to reach higher areas, as well as bounce across hazardous areas that would hurt him on foot.
Along the way, Scrooge can find various diamonds, found in treasure chests or appearing in certain areas, to increase his fortune and ice cream that can restore his health. Scrooge will also encounter various characters from the series who have various roles, such as providing hints, offering up items and opening up new areas. Five levels are available in DuckTales: African Mines, The Amazon, The Himalayas, Transylvania and The Moon. You can visit the levels in any order, and can revisit them in order to access new areas unlocked after collecting certain items. Each level culminates in a boss battle that you must defeat to retrieve that level's treasure. There are also two secret treasures hidden within some of the levels. When all five main treasures are collected, you return to Transylvania for the final boss fight. Upon completing the game, you can receive one of three endings based on your performance: a regular ending for simply clearing the game, a great ending for clearing the game with both hidden treasures and at least $10,000,000, and a not so good ending for clearing the game with $0. The graphics are excellent, bright and colourful, similar to other Capcom titles of the time. A true testament to this is that the game still looks good enough to be entirely playable hiccup-free all these years since its release. These aren't the most advanced graphics the NES is capable of, but they don't have to be; if the goal was to evoke the feeling of watching an episode of the TV show, Capcom succeeded. It's in 8-bit form, but it's the Ducktales we all know and love. The music is wonderful, and each stage has its own track that subtly adds to the experience. The score of the Moon level is futuristic, the Amazon is upbeat and adventurous, and Transylvania is creepy and haunting. That of the Mines stage is fairly uninspired, but it's the exception in an excellent track list. All of this is beside the trademark theme song from the show that's played at the title screen, and it's just as fun to hear in an NES game as it is from the TV show. And the Verdict is...
The gameplay is unique and extremely fun, the presentation is excellent, and the characters you know and love are intact. The non-linear exploration and an alternate ending will have you coming back for more, if you are a fan of the old cartoon or not. The only negatives of the game are, its easy boss battles and relatively short game length, although you will no doubt play the levels again and again. Great game!. |