Welcome to another edition of Playing With Power. The review article that looks at all things Nintendo Entertainment System. When you think of the greatest alliances in video game history, one that regularly comes to mind for any fan of 8 and 16 bit gamer is usually the combination of Capcom and Disney. In an age where licensed gaming was generally hit and miss (and not as horrible as it is currently), it seemed like this pairing could do no wrong. And the game we’re reviewing this week is definitely proof positive of that.
Year of Release: 1989
Publisher: Capcom
Genre: Platformer
By the late 80’s, Disney had their eye on succeeding in the world of syndicated animation. They started first with the Gummi Bears, and while that was a big hit for the company, it paled in comparison to their next endeavor. DuckTales made its television debut on September 18th, 1987. The cartoon, based on the comic books of Carl Barks, chronicled the misadventures of Scrooge McDuck, the richest duck in the world. Along with his nephews, Huey, Dewey, and Louie, along with other major characters, Scrooge would adventure around world for the greatest treasures, to further his lovable greed. The show was a smash hit for Disney, and would have a 100 episode, four season run. It would even get its own movie, DuckTales: Treasure of the Lost Lamp.
DuckTales would be a major success for Disney, and would break the door down for more Disney cartoons to come down the pike, which would culminate in one of the most legendary cartoon blocks of all time, The Disney Afternoon.
Of course, almost anything successful usually ends up with its own video game. Cue Capcom, who had acquired the console rights to most of the Disney properties at the time.They would soon release a DuckTales video game for the NES in September of 1989. The game would continue the success of DuckTales by being one of the best selling NES games of all time. The game would later see a Game Boy port, along with a sequel a few years later.
STORY
Scrooge McDuck sets off once again to collect more of the world’s most valuable treasures to further himself as the richest duck in the world. With the help of his nephews, his pilot Launchpad McQuack, Mrs. Beakley, Webby, and Gyro Gearloose, he heads off on a trek across the world and beyond the stars in order to find his fortune. Can Scrooge Succeed, or will some of his long time rivals try to take him out once and for all?
GAMEPLAY
DuckTales is your standard platformer for the NES. You play as Scrooge McDuck, as he heads from level to level collecting all the treasures of the world. You can move Scrooge with the D-Pad, and make him jump with the A button. Scrooge may be an old duck, but that doesn’t mean he can’t defend himself. Scrooge uses his trusty cane as his primary weapon in the game. Pressing B when next to an object can make Scooge execute a golf swing with his cane, that can smack the object into certain enemies. But the main move you’ll be executing in the game is his patented pogo jump. While jumping, press down+B to have Scrooge bounce on his cane like a pogo stick to hit enemies, or traverse across spiked areas. Holding B will keep Scrooge bouncing for as long as possible.
There are five levels in the game. Each of which you can choose whenever you want from the select screen. There is the Amazon, where Scrooge will contend with gorillas, venus flytraps, bees, and tribal warriors. Next up is Transylvania, which has plenty of skeleton ducks, mummies, and hidden areas galore. African Mines will have you battle slugs, bats, and weird jumping green ducks. There’s also the Himalayas, with snow you can get caught in, disabling your pogo somewhat. You also have rabbits, goats, and hockey playing ducks to contend with. And there’s also the Moon, with aliens, and robot ducks. You’ll have to battle through the space ship to find hidden treasure, and a remote that can activate Gizmoduck.
Speaking of Gizmoduck, you’ll encounter plenty of familiar faces who will help you out along the way. Huey, Dewey, Louie, and Webby will all give you hints and advice. Launchpad can take you back to the stage select area. Gizmoduck will break a wall on the moon that can help you finish the level. And Mrs. Beakley will drop a never ending supply of cakes on you to heal you up.
There are also plenty of enemies from the show to deal with. You’ll face off with the Beagle Boys in most of the stages. You’ll also see bosses like Magica DeSpell, The rolling underground creatures from the episode “Earth Quack”, Dracula Duck, and finally race against Flintheart Glomgold. Each boss takes five hits to defeat, and usually have easy patterns to predict.
There are three difficulties in the game: Easy, Medium, and Hard. They don’t really up the difficulty much to be honest. You start with three lives like most games at the time. There are no continues, and should you get game over, it’s back to the title screen for you. However, the game is pretty easy to play through, so you shouldn’t have too many issues with whatever difficulty you decide to choose.
There are plenty of items to collect in the game. You can collect cakes and ice cream which will recover health (Ice cream refill one point, cakes refill all health). Scrooge dolls will give you an extra life. There’s also an M coin that will give Scrooge invincibility for a short period of time. Plus you can find two extra hit points hidden in certain areas of the game.
But the most important items you’ll have to collect are the diamonds. They’re scattered everywhere throughout the levels, in both obvious places, and hidden areas. Every one collected will add to your total money count. There are also two hidden treasures you’ll have to find as well, which will add big scores to your tally. While this seems like pointless score building, it’s actually very important for the ending you will earn. If you can get both treasures, and a total of 10 million dollars, you will get the best ending the game has to offer.
POWER TIPS
Sometimes finding everything in each level can be pretty tough, especially since you only get once chance to run through each level. But there is a way to collect plenty of treasure early on. Inmost of the levels in the game, you can find Launchpad, who can offer you a lift back to Duckberg. You can choose not to go, but to ensure a better chance at the best ending, it can be beneficial. First off, it takes you back to the select screen, so you can get another chance to rack up diamonds. But, if you have a total sum with a 7 in the ten thousand slot, you can actually trigger a bonus level while heading back to Duckberg. This will take you to a cloud level where you can follow Gyro who drops plenty of diamonds from his ship. You can only do this once per level though, so you can’t abuse this trick.
Another quick tip involves a way to save money in the Amazon. When you get near the end of the level, you’ll have to deal with a giant statue that wants you to spend thirty grand for a platform to reach the vine above. Decline the offer, and move back a bit to get one of the Amazon warriors to chase you. When you’re right below the vine, use a pogo jump on the warrior. This should give you a perfect boost to grab the vine above.
GRAPHICS
The graphics for the game are excellently one. Giving off a true feel of the cartoon, while being very reminiscent of the graphical style of the Mega Man games. Another example of Capcom being on top of their game back in the NES era. Every character looks close enough to their animated counterpart, and the levels all give off that worldly feel. It’s a perfect package.
MUSIC
This is easily one of the greatest video game soundtracks ever. Not just for the NES, but for video games period. Every song is a catchy classic, and fit wonderfully with the levels you traverse. Not to mention an amazingly accurate 8-bit rendition of the DuckTales theme. AKA the theme song that will never leave your head. But of course, the one song in the game that everyone remembers is the moon level, with it’s beautiful and adventurous feel. Yuukichan’s Papa, best known for the Mega Man games, once again deliver one of the most amazing game scores ever, and it really just adds icing to the cake of what is already an excellent video game package.
OVERALL THOUGHTS
DuckTales is one of the greatest games on the Nintendo Entertainment System. Excellent graphics, fantastic and fun gameplay, and an amazing soundtrack. It is a shining example that not every licensed video game is a clunky cash-in. Granted the game is short with a mere six levels, but I think that works in the game’s favor. Being just long enough to enjoy without getting bored, and being just easy enough for younger gamers to get into and beat. This is a must own for any NES or classic gaming collector. It is a treasure that even Scrooge McDuck would hunt for.
RATING: Thumbs Up