Review: Ducktales
At a Glance
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How to Save and Pause:Like most early NES games, there isn't a built-in way to stop and resume it later. However, re-releases like the Disney Afternoon Collection offer the ability to save whenever you want using what's known as a save state. On the other hand, to pause the game, just press START during the action. Time needed per session:This game was made during the era when you were expected to play through it in one go. Doing that today will probably take about an hour.
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Does this game pose issues for Christian players?
 | No - this is a great game for Christians At most, you have some levels with a Halloweenish theme. Otherwise, it's very hard to say this is violent enough to worry about. |
Screenshots
Screenshots are from the Disney Afternoon Collection
Game Overview
For many people who grew up in the late 1980s, seeing DuckTales on their TV and their NES is a cherished childhood memory. I didn't play this game growing up, but I can see the appeal - it's exactly the sort of game you'd see during that sweet spot in history where video games were trying to bring "arcade adventures" into the home and hadn't really adapted to their new audience. The manual even describes everything with the same dispassionate manner that was commonplace in at the time.
The simplest example of this is how it describes the player "controlling" Scrooge McDuck. These days, players are expected to play a role or create their own character in an immersive experience; back then, you were just the pilot directing the character. It's also taken as a matter of fact that Scrooge is going on an adventure to collect five lost treasures. No more explanation is given, nor was one really expected.
But enough about the manual and the history of gaming. Let's focus on what this game offers, starting with the level select screen. Capcom loved to give players the ability to choose which levels they wanted to play next, and DuckTales follows in that tradition, as you're given the option to play any of the five levels in any order - almost. The one exception is Africa, which can only be accessed if you've found the mine key in the Transylvania stage.
Once you've flown off to a location, you'll take control of Scrooge McDuck and start exploring. But the controls aren't quite what you're going to expect. Scrooge can jump around just fine, but he can't safely land on an enemy without you holding down and B at the same time. This tells him to use his cane like a pogo stick, and that's what protects him and defeats most enemies. You can also have him walk up to certain rocks or objects, then hit B to whack them like he's using his cane as a golf club.
If you're able to find all five treasures, you'll be taken to Transylvania again for the final showdown with the mysterious Dracula Duck - which is probably the least exciting part of the game, if I'm being honest.
Overall, Capcom did a fantastic job of making these digital Disney characters look like their animated counterparts (which was no mean feat given the NES' limitations), so if you're interested in learning who everybody is, I'd suggest binge watching the 1980s DuckTales series before playing this game.
By the by, there was a remake of this game released in 2013, but it's surprisingly buggy and feels less like an attempt to bring back a classic and more like an attempt at digital grave robbing. Don't bother with the remake - come play the original instead!
The simplest example of this is how it describes the player "controlling" Scrooge McDuck. These days, players are expected to play a role or create their own character in an immersive experience; back then, you were just the pilot directing the character. It's also taken as a matter of fact that Scrooge is going on an adventure to collect five lost treasures. No more explanation is given, nor was one really expected.
But enough about the manual and the history of gaming. Let's focus on what this game offers, starting with the level select screen. Capcom loved to give players the ability to choose which levels they wanted to play next, and DuckTales follows in that tradition, as you're given the option to play any of the five levels in any order - almost. The one exception is Africa, which can only be accessed if you've found the mine key in the Transylvania stage.
Once you've flown off to a location, you'll take control of Scrooge McDuck and start exploring. But the controls aren't quite what you're going to expect. Scrooge can jump around just fine, but he can't safely land on an enemy without you holding down and B at the same time. This tells him to use his cane like a pogo stick, and that's what protects him and defeats most enemies. You can also have him walk up to certain rocks or objects, then hit B to whack them like he's using his cane as a golf club.
If you're able to find all five treasures, you'll be taken to Transylvania again for the final showdown with the mysterious Dracula Duck - which is probably the least exciting part of the game, if I'm being honest.
Overall, Capcom did a fantastic job of making these digital Disney characters look like their animated counterparts (which was no mean feat given the NES' limitations), so if you're interested in learning who everybody is, I'd suggest binge watching the 1980s DuckTales series before playing this game.
By the by, there was a remake of this game released in 2013, but it's surprisingly buggy and feels less like an attempt to bring back a classic and more like an attempt at digital grave robbing. Don't bother with the remake - come play the original instead!
Points of Interest
Many cameos from the series
Most of the expected characters like Scrooge's nephews, Launchpad, and Gizmoduck are present as NPCs, while the series' recurring villains like Magica De Spell appear as a boss Scrooge needs to battle. There are also some unexpected cameos, like the King of the Terra-Firmians.
Hidden surprises
While the primary goal of the game is to acquire the lost treasure from each level, there are also some hidden surprises like additional treasures or permanent powerups hidden out of the way in some levels.
A bit short
There are really only six levels (the five you can select from and the final level). This was reasonable at the time, because players were expected to play through the entire game in one sitting. Today, it's good for an afternoon but that's about it.
Concerns and Issues
Mild violence
Violence is limited to knocking objects like barrels or rocks into enemies or bouncing off them with Scrooge's cane. This is pretty mild and easily dismissed. Likewise, enemies don't really hurt Scrooge in a meaningful way, and whenever someone is defeated, they just fall off the screen.
If we're being honest, the 1987 cartoon series this game is based on is more violent.
If we're being honest, the 1987 cartoon series this game is based on is more violent.
Magical references
In addition to some fantasy monsters (like the mummies and ghosts in the Transylvania section), you have Magica De Spell fighting Scrooge with her magic and the final boss of the game - a vampire character known as Count Dracula Duck.
Some of these characters are more disturbing than others, but on the whole, it's just a different coat of paint.
Some of these characters are more disturbing than others, but on the whole, it's just a different coat of paint.