Retro Game: Disney's DuckTales

Overview

Disney's DuckTales is a legendary action-platformer that lets players step into the spats of the world's richest duck, Scrooge McDuck. On a quest to increase his fortune, Scrooge embarks on a globetrotting adventure to find five legendary treasures. Armed with his trusty cane, he must bounce his way through exotic locations, from the Amazon rainforest to the surface of the moon, all while facing down classic villains like the Beagle Boys and Magica De Spell.

Background

Developed by the masters at Capcom and released for the NES in 1989, DuckTales hails from the golden era of licensed Disney video games. It was created by a core team of developers who also worked on the iconic Mega Man series, and their design pedigree is evident throughout the game. DuckTales was a massive critical and commercial success, praised for its tight controls, non-linear level design, and one of the most memorable chiptune soundtracks of all time. It is widely regarded as one of the best platformers on the entire NES library.

Gameplay

The gameplay in DuckTales is a masterclass in 8-bit platforming. The most iconic mechanic is Scrooge's cane. While it can be used to swing at and break open chests, its primary function is as a pogo stick. By pressing down and the jump button while in mid-air, Scrooge can bounce on the ground, on enemies, and across hazardous terrain. This pogo jump is essential for both combat and exploration. The game features a non-linear structure, allowing players to choose the order in which they tackle the five main stages: The African Mines, The Amazon, The Himalayas, Transylvania, and The Moon. The ultimate goal is to collect treasure, find hidden gems to increase Scrooge's wealth, and defeat the boss of each level to claim a legendary artifact.