Ducktales
Game by Capcom
Reviewed by Philip "Pocket Squirrel" Wesley
Size: 512KB
Save: NONE
Released: 1989
Works with: All Game Boy units except the Micro.
Quick Opinion: Own

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Opening Snide Remarks: Ducktales was an interesting children's show that was
developed by Jymn Magon using characters created by Carl Barks (and to some
extent: Don Rosa) in an "Adventure Treasure Hunting" format.

I loved this show growing up and now we get into the review!

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Gameplay Description: Ducktales revolves around Uncle Scrooge, a treasure
hunting gazillionare, hunting for five lost treasures. The game features
three difficulty levels which determine how many lives you start with and
how much damage you take from enemies and five "exotic" locales to explore.
Each level revolves around searching a reasonably sized, side scrolling,
platform area in search of a boss character that is guarding the treasure
you are looking for. Along the way, you can find hidden treasures,
character cameos, and items to increase your health and wealth. You can
choose any of the five levels to clear first and once all five are cleared,
you have a final level to navigate.

Uncle Scrooge uses his cane to defeat enemies and "Pogo Hop" to higher
areas. You can not directly hit an enemy with your cane, but you can hit
blocks in the levels into your enemies by pushing against them and hitting
B to launch them swing your cane like a golf club. You can also jump on them
with the "Pogo Hop" to defeat them. Enemies and some blocks regenerate when
you leave an area.

The game features characters from Ducktales like Bubba Duck, Gizmo Duck,
Launchpad McQuack, and so forth inside some levels. They just offer advice,
clear obstacles, or give you various items. Some of the levels involve
searching for an item to use in the level to clear an obstacle.

The level gimmicks are interesting, for an example: The Himalayas level has
ice you slide on and snow that you will get stuck in if you use the Pogo
Jump on it. Transylvania and the African Mines levels have sections with
mine carts in them where you have to duck or avoid obstacles. Transylvania
has teleportation mirrors. The Amazon has vines, The Moon has chains, and
other objects to manipulate by jumping or hitting them.

Each level is timed and you have a life bar that depletes when you are hit
by enemies or certain obstacles. You can refill the life bar by collecting
Ice Cream and other snacks. You can also find a "Magic Coin" that grants
invincibility.

Liked: This is a fun game with a decent amount of challenge and it features
characters I like.

Hated: When you beat a level, you can not go back into it to explore it
further. In fact, it feels like the game could be longer since a reasonably
good player will beat the game with in thirty minutes. There are further
gripes which I will address in the sections below.

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Graphics Description: This game is a port of the NES title of the same name
and because of that, the graphics have been altered slightly to make up for
the lower resolution and lack of color on the Game Boy. Uncle Scrooge is a
decent size and the enemies are location appropriate and interesting looking.
The locations themselves look appropriate and the cameos of characters from
the show look decent as well. The game does not have anything that stands
as being particularly stunning or atrocious.

Liked: Large sprite sizes for Uncle Scrooge, his friends, and his foes. The
areas are distinct from each other and the whole game looks pretty good on
the Game Boy.

Hated: Nothing really.

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Sound/Music Description: The sound effects are appropriate and fit the
action on the screen. The music is where this game stands out, particularly
with the "Moon Theme." The rest of the music is appropriate, reasonably
complex and does a decent job. Most of the music is pretty forgettable and
some of it -like the "Amazon theme"- borders on irritating.

The title screen has an 8 bit version of the television theme and it really
sets the tone for this game.

Liked: That Moon Theme is some high tier good music! The opening theme is
on the title screen and it sounds great.

Hated: But everything else seems to be pretty generic and forgettable. Some
of it borders annoying.

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Play Control/Game Design: The controls are responsive and everything has a
good sense of gravity to it. The real complaint I have with the game is a
severe lack of depth. The only real interaction between Uncle Scrooge and
his friends has to do with various "fetch" quests. Go find a Remote to
summon Gizmoduck and so forth. The levels are designed to branch out but
not very far making them very easy to clear and -once you are done clearing
out the level- there is no incentive to return to it. The only replay value
the game has is through slightly tweaking the difficulty level. It would be
nice to have more to interact with in the game as well as being able to
re-enter levels. The bosses are fairly simple, you just find a way to bounce
on their head a few times to defeat them.

This game feels like there were a lot of good ideas that were not implemented
into the game due to time restrictions. It differs slightly in some areas
from the NES game of the same name. It is a fun title and worth the twenty
to thirty minutes it will take to beat it.

Liked: This is a good game with a few interesting and inventive features...

Hated: ...that are not explored. Sadly.

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Improve: I want larger levels, more interaction with characters and more
places to explore.

RIYL: The Mega Man series and the Metroid series. This is like a "light"
combination of those titles.

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Final Words: Ducktales is worth getting if you are a fan of the television
series or a fan of platform titles, you should pick this one up. Everyone
should play it at least once.

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Score
Gameplay: ***
Graphics: ***
Sound/Music: ***
Play Control/Game Design: ****
Value: ****

Star Total: 51%

Personal Opinion Merit: 20%

Final Score: 71%

Letter Grade: B

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