Bless me bagpipes.
Overview
As you know, Scrooge McDuck is the wealthiest cartoon duck in the world. (He’s Uncle Donald’s penny-pinching uncle.) Scrooge has recently learned that five fabulous lost treasures can be recov ered if he searches in the right spots, so he’s off on a quest! His nephews and their friends will help him explore the five areas in which the treasures are hidden (the Amazon, Transylvania, Africa, the Himalayas, and the moon).Scrooge doesn’t have fancy weapons to protect himself. All he has is his cane, which he can use to whack objects. If he tries hard, he can also bounce with it, using it like a pogo stick.The object of DuckTales is to retrieve the five treasures and ac cumulate as much wealth as possible. Each treasure is guarded by a giant creature. Scrooge begins the game with three lives and three blocks in his lifeline. One life is lost each time his lifeline is depleted, each time he takes a serious fall, or when the time clock runs out. The game ends when all lives are lost or when Scrooge gets all the treasures.
DuckTales allows you to tackle the areas in any order you wish. Depending on the child’s coordination, age, or mood at the mo ment, there are three difficulty levels at which the game can be set. Like the Super Mario Bros. games, DuckTales has scads of hidden items and little tricks for going from one area to another. None of the tricks is so difficult that a child can’t figure it out with a little experimentation. Among the many objects Scrooge can find are diamonds (add to his wealth), Scrooge dolls (add extra lives), cake and ice cream (restore his health), and magic coins (make him invulnerable).
Graphics 10/10
The designers did an excellent job with the characters in Ducktales. Everyone looks just as they do on TV and in the comic books! THe background are also as sharp and detailed as in many of the best NES games
Gameplay/Controls 10/10
DuckTales challenges kids on two levels. First, it takes good reflexes and timing to make the correct movements. Although easy, the pogo jump takes practice before it can be done automatically. Second, the game is filled with hidden items. It requires experi mentation and a willingness to explore to find many of the objects and treasures.
Sound/Music 10/10
Till this day. The BGM to the Amazon and the Moon are stuck in my head.
Replay Value 10/10
DuckTales is clearly the best children’s arcade/adventure game of the year. The simple controls, hidden objects, secrets, and arcade action make it interesting and challenging. And violence is down played. The object is for Scrooge to evade or defeat the creatures he meets, not kill them.
Overall 9/10
I think I've already explained all there is to know in the other categories. This game is totally flawless.
- By Tora Kouhi
