User:Elhector/dt
| DuckTales | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Developer(s) | Capcom |
| Publisher(s) | Capcom |
| Designer(s) | Tokuro Fujiwara (producer) |
| Platform(s) | NES, Game Boy |
| Release | NES version
Game Boy version |
| Genre(s) | Platformer |
| Mode(s) | Single player |
DuckTales is a video game based on the Disney animated TV series of the same name. It was first released in the United States for the Nintendo Entertainment System by Capcom in 1989. In this game, Scrooge McDuck has to travel around the world and collect treasures in order to become the world's richest duck. The game was later ported to Game Boy. A completely different game was also released as DuckTales for a variety of personal computers in the early 1990s; that game is properly known as DuckTales: The Quest for Gold.
DuckTales is often a subject of NES-related nostalgia, and was generally popular. The game provides a good example of the work produced by Capcom in the late 1980s and early 1990s, along with such titles as those in the Mega Man franchise. Duck Tales has much in common with the Mega Man games: bright and colorful graphics, tight play control with unique gameplay dynamics (such as using Scrooge's cane as a weapon, tool, and pogo stick), and non-linear gameplay.[1]
Story
[edit]Uncle Scrooge is a world class millionaire and a lover of adventure. His goal this time is to obtain the five lost treasures that were scattered throughout the world. He is off on his adventure with the help of Huey, Dewey, Louie and Webby. They will travel with him through the jungles of the Amazon, the snow topped peaks of the Himalayas, the haunted house in Transylvania, the subterranean mines of Africa, and to the surface of the Moon. How many of the lost treasures will you be able to find?
Characters
[edit]The main character of the game is Scrooge McDuck. The player controls Scrooge McDuck throughout the entire game. Scrooge McDuck and jump and the player can use his cain as a weapon to defeat enemies, a pogo stick to jump higher, and to hit objects within the game. There is also a wide variety of helpful non player characters and enemy characters.
Helpful characters
[edit]- Huey, Dewey, Louie, and Webby - They give Scrooge messages.
- Mrs. Bentina Beakly - She gives Scrooge some ice cream cones to restore his health.
- Launchpad McQuack - He flies Scrooge from the Duckburg HQ to the various lands in the game. Launchpad can also be found in four of the five lands, so Scrooge can fly back to Duckburg to bank some of the money earned.
- Gyro Gearloose - Sometimes, Gyro shows up after Launchpad is found and Scrooge can play through a bonus area in the clouds.
- Bubba the Caveduck - He gives Scrooge an extra hit point in the Himalayas.
- Gizmo Duck - He blasts through a wall for Scrooge if Scrooge has the remote control.
Enemy characters
[edit]- Beagle Boys - They blend in with other small time Enemy Characters to stop Scrooge from finding the treasures. If they hit Scrooge on the Moon level they will steal his money.
- Magica De Spell - She's the boss of Transylvania.
- Flintheart Glomgold - He appears at the end to try to beat Scrooge to the treasure.
- Terra-Firmian King - boss in the African mines.
- Kronks - Enemies that appear on the moon level.
Gameplay
[edit]DuckTales is made up of 5 levels. The levels can be played in any order from the level select screen. There is a boss at the end of each level that guards the treasure that Scrooge McDuck needs to collect in order to complete the level. Upon finishing all five, the player is directed back to Transylvania for the final boss fight. Ducktales contains some non-linear gameplay in that the player will often times have to return to some levels in order to get items that unlock parts of other levels.
Levels
[edit]- The Amazon – Scrooge makes his way through light forest and then climbs ropes to enter a temple, where the boss is found.
- Transylvania – A mazelike level set in a haunted mansion.
- African Mines – A sprawling system of underground catacombs.
- The Himalayas – Snowy surface trails give way to an underground ice cave. After Scrooge makes his way up and out of the cave, a series of floating ice platforms leads to the boss.
- The Moon – A huge alien spaceship hovers above the moon. Scrooge makes his way to its entrance, solves some basic puzzles inside, then descends to the surface once again and finds the boss underground.
Hidden Treasurers
There are 2 hidden treasures in addition to each of the treasures that are collected at the end of each level. These consist of a golden ring found in the African Mines level and a golden mirror that is hidden in the Moon level. Each Hidden Treasure is worth $1,000,000. [2]
Alternate Ending
Also, the NES version of Ducktales contains an alternate ending. If one finishes the game with at least $10,000,000 and has found both hidden treasures in the game the alternate ending is shown. The alternate ending consists of the same newspaper at the end of the game except the picture is of Scrooge McDuck sitting on a large pile of money with a crown on his head. [3]
Development
[edit]Ducktales was developed and publised by Capcom.
There were many differences between the beta version of the game and the final release. Many of these differences were seen in the 1990 book Consumer Guide: Hot Tips for the Coolest Nintendo Games. The levels went by different names as follows: Jungle, Ghost House, Underground, Snow Mountain, and Moon Surface. Hamburgers were featured as third powerup.[4] The coffins in the Ghost House had crosses etched on them instead of R.I.P. initials.[4] The music for the game differed on two parts. First, the Moon music had a much slower tempo, and the Ghost House had a completely different track altogether. Also GizmoDuck went by his Japanese name "RoboDuck".
DuckTales was also known as La Bande à Picsou in the French NES version, after the popular TV program of the same name (the French version of the DuckTales cartoon). The Japanese Famicom release of the game was titled Wanpaku Duck Yume Bouken (literally "Naughty Ducks' Dream Adventure"). The Japanese version of the game also did not feature any of the censorship present in the United States release of the game.
DuckTales was later ported to the original Game Boy. That version features the same gameplay, music and levels, though due to the difference in technology, the sound and graphics are different. The layouts of the levels were also changed slightly, due to the lower screen resolution.
Sequels and alternate versions
[edit]A sequel, DuckTales 2, followed in 1993. However, it didn't match the success of its predecessor or the popularity, as by that time, consumers were changing focus to the Super NES. Many dedicated NES players of the 1980s and early 1990s were not even aware there was a sequel to DuckTales.
Critical Reception
[edit]Ducktales was released to generally good reviews. The graphics were considered above average for it's time. The characters in the game were already part of a popular Disney Franchise so they were easily recogonizable. The game is often praised for it's gameplay as well. The game is also considered a classic among many NES enthusiasts. [5]
The soundtrack to the original NES game is still popular; one level's music in particular ("The Moon") seems to be one of the more notable video game compositions of the era. That particular song has been remade and covered by a wide range of underground and mainstream bands in all styles of music, ranging from rock and metal to dance. Remixes and renditions of "The Moon" were still being made as of 2006, alongside the game's other music, albeit to a lesser extent. The music from "The Moon" was also included on a 2-CD compilation of some of the most popular NES music.[6]
References
[edit]External links
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