DuckTales (video game)

DuckTales is a 2D platformer 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 travels around the world collecting treasures to become the richest duck in the world. The game was also ported to Game Boy. This game is unrelated to DuckTales: The Quest for Gold, which was released on a variety of personal computers around 1990.

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; both shared key personnel such as Tokuro Fujiwara, Keiji Inafune and Yoshihiro Sakaguchi. DuckTales 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.

The game was rereleased on the Wii Virtual Console in North America on November 19, 2006, Japan on December 2, 2006 and PAL regions on December 15, 2006.

Gameplay[]

The player controls Scrooge McDuck, the richest duck in the world, on a quest for even more treasure so he can jump using the A button; his cane is used as a weapon to defeat enemies or strike objects (B button) and as a pogo stick to jump higher (A then B + Down). There is a wide variety of helpful non-player characters and enemy characters.

DuckTales comprises five levels that can be played in any order. A boss guards the treasure that Scrooge seeks at the end of each level. There are also two hidden treasures: a golden ring in the African Mines level and a golden mirror in the Moon level. Upon finishing all five levels, the player is directed back to Transylvania for the final boss fight. DuckTales contains some non-linear gameplay, in that the player can revisit levels to get items that unlock parts of other levels.

Lands and treasures[]

African Mines – Giant Diamond of Inner-Earth
Amazon – Scepter of the Incan King
Himalayas – Lost Crown of Genghis Khan
The Moon – Green Cheese of Longevity
Transylvania – Coin of the Lost Realm

Characters[]

Scrooge McDuck—The player controls Scrooge throughout the game, making use of a variety of techniques, while collecting different items.
Huey, Dewey, and Louie—Scrooge's nephews pop up in various spots in the game, usually to offer hints or to restrict areas (e.g. in the Moon level) Scrooge does not yet have access to.
Webby Vanderquack—Serves a similar function as Scrooge's nephews.
Gizmoduck—Briefly appears to blast a wall open.
Launchpad McQuack—Helps Scrooge over a pitfall in the Amazon. Also, he is found in every level (except Transylvania) where the player has the option of letting him take them back to Duckburg. If certain conditions are met, the player will enter a bonus round. Launchpad can be used only once per level.
Gyro Gearloose—Shows up only in the bonus level, where he will launch diamonds at Scrooge.
Mrs. Beakley—Appears in certain levels where she will drop life-regenerating food to Scrooge.
Bubba—If you release him from the ice in the Himalayas, he will reward Scrooge with an extra energy slot.
Magica De Spell—Scrooge fights this nemesis of his in Transylvania.
Flintheart Glomgold—Scrooge must stop Flintheart from reaching the treasure before he does.
The Beagle Boys—The Beagle Boys show up occasionally, usually as guards of a passage or while kidnapping one of Scrooge's nephews.

Alternate endings[]

The NES version of DuckTales contains an alternate ending shown when the player finishes the game with at least $10,000,000 and has found both hidden treasures. The alternate ending consists of the same newspaper at the end of the game except the picture shows Scrooge McDuck with a crown on his head, and the paper also states that he "stunned the world with his discovery of 2 Lost Treasures".

There is another, lesser-known alternate ending, shown when the player finishes the game with $0. Doing so requires very careful planning and is the most difficult ending to obtain. Scrooge is seen sobbing and the newspaper states that he has "lost his fortune in his search for the legendary five treasures. He will use them to rebuild his empire."

Development[]

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: Jungle, Ghost House, Underground, Snow Mountain and Moon Surface
Hamburgers were featured as the primary life restoring item (likely a reference to Burger Beagle's appetite); this was changed when it was learned that ice cream is Scrooge's favorite food
The coffins in Transylvania had crosses etched on them instead of R.I.P. (although the "NES Game Atlas" Player's Guide released by Nintendo retained the crosses in its stage maps); contrary to popular belief, the crosses were removed from the Japanese release as well
The Moon music played at a much slower tempo in the beta
The Transylvania stage was entirely different in its structure
GizmoDuck went by his Japanese name RoboDuck
Launchpad referred to Scrooge as "Uncle Scrooge" in the beta, which made no sense in context.
The value of the gems was lower in the beta; for example, red gems were only worth $3,000 originally before their value was bumped to $50,000 in the final version
The drop rate for items was higher in the beta
The alien enemies in the spaceship on the Moon level were an entirely different creature unrelated to the DuckTales franchise; these were changed to resemble Overlord Bulovan, who appeared in the TV episode "Where No Duck Has Gone Before"
The conversation box was originally much shorter in the beta and was considerably lengthened in the final product to allow room for longer sets of text

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 version of the game, Wanpaku Dakku Yume Bōken (わんぱくダック夢冒険, lit. Naughty Ducks Dream Adventures, the Japanese name of the show), featured the same changes that were present in the western releases of the game (contrary to popular belief).

DuckTales (ダックテールス Dakkutērusu) was later ported to the Game Boy. That version features the same gameplay, music and levels with different sound and graphics. The layouts of the levels were changed slightly due to the lower screen resolution. In addition, the player only needed to press the A and B buttons for Scrooge to cane jump in the Game Boy version, unlike the NES version where you also had to press the down button.

A sequel, DuckTales 2, followed in 1993. It didn't match the success or popularity of its predecessor, as consumers were focusing on the 16-bit consoles by that time, though the Game Boy version sold very well.

Reception[]

DuckTales was released to generally positive reviews, praised for its gameplay and soundtrack. Of particular importance is the "Moon" stage theme, which has since become one of the iconic tunes of the late 8-bit era (ScrewAttack listed it at #6 in its Top 10 Video Game Musics, where it was described as evoking the feel of the video game industry's recovery from the 1983 crash). The graphics were considered above average for the time. The characters were part of a popular Disney franchise and were easily recognizable. The game is considered a classic among many NES enthusiasts. Nintendo Power listed it as the 13th best Nintendo Entertainment System video game, praising it as fun in spite of being a licensed video game. The game was also a commercial success, as Capcom cites the game as having sold 1.67 million copies worldwide.

Soundtrack[]

Main article: DuckTales Remastered (soundtrack)

A soundtrack album containing songs from this video game and also the Remastered version was released on digital download on April 29, 2014.

Videos[]

NES DuckTales commercial

Dutch commercial DUCKTALES NES

Publicité DuckTales - La bande à Picsou sur Nintendo Nes

Gallery[]

Artwork[]

Screenshots[]

Trivia[]

The year the game was initially released, it was featured on the cover of the September/October volume of Nintendo Power magazine. It was volume 8's main article and featured information on the game's story along with maps and details about hidden secrets for different areas in the game, such as The Amazon, Transylvania and African Mines. There was also a preview for The Himalayas and The Moon levels.

External links[]

This page uses content from the English Wikipedia page DuckTales (video game). The list of authors can be seen in the page history. Text from Wikipedia is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License; additional terms may apply.

v - e - d

Media

Shows/Movies: 1987 series (videography) • 2017 series • Walt Disney's World on Ice: Double Feature... Live! • Raw Toonage • DuckTales the Movie: Treasure of the Lost Lamp • Chibi Tiny Tales • This Duckburg Life

Video Games: Video game (HD remake/Soundtrack) • DuckTales 2 • The Quest for Gold • Scrooge's Loot • Disney Heroes: Battle Mode • Disney All-Star Racers • Disney All-Star Party
Comics: Comic Books (IDW)
Books: The Secret City Under the Sea • Sphinx for the Memories and Sir Gyro Gearloose • Scrooge's Treasure Hunt • Christmas at the North Pole • Webby Saves the Day • The Art of DuckTales

Disney Parks
DuckTales World Showcase Adventure • PLAY! • Donald's Duck Pond

Characters

1987 series: Scrooge McDuck • Huey, Dewey, and Louie • Launchpad McQuack • Webby Vanderquack • Bentina Beakley • Duckworth • Chief O'Hara • Shedlock Jones • Gyro Gearloose • Little Helper • Yardarm • Doofus Drake • Fenton Crackshell • Donald Duck • Ludwig Von Drake • Gladstone Gander • Bubba the Cave Duck • Abominable Snowwoman • Tootsie the Triceratops • Skittles • Blackjack • Poupon • Gene the Genie • Glittering Goldie • Mad Dog McGurk • Feathers Galore • Burt Quackarach • Major Courage • Micro Ducks • Admiral Grimmitz • King Homer • Queen Ariel • Shawebizad • Gandra Dee • McPapa • McMama • Robotica • Beagle Boys • Ma Beagle • Pete • Flintheart Glomgold • Phantom Blot • Dijon • Argus McSwine • Magica De Spell • Minima De Spell • Poe De Spell • El Capitan • Joaquin Slowly • Merlock the Magician • Cinnamon Teal • Dracula Duck • Dr. NoGood • Millionara Vanderbucks • Fritter O'Way • Lawrence Loudmouth • Armstrong • The Sirens • Circe • Harpies • Yuckalinda • Queen Griselda • Djinni • Terra-Firmie King • Overlord Bulovan • Solego • GICU-2 • Magica's Shadow • The Fear Demons • Vacation Van Honk

2017 series: Della Duck • Lena • Bradford Buzzard • Bentley and Buford Buzzard • Captain Peghook • Manny the Headless Man-Horse • Pixiu • Gabby McStabberson • Hack and Slash Smashnikov • Roxanne Featherly • Toad Liu Hai • Mark Beaks • Falcon Graves • Amunet • Sabaf • Toth-Ra • Zeus • Selene • Storkules • Charybdis • Briar and Bramble • Darkwing Duck • Gosalyn Mallard • Megavolt • Don Karnage • Quackerjack • Liquidator • Black Heron • Zan Owlson • Fisher • Mann • Drosera occidendum • José Carioca • Panchito Pistoles • Fethry Duck • John D. Rockerduck • Jeeves • Gavin • Grandpappy Beagle • Violet Sabrewing • Unicorn • Percival P. Peppington • Nightmare Beast • Paddywhack • Bushroot • Negaduck • Daisy Duck • Goofy • Chip and Dale • Monterey Jack • Zipper • Gadget Hackwrench • Kit Cloudkicker • Taurus Bulba • Molly Cunningham • Lieutenant Penumbra • General Lunaris • Moonlanders • Moon Mites • Gilded Man • Neighbor Jones • Steelbeak • Isabella Finch • Indy and Ty Sabrewing • Tri-Crested Tittertwill • Aletheia • Vero • King Honestus • Emma Glamour • Inspector Tezuka • Akita • Strongbeard • Hecka • Jormungandr • Ponce de Leon • Matilda McDuck • Emutilda

Episodes

1987 series

Season One: "The Treasure of the Golden Suns" • "Send in the Clones" • "Sphinx for the Memories" • "Where No Duck Has Gone Before" • "Armstrong" • "Robot Robbers" • "Magica's Shadow War" • "Master of the Djinni" • "Hotel Strangeduck" • "Lost Crown of Genghis Khan" • "Duckman of Aquatraz" • "The Money Vanishes" • "Sir Gyro de Gearloose" • "Dinosaur Ducks" • "Hero for Hire" • "Superdoo!" • "Maid of the Myth" • "Down and Out in Duckburg" • "Much Ado About Scrooge" • "Top Duck" • "Pearl of Wisdom" • "The Curse of Castle McDuck" • "Launchpad's Civil War" • "Sweet Duck of Youth" • "Earth Quack" • "Home Sweet Homer" • "Bermuda Triangle Tangle" • "Micro Ducks from Outer Space" • "Back to the Klondike" • "Horse Scents" • "Scrooge's Pet" • "Catch as Cash Can" • "Merit-Time Adventure" • "The Golden Fleecing" • "Ducks of the West" • "Time Teasers" • "Back Out in the Outback" • "Raiders of the Lost Harp" • "The Right Duck" • "Scroogerello" • "Double-O-Duck" • "Luck o' the Ducks" • "Duckworth's Revolt" • "Magica's Magic Mirror"/"Take Me Out of the Ballgame" • "Duck to the Future" • "Jungle Duck" • "Launchpad's First Crash" • "Dime Enough for Luck" • "Duck in the Iron Mask" • "The Uncrashable Hindentanic" • "The Status Seekers" • "Nothing to Fear" • "Dr. Jekyll & Mr. McDuck" • "Once Upon a Dime" • "Spies in Their Eyes" • "All Ducks on Deck" • "Ducky Horror Picture Show" • "Till Nephews Do Us Part"
Season Two: "Time is Money" • "Super DuckTales"
Season Three: "The Land of Trala La" • "Allowance Day" • "Bubbeo & Juliet" • "The Good Muddahs" • "My Mother the Psychic" • "Metal Attraction" • "Dough Ray Me" • "Bubba's Big Brainstorm" • "The Big Flub" • "A Case of Mistaken Secret Identity" • "Blue Collar Scrooge" • "Beaglemania" • "Yuppy Ducks" • "The Bride Wore Stripes" • "The Unbreakable Bin" • "Attack of the Fifty-Foot Webby" • "The Masked Mallard" • "A DuckTales Valentine"
Season Four: "Ducky Mountain High" • "Attack of the Metal Mites" • "The Duck Who Knew Too Much" • "New Gizmo-Kids on the Block" • "Scrooge's Last Adventure" • "The Golden Goose"

2017 series
Season One: "Woo-oo!" • "Daytrip of Doom!" • "The Great Dime Chase!" • "The Beagle Birthday Massacre!" • "Terror of the Terra-firmians!" • "The House of the Lucky Gander!" • "The Infernal Internship of Mark Beaks!" • "The Living Mummies of Toth-Ra!" • "The Impossible Summit of Mt. Neverrest!" • "The Spear of Selene!" • "Beware the B.U.D.D.Y. System!" • "The Missing Links of Moorshire!" • "McMystery at McDuck McManor!" • "JAW$!" • "The Golden Lagoon of White Agony Plains!" • "Day of the Only Child!" • "From the Confidential Casefiles of Agent 22!" • "Who is Gizmoduck?!" • "The Other Bin of Scrooge McDuck!" • "Sky Pirates...in the Sky!" • "The Secret(s) of Castle McDuck!" • "The Last Crash of the Sunchaser!" • "The Shadow War!"
Season Two: "The Most Dangerous Game...Night!" • "The Depths of Cousin Fethry!" • "The Ballad of Duke Baloney!" • "The Town Where Everyone Was Nice!" • "Storkules in Duckburg!" • "Last Christmas!" • "What Ever Happened to Della Duck?!" • "Treasure of the Found Lamp!" • "The Outlaw Scrooge McDuck!" • "The 87 Cent Solution!" • "The Golden Spear!" • "Nothing Can Stop Della Duck!" • "Raiders of the Doomsday Vault!" • "Friendship Hates Magic!" • "The Dangerous Chemistry of Gandra Dee!" • "The Duck Knight Returns!" • "What Ever Happened to Donald Duck?!" • "Happy Birthday, Doofus Drake!" • "A Nightmare on Killmotor Hill!" • "The Golden Armory of Cornelius Coot!" • "Timephoon!" • "GlomTales!" • "The Richest Duck in the World!" • "Moonvasion!"
Season Three "Challenge of the Senior Junior Woodchucks!" • "Quack Pack!" • "Double-O-Duck in You Only Crash Twice!" • "The Lost Harp of Mervana!" • "Louie's Eleven!" • "Astro B.O.Y.D.!" • "The Rumble for Ragnarok!" • "The Phantom and the Sorceress!" • "They Put a Moonlander on the Earth!" • "The Trickening!" • "The Forbidden Fountain of the Foreverglades!" • "Let's Get Dangerous!" • "Escape from the ImpossiBin!" • "The Split Sword of Swanstantine!" • "New Gods on the Block!" • "The First Adventure!" • "The Fight for Castle McDuck!" • "How Santa Stole Christmas!" • "Beaks in the Shell!" • "The Lost Cargo of Kit Cloudkicker!" • "The Life And Crimes of Scrooge McDuck!" • "The Last Adventure!"

Locations
Duckburg • Atlantis • The Money Bin • McDuck Manor • Castle McDuck • Fountain of Youth • Scotland • Notre Duck • Valley of the Golden Suns • St. Canard • Cape Suzette

Organizations
Air Pirates • F.O.W.L. • Junior Woodchucks • S.H.U.S.H.

Objects

Number One Dime • Junior Woodchucks Guidebook • Gizmosuit • Gene's Lamp • Merlock's Talisman • Sun Coin • Sun Chaser • Harp of Troy • Millennium Shortcut • Gyro's Helicopter • Molecular Manipulator • Golden Goose • Webby's Quacky Patch Doll • Hindentanic • Magic Medallion • Ratcatcher • Jewel of Atlantis • Pep! • Gummiberry Juice • Iron Vulture • Pirate Fighters • Spear of Selene • Sea Duck • Ranger Plane

Songs
DuckTales Theme • Three Cheers for Bubba Duck • Boogie Beagle Blues • Moon Stage Theme • Sky Pirates • The Three Caballeros • Hear My Voice

See also
Carl Barks • The Disney Afternoon • Darkwing Duck • Quack Pack • Disney XD (Netherlands) • Let's Go to Disneyland Paris