:DuckTales (video game)

File:NES Duck Tales.png

Players control Scrooge McDuck as he travels around the world and in outer space in search of five treasures to further increase his fortune. Scrooge is able to attack enemies and get around using his cane. On the ground, Scrooge can swing his cane to attack enemies and to break open or throw certain objects. While jumping, Scrooge can bounce on his cane similarly to a pogo stick and attack enemies from above. This also allows him to reach higher areas as well as bounce across hazardous areas that hurt his palmate. Along the way, Scrooge can find various diamonds, hidden inside treasure chests or appearing in certain areas, to increase his fortune and ice cream that can restore his health. Scrooge will also encounter various characters from the series who have a variety of roles, such as providing hints, offering useful items, opening access to new areas, or attempting to stop Scrooge's progress. Hidden in the game is a secret life-restoring cheat, accessed by pressing the select button while standing still, that will refill Scrooge's heart points for $3,000,000.{{better source|date=February 2023}}

The game features five levels: African mines, The Amazon, The Himalayas, Transylvania, and the Moon. The player can visit any of the destinations to pursue the treasures in any order. However, The African mines and Transylvania must be revisited to acquire certain essential items. Two secret treasures are scattered between all five destinations. Each destination's treasure is protected by a boss that Scrooge must defeat to retrieve. When all five main treasures are collected, the player returns to Transylvania for a final boss fight against Dracula Duck. After defeating him, the player must contend with Flintheart Glomgold and Magica DeSpell for the final treasure.

Upon completing the game, players can receive one of three endings based on their performance:{{Cite web|url=https://www.dkoldies.com/blog/did-you-know-nes-duck-tales-had-3-endings/|title=Did you Know NES Duck Tales Had 3 Endings?|last=Collier|first=Steven|date=2016-02-16|website=DKOldies: Retro Game Store|language=en|access-date=2020-01-24|archive-date=January 14, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200114205451/https://www.dkoldies.com/blog/did-you-know-nes-duck-tales-had-3-endings/|url-status=live}}{{better source|date=February 2023}} a regular ending for simply clearing the game, a great ending for clearing the game with at least $10,000,000, and a bad ending for clearing the game with $0.{{better source|date=February 2023}} As the player is given $1,000,000 for each level's treasure, the bad ending is only achievable by spending all accumulated money on the life-restore cheat before the player ends the game.{{better source|date=February 2023}} In order to do that, the player has to collect exactly $1,000,000 to get a total money of $6,000,000 because one gets a total of $5,000,000 from the bosses. Then, the player has to apply the life-restore cheat two times to end up with $0.{{better source|date=February 2023}}

Although Capcom had previously worked with Disney by publishing the Hudson-produced Mickey Mousecapade in North America in 1988, DuckTales became the first licensed game that the company developed,{{cite web |url=http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/disneynes/disneynes2.htm |title=Hardcore Gaming 101: Disney Capcom NES Games |author=Ayala, Michael |access-date=March 31, 2013 |publisher=Hardcore Gaming 101 |archive-date=July 16, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170716165156/http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/disneynes/disneynes2.htm |url-status=live }} and shared many key personnel with the original Mega Man series including producer Tokuro Fujiwara, character designer Keiji Inafune, and sound programmer Yoshihiro Sakaguchi.

Revisions to the game included the removal of crosses from the coffins in the Transylvania stage, replacing them with the letters "RIP", replacing hamburgers as power-ups with ice cream, and the omission of an option for Scrooge to give his money up, an action deemed too "un-Scrooge-like".{{cite web |title=Darlene Waddington reveals all! |url=http://rpgd.emulationworld.com/ballz/ducktales/production.htm |access-date=March 30, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060113074604/http://rpgd.emulationworld.com/ballz/ducktales/production.htm |archive-date=January 13, 2006}} Scrooge McDuck's shirt sprite was changed from blue to red to make him stand out and pop more against the blue and dark backgrounds.{{Cite web|last=Tieryas|first=Peter|date=February 2, 2021|title=The Story Behind DuckTales On NES|url=https://kotaku.com/the-story-behind-ducktales-on-nes-1846174912|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210202184752/https://kotaku.com/the-story-behind-ducktales-on-nes-1846174912 |archive-date=February 2, 2021 |access-date=2021-02-03|website=Kotaku|language=en-us}} A leaked prototype cartridge from a private collector reveals several differences between the original, unfinished version and the final release, such as different level names, unused music for the Transylvania stage, slower tempo on the music for the Moon stage, unused or altered text, and the character Gizmoduck going by his Japanese name "RoboDuck".{{cite web |title=Duck Tales, woo woo! |url=http://rpgd.emulationworld.com/ballz/ducktales/index.htm |access-date=March 30, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051231121401/http://rpgd.emulationworld.com/ballz/ducktales/index.htm |archive-date=December 31, 2005}} Despite the changes, images of the unfinished beta version could be seen in the 1990 books Consumer Guide: Hot Tips for the Coolest Nintendo Games and the NES Game Atlas by Nintendo.

DuckTales was later ported to the Game Boy in late 1990. This version features the same gameplay, music and levels of the original console release, though the layout of each level was changed to accommodate the handheld's lower resolution screen.

{{Video game reviews

| ASM = NES: 10/12{{cite magazine|author=Man|url=https://archive.org/details/Aktueller_Software_Markt_-_Ausgabe_1992.02/page/n111/mode/2up?q=duck+tales|title=Mit Pogo-Stock & Bürzel|date=February 1992|language=de|magazine=Aktueller Software Markt|page=116|accessdate=July 8, 2021}}

| EGM = NES: 8/10{{cite magazine |magazine=Electronic Gaming Monthly |author=Steve, Ed | author2=Martin, Jim |date=January 1990 |issue=6 |publisher=Ziff Davis Media |page=12 |title=Review Crew: DuckTales}}

| GamePro = GB: 18/25{{cite magazine |url=https://retrocdn.net/images/f/fe/GamePro_US_015.pdf |title=Game Boy ProView: DuckTales |author=Andromeda |magazine=GamePro |date=October 1990 |pages=88–89}}

| JXV = NES: 16/20{{cite web|author=Aurio|date=May 13, 2011|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629064121/http://www.jeuxvideo.com/articles/0001/00014930-duck-tales-la-bande-a-picsou-test.htm|archivedate=June 29, 2011|url=http://www.jeuxvideo.com/articles/0001/00014930-duck-tales-la-bande-a-picsou-test.htm|title=Test de Duck Tales : La Bande A Picsou|language=fr|website=Jeuxvideo.com|accessdate=July 8, 2021}}

| MMS = NES: 90%{{cite journal |journal=Mean Machines |title=Duck Tales - Nintendo Entertainment System - Mean Machines review |date=March 1990 |issue=6 |pages=16–19 |author=Julian Rignall and Radion Automatic |publisher=EMAP |url=http://www.meanmachinesmag.co.uk/review/101/duck-tales.php |access-date=March 23, 2013 |archive-date=September 9, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180909052751/http://www.meanmachinesmag.co.uk/review/101/duck-tales.php |url-status=dead }}

| NLife = NES: {{rating|9|10}}{{cite magazine|last=Griffin|first=Bryan|date=October 29, 2010|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110111133334/http://retro.nintendolife.com/reviews/2010/10/ducktales_retro|archivedate=January 11, 2011|url=http://retro.nintendolife.com/reviews/2010/10/ducktales_retro|title=DuckTales (Retro) review|website=NintendoLife|accessdate=July 8, 2021}}

| NP = GB: 3.75/5{{cite magazine |magazine=Nintendo Power |date=November–December 1990 |issue=18 |page=40 |publisher=Nintendo of America |title=DuckTales}}

| Raze = GB: 90%{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/details/RAZE_Issue_08_1991-06_Newsfield_Publishing_GB/page/n65/mode/1up?view=theater|title=Duck Tales|date=June 1991|magazine=Raze|issue=8|page=66|accessdate=July 8, 2021}}
NES: 83%{{cite magazine|last=Boardman|first=Julian|date=April 1991|url=https://archive.org/details/RAZE_Issue_06_1991-04_Newsfield_Publishing_GB/page/n57/mode/2up?view=theater|title=DuckTales|magazine=Raze|issue=6|pages=58–59|accessdate=July 8, 2021}}

| TOT = NES: 69%{{Cite journal|author=Steve|date=February 1992|title=Duck Tales|url=https://archive.org/details/Total_Issue_002_1992-02_Future_Publishing_GB/page/n31|journal=Total!|issue=2|pages=32–33}}
GB: 78%{{Cite journal|author=Steve|date=February 1992|title=Duck Tales|url=https://archive.org/details/Total_Issue_002_1992-02_Future_Publishing_GB/page/n59|journal=Total!|issue=2|pages=61}}

| VGS = NES: 72%{{cite magazine|last=Englhart|first=Stephan|date=January 1992|url=http://www.kultboy.com/index.php?site=t&id=4686|title=Duck Tales|language=de|magazine=Video Games|page=69|accessdate=July 8, 2021}}

}}

DuckTales was a commercial success, with the NES and Game Boy versions selling approximately 1.67 million and 1.43 million copies worldwide respectively, each becoming Capcom's highest-selling titles for their respective platforms.{{cite web |url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/sfii-snes-is-capcoms-best-selling-game |date=May 27, 2008 |title=SFII SNES is Capcom's best-selling game |website=Eurogamer |author=Bramwell, Tom |access-date=March 23, 2013 |archive-date=March 29, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190329151721/https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/sfii-snes-is-capcoms-best-selling-game |url-status=live }} It was released to generally positive reviews, with Electronic Gaming Monthly praising the NES version for its gameplay and colorful graphics, calling it "a prime example of very good game design". The magazine additionally commented that the title was probably made "with younger players in mind" due to its short length and relative lack of difficulty or complexity, declaring that "you'll probably enjoy this game but find it beaten after the first day of play". Conversely, Mean Machines magazine called the game "very tough and challenging", elaborating that "it requires plenty of skill to get all the way through the game in one go". Nintendo Power later called the Game Boy port "a faithful translation from the NES version".

Nintendo Power listed DuckTales as the 13th best Nintendo Entertainment System game in 2008, praising it as fun in spite of being a licensed product.{{cite journal |date=August 2008 |title=Nintendo Power – The 20th Anniversary Issue! |series=Nintendo Power |issue=231 |page=71 |publisher=Future US |location=San Francisco, California |type=Magazine }} The magazine later placed the game 44th in its list of the "285 Greatest Games of All Time" in 2012.{{cite magazine |magazine=Nintendo Power |date=December 2012 |issue=285 |publisher=Future US |title=Nintendo Power's 285 Greatest Game's of All Time}} In 2009, website IGN ranked the title 10th on its list of the 100 greatest NES games, remarking that "out of all of the games built on Capcom's famous Mega Man architecture (but wasn't an actual Mega Man game), Duck Tales is perhaps the best of the bunch".{{cite web |website=IGN |author=Claiborn, Sam |year=2009 |url=http://www.ign.com/top-100-nes-games/10.html |title=10. Duck Tales - Top 100 NES Games |access-date=March 22, 2013 |archive-date=April 13, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130413101604/http://www.ign.com/top-100-nes-games/10.html |url-status=live }} Official Nintendo Magazine also included the game at number 85 on their own list of the "100 Best Nintendo Games" that same year,{{cite web |author=East, Tom |date=February 17, 2009 |title=100 Best Nintendo Games: Part 3 |url=http://www.officialnintendomagazine.co.uk/7188/features/100-best-nintendo-games-part-one/?page=2 |work=Official Nintendo Magazine |publisher=Future plc |access-date=March 29, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121018081610/http://www.officialnintendomagazine.co.uk/7188/features/100-best-nintendo-games-part-one/?page=2 |archive-date=October 18, 2012 |url-status=dead }} and 9th in its "Top Ten Best NES Games" list in 2013.{{cite magazine |url=http://www.officialnintendomagazine.co.uk/52207/top-10-best-nes-games/?page=2 |title=Top 10 Best NES games |magazine=Official Nintendo Magazine |date=July 16, 2013 |access-date=August 25, 2014 |author=East, Thomas}} It also placed 9th on 1UP.com's "Top 25 NES Games" feature in 2010,{{cite web |url=http://www.1up.com/features/top-25-nes-games?pager.offset=3 |website=1UP.com |access-date=April 5, 2013 |title=The Top 25 NES Games from 1UP.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130511021702/http://www.1up.com/features/top-25-nes-games?pager.offset=3 |archive-date=May 11, 2013 |df=mdy-all}} 2nd in GamesRadar's own "Top 7 Disney Games" list in 2009,{{cite web |url=http://www.gamesradar.com/the-top-7-kickass-disney-games/?page=3 |title=The Top 7... Kickass Disney Games |publisher=GamesRadar |date=2009-09-21 |access-date=2022-05-03 |author=Antista, Chris |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150416182313/http://www.gamesradar.com/the-top-7-kickass-disney-games/?page=3 |archivedate=2015-04-16}} and 12th in GamesRadar's "Best NES Games of All Time" list in 2012.{{cite web |url=http://www.gamesradar.com/best-nes-games-all-time/ |title=Best NES Games of all time |date=April 16, 2012 |access-date=April 5, 2013 |publisher=GamesRadar |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120725131034/http://www.gamesradar.com/best-nes-games-all-time/ |archive-date=July 25, 2012}}

Creative director of DuckTales Remastered, Matt Bozon, called the music of DuckTales "some of the best 8-bit music [he's] ever heard", with his developer team citing themes as that of the Transylvania and Himalayas stages as memorable. Polygon cites the "Moon Theme" as the most famous piece of music from the title,{{cite web|url=http://www.polygon.com/2013/8/7/4598732/ducktales-dev-diary-talks-sound-reveals-remastered-moon-theme|title=DuckTales dev diary talks sound, reveals remastered Moon theme|website=Polygon|last=Funk|first=John|date=August 7, 2013|access-date=February 14, 2015|archive-date=February 14, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150214162938/http://www.polygon.com/2013/8/7/4598732/ducktales-dev-diary-talks-sound-reveals-remastered-moon-theme|url-status=live}} with Geekparty calling it "the most perfect piece of 8-bit music ever written".{{cite web|url=http://geekparty.com/the-ducktales-moon-theme-is-the-best-piece-of-8-bit-music-ever-written/|title=The DuckTales "Moon Theme" Is the Best Piece of 8-Bit Music Ever Written|publisher=Geekparty|last=Wirtanen|first=Josh|date=June 29, 2014|access-date=February 14, 2015|archive-date=February 14, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150214165538/http://geekparty.com/the-ducktales-moon-theme-is-the-best-piece-of-8-bit-music-ever-written/|url-status=dead}} The "Moon Theme" appears in the 2017 animated series reboot during scenes set on the moon, most prominently as the basis for a lullaby that Della Duck sings in the second-season episode "What Ever Happened to Della Duck?!"{{cite web | url = https://www.shacknews.com/article/110414/capcom-ducktales-moon-theme-gets-lyrics-joins-disney-canon | title = Capcom DuckTales Moon theme gets lyrics, joins Disney canon | first = Ozzie | last = Meija | date = March 9, 2019 | access-date = March 9, 2019 | work = Shacknews | archive-date = November 7, 2020 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20201107231126/https://www.shacknews.com/article/110414/capcom-ducktales-moon-theme-gets-lyrics-joins-disney-canon | url-status = live }}

{{Main|DuckTales: Remastered}}

A remake of the game, titled DuckTales: Remastered, was released in 2013 for PC, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii U and in 2015 for iOS, Android and Windows Phone. Developed by WayForward Technologies, Remastered features updated graphics and music, expanded story content, and full voice-acting for the characters, including the surviving members of the animated series' cast. The original game's levels are included, but expanded with new areas and new boss patterns, along with two new levels exclusive to Remastered.{{cite web|url=http://kotaku.com/5991971/of-course-you-want-to-watch-nearly-seven-minutes-of-ducktales-remastered|title=Of Course You Want to Watch Nearly Seven Minutes of DuckTales: Remastered|last=Fahey|first=Mike|website=Kotaku|date=March 22, 2013|access-date=March 22, 2013|archive-date=March 25, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130325092730/http://kotaku.com/5991971/of-course-you-want-to-watch-nearly-seven-minutes-of-ducktales-remastered|url-status=live}}

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Category:1989 video games

Category:Disney games by Capcom

Category:Game Boy games

Category:Nintendo Entertainment System games

Category:Platformers

Category:Video games based on DuckTales

Category:Video games developed in Japan

Category:Video games set in Africa

Category:Video games set on the Moon

Category:Video games set in South America

Category:Video games set in South Asia

Category:Video games set in Transylvania

Category:Single-player video games