I missed DuckTales as a kid. It really ran its course before I was even born. Since I've had children, and I've been faced with the dire condition that children's entertainment is in right now, I've found myself introducing the kids to quality older cartoons like Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers, TaleSpin and DuckTales. Disney was seriously on fire back in that time period. DuckTales' Indiana Jones-esque, zany, "adventure of the week" style episodes were an instant hit with my kids; and as a parent, I appreciated the fun, humorous and wholesome writing that we used to get in cartoons like this.
Several years back, the beloved NES adaptation of DuckTales received a high-definition remaster from the platforming experts over at WayForward Technologies. I wasn't interested at the time, but now that I've become a fan of DuckTales, I decided to give DuckTales: Remastered a shot.
DuckTales: Remastered is a beautiful, charming platformer that has Scrooge McDuck exploring the far reaches of the world (and beyond), pursuing a number of fabled treasures. There are five exotic and distinct stages that you'll navigate through, battling monsters and the like, collecting riches and contending with various familiar villains from the DuckTales cartoon. The updated graphics are really easy on the eyes, and I found myself looking forward to venturing through each stage, just to see the awesome art. A special shout-out to the beautiful design of the Moon stage. I had a blast going through that level, especially with the phenomenal new recording of that stage's iconic music track. I also loved some of the fantastic enemy designs, like the ghosts and the mummies. Some of the enemies and bosses were designed in that classic Disney art style, like as if they were ripped straight out of the 1940s or something. I think the art direction is easily the stand-out element in this remastered version of the game.
Gameplay wise, DuckTales: Remastered is a straightforward platformer. This is really where you can feel the game's age under the glossy, fresh coat of paint. The platforming was rarely challenging, and most of the foes could either be easily dispatched or jumped over and avoided entirely. Scrooge is equipped with his trademark cane, with which he can smack objects or do a pogo-jump, which is his only method of attack. That pogo-jump mechanic, while being somewhat underwhelming and definitely overused in this game, ended up being a gameplay element that appeared in modern platformers like Shovel Knight and Saint Slayer. I respect the game for trying something different, but with how often you're having to contend with enemies, I found it frustrating that Scrooge couldn't just crack foes over the head with his cane.
While the platforming and "combat" weren't particularly challenging, I did have some trouble with one particular sequence. At the very end of the game, you're sent to Mt. Vesuvius in Italy and you have to navigate this lava-themed stage. Towards the end of the level, there's a bit where you have to rapidly climb to avoid the rising lava flow and this was maddening. The controls just did not feel precise or tight enough to warrant a speed-based trial like this. Far too often, I'd clip through a rope, when Scrooge was supposed to be grabbing on to it. There also seemed to be some sort of a rubber-banding effect, like you'd find in Mario Kart, where the lava would suddenly rocket up behind me anytime that I'd manage to get a decent lead on it. Overall though, I found DuckTales: Remastered to be highly playable and relatively easy.
DuckTales: Remastered is the ideal way to bring back a vintage title like this. Capcom's NES original is beloved, but WayForward's vibrant new art style and soundtrack breathe fresh life into the game and make it feel surprisingly contemporary in some ways. The gameplay does wear thin after a little while, but with the game being so brief, you should be able to complete it before you're really getting bored. Whether you're nostalgic for DuckTales or just wanting a nice, breezy, little platformer, I recommend checking out DuckTales: Remastered.
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