Ok, hands up how many people reading this, the moment they read the title had the opening theme song playing in your head ADMIT IT! Anyway once again it’s time, and it’s been a long time since we look to a begotten age, where licensed games weren’t inherently all bad, and some were genuinely good. And this one is one that is very fondly remembered.

Yes from its incredible soundtrack (especially the Moon stage) to its controls and gameplay. The DuckTales game on the NES is remembered for a reason, and thanks to the Disney afternoon collection now being available on Switch and Switch 2 the day before Pokémon day, I have been able to play this gem myself for the first time.

For those that have never heard of the classic Disney cartoon, or its reboot from less than a decade ago. DuckTales starred Scrooge McDuck and the nephews of Donald Duck – Huey, Louie and Dewey as they get up to all sorts of adventures as well as fend off those who would try and steal the treasure of Scrooge alongside their colourful friends, like Launchpad (it is mandatory to mention him)

This is an age before intros so the game just throws you in and you will have had to read the instruction booklet to know what’s happening. That doesn’t stop you from playing of course, you can just jump into the game.

The game has you go around the world (well 4 places on it AND THE MOON!) looking for treasure. Each level has a boss and has treasure in it as well as gems you can pick up that appear in the level, and hidden items including 2 that increase your max health. You have a treasure number for each level and after you clear that it’s then added to your total. This affects the ending you get.

Most will get the usual good ending. But if you get 10 million, you get the best ending. However there is a somewhat challenging bad ending if you have 0 treasure at the end, but to get that you would have to avoid picking up anything that drops.

Scrooge plays rather comfortably for a NES era character. He jumps smoothly, he’s not bogged down in controls. He can use his cane to either hit objects away like a golf club, sending them into the air, or use it to do a pogo jump that can damage enemies and jump on spikes. You will need this to complete the game.

It’s not a long game, only 5 levels. Those in the opening selection when you start, that’s all of them. Though the game does have you return to the Transylvanian level twice after completing it, which is a problem as that’s the worst level in the game in my opinion, and I was groaning finding out I had to return to it.

Still you can complete this game in less than an hour but it leaves a fun memory that will make you want to replay it, either to try and get that best ending, complete it on a harder difficulty, or maybe challenge yourself for that worst ending. Go on, try it, the collection isn’t expensive and it’s one of many.

Rating 🎮🎮🎮🎮🎮