DuckTales

System: Nintendo Entertainment System
Release date: September 1989

Oi, treasure-hunting quacks! Pogo into penny-pinching peril with DuckTales on the NES, the September 1989 Capcom caper that lets Scrooge McDuck bounce his cane across the globe, nabbing gold from Amazon jungles to Transylvanian tombs. This platforming plunder’s got Disney dazzle and duck-sized danger—but does it still sparkle in 2025? Let’s twirl the pogo, boot up the NES, and see if this feathered fortune hunt is a glittering gem or a tarnished trinket.

Gameplay: Bounce, Bash, and Bank Like a Beagle Boy Basher

DuckTales slings you into Scrooge’s top hat for six swashbuckling stages—from African mines to Himalayan heights—pogo-sticking on baddies, swinging on ropes, and scooping gems with that trusty cane. The controls are a corker, with fluid jumps, ground pounds, and mask tosses that make every vault feel victorious. Swap in nephews Huey, Dewey, or Louie for helper hijinks, then boss it up against Beagle Boys or Witch Hazel’s wicked whims. It’s a bouncy blend of platform polish and treasure-toting triumph.

The cane catch? Some spikes and pitfalls lurk like unpaid bills, and the final fortress frenzy piles on precision that’ll have you quacking in frustration. No passwords mid-world means one slip sends you scurrying from the start, and those nephews? Handy, but fiddly to wrangle. Still, the pogo prowess and loot lust keep you hooked like a gold nugget in a miser’s mitt.

Graphics: Disney Ducks That Dazzle the Dots

DuckTales looks a right riot on the NES, with hand-drawn sprites that capture Scrooge’s beakish bluster and Launchpad’s lanky larks in crisp, colourful detail—think lush Amazon vines or spooky Transylvania spires that pop with personality. Animations are a hoot, from cane twirls to enemy squishes, while levels cram in secrets like hidden staircases and gem hoards. It’s no graphical goldmine, but the whimsical whimsy and vibrant vistas make every screen a cartoon corker.

Sound: Tunes That’ll Have You Whistling While You Wealth-Hunt

Quack-track wise, it’s a whimsical whistle-fest, with jaunty marches and adventurous airs—like that legendary Moon theme—that loop into your noggin like a catchy carol. Sound effects deliver the duck: cane boings, coin clinks, and baddie bonks that bounce with bubbly glee. The jingles might jangle after a full globe-trot, but they’re so sprightly you’ll be humming Scrooge’s strut.

Replayability: A Fortune That Fits in Your Pocket

No sprawling saga, but DuckTales’s got replay riches with secret warps, max-treasure tallies, and difficulty dips that lure you back for flawless feather-ruffles or nephew-assisted nabs. Hunt those high scores or pogo-perfect a speedrun—ace for quick continent hops or cash-crazed crusades that test your timing. It’s short and shiny for pick-up plunders without pinching your evening.

The Retro Looney Verdict

DuckTales on the NES is like a chip butty with caviar sprinkles: posh, playful, and properly addictive, turning platform hops into a Disney duck dynasty that dazzled the docks. It’s the pogo-powered pioneer that still outshines the flock. Aye, the spike slips and fortress fumbles can feather your frustrations, but that’s like moaning your money bin’s got moths. Dive in for a retro romp that’ll leave you richer in grins.