Review: Ducktales 2
At a Glance
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How to Save and Pause:There's no way to save your game. This was typical of the era, and modern re-releases may have added a save mechanic. To pause the game, press START during a level. Time needed per session:Back when games like this came out, players were expected to beat them in one sitting. Fortunately, this game can be completed in about an hour and a half.
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Does this game pose issues for Christian players?
 | Some players may have concerns This game showcases more fairytale magic than the average Disney title, which may be off putting to strict players. |
Screenshots
Screenshots are from the Disney Afternoon Collection
Game Overview
Considering how much of an impact the first Ducktales game had on a generation's collective childhood, it's not surprising to learn that Scrooge McDuck went on a second adventure before the TV series came to an end.
This time around, NES games were more sophisticated, so instead of having him explore the world for more riches, Scrooge was hunting down the clues to a very specific prize: the Lost Treasure of McDuck. The other treasures he'll find along the way are basically a nice bonus.
Of course, there's a reason that the Lost Treasure of McDuck is lost - the map that leads to where it was hidden was torn apart and scattered all over the world. Each of the places you'll explore in this game have a fragment of the map hidden somewhere just out of reach, and you'll need to find them all to unlock the entrance to the secret level.
Gameplay wise, everything feels more refined. Scrooge can now use his cane to drag heavy objects or hang from specific background elements, like rings or hooks. Much of the scenery can be interacted with too, which makes the levels feel a lot less linear and restricted.
There's even an upgrade system this time around - if you can find Gyro Gearloose in a level, he'll upgrade Scrooge's cane with new abilities. These allow him to open new paths in the different levels, creating a sort of mini-metroidvania feeling to the exploration. There are three upgrades in all, and since Gyro's locations aren't random, you'll quickly learn a better order for exploring the world.
Another new feature is the ability to re-visit the levels you've already cleared. This is extremely useful if you forgot something during a previous visit, like Gyro or the level's map fragment.
Unfortunately, once you've cleared each of the five main levels, Scrooge's archnemesis Flintheart Glomgold shows up and forces a confrontation that leads to the game's ending. You have no choice in the matter, so I'd suggest that you find pick a stage, find the map piece, and then have Launchpad take Scrooge home without clearing the level. This gives you more wiggle room to restore the map before the ending sequence begins. So, is Ducktales 2 worth playing today? I'd say yes - especially if you enjoyed the first game. The mechanics are pretty solid and it's still a good way to spend an afternoon.
This time around, NES games were more sophisticated, so instead of having him explore the world for more riches, Scrooge was hunting down the clues to a very specific prize: the Lost Treasure of McDuck. The other treasures he'll find along the way are basically a nice bonus.
Of course, there's a reason that the Lost Treasure of McDuck is lost - the map that leads to where it was hidden was torn apart and scattered all over the world. Each of the places you'll explore in this game have a fragment of the map hidden somewhere just out of reach, and you'll need to find them all to unlock the entrance to the secret level.
Gameplay wise, everything feels more refined. Scrooge can now use his cane to drag heavy objects or hang from specific background elements, like rings or hooks. Much of the scenery can be interacted with too, which makes the levels feel a lot less linear and restricted.
There's even an upgrade system this time around - if you can find Gyro Gearloose in a level, he'll upgrade Scrooge's cane with new abilities. These allow him to open new paths in the different levels, creating a sort of mini-metroidvania feeling to the exploration. There are three upgrades in all, and since Gyro's locations aren't random, you'll quickly learn a better order for exploring the world.
Another new feature is the ability to re-visit the levels you've already cleared. This is extremely useful if you forgot something during a previous visit, like Gyro or the level's map fragment.
Unfortunately, once you've cleared each of the five main levels, Scrooge's archnemesis Flintheart Glomgold shows up and forces a confrontation that leads to the game's ending. You have no choice in the matter, so I'd suggest that you find pick a stage, find the map piece, and then have Launchpad take Scrooge home without clearing the level. This gives you more wiggle room to restore the map before the ending sequence begins. So, is Ducktales 2 worth playing today? I'd say yes - especially if you enjoyed the first game. The mechanics are pretty solid and it's still a good way to spend an afternoon.
Points of Interest
Multiple endings
NES games had to deal with limited space on their cartridges, so an NES game that not only had a proper ending cutscene but could adapt it to reflect your playthrough is rare. That said, the various endings are really just one ending that omits scenes based on whether or not you found the Lost Treasure of McDuck, but that's still impressive.
More elaborate levels
Previously, you'd visit a level, gather some treasure, fight the boss and leave it behind forever. This time, each level has a hidden fragment of the treasure map as well as other surprises, making it important to search the place thoroughly and look for anything that might resemble a puzzle. There is also a level that will permanently change if you can figure out what to do.
Forced ending
Getting shanghaied by Glomgold near the end of the game serves a narrative purpose, but it gets in the way of gameplay since it puts a hidden deadline into the search for the map fragments that players may not expect. I'm not a fan of games taking control away from the player like this.
Concerns and Issues
Mild violence
Just like before, Scrooge defeats his enemies by pogo jumping off them or knocking things into them. Defeated characters - including Scrooge - simply fall off the screen. It's very clean, and even more family friendly than the show this game was based on.
Magical references
In general, Disney products are filled with a fairy tale magic. It's practically expected. However, this game has more magic than usual, as it draws on the usual spooky mansion vibes alongside several other mysterious cultures. There's even a sorcerer who's spells can turn Scrooge McDuck into Scrooge McFrog for a little while.