DuckTales

About DuckTales (NES)

DuckTales is a platform game developed and published by Capcom for the NES in 1989, based on Disney’s hit animated series. Scrooge McDuck, the richest duck in the world, sets out to get even richer, hunting five legendary treasures scattered around the globe - and beyond it. Along the way he rescues his nephews Huey, Dewey, and Louie, and races his rival Flintheart Glomgold to stay the world’s wealthiest duck.

Built on Capcom’s Mega Man expertise, DuckTales gave Scrooge a cane that doubles as weapon, golf club, and pogo stick. Its non-linear stage select, bouncy soundtrack - including the famous Moon theme - and tight controls made it one of the best licensed games ever made.

Detailed Gameplay

Choose any of five stages from Scrooge’s office computer, in any order. Each stage hides a treasure boss, bonus money, and secrets behind walls and ceilings. Your final score - and ending - depends on how much wealth you haul back to Duckburg.

The Pogo Cane

• Press down in mid-air with the action button to bounce on Scrooge’s cane, the famous pogo jump
• Pogo across spikes, water, and enemies that cannot be beaten any other way
• Swing the cane like a golf club to launch rocks and blocks into enemies and walls
• Bounce on enemy heads to chain across pits and reach high ledges

Five Treasure Stages

• The Amazon: vines, bees, and the Sceptre of the Incan King guarded by statues
• Transylvania: mirrors warp Scrooge around a haunted castle ruled by Magica De Spell
• African Mines: mine carts and terra-firmians guard a giant diamond underground
• The Himalayas: slippery ice, goats, and a yeti guarding the Crown of Genghis Khan
• The Moon: low gravity, aliens, and the Green Cheese of Longevity - plus that legendary music

Money and Endings

• Every gem, coin, and treasure adds to your total - greed is literally the score
• Ice cream and cakes restore health; Mrs. Beakley and Launchpad help along the way
• Find two hidden treasures - a magic coin and a golden ring - to unlock the best ending
• Finish with over ten million dollars for the finest newspaper headline in Duckburg

Bosses and Rivals

• Each treasure is guarded, from the Terra-Firmian King to a giant Moon rat
• Flintheart Glomgold races you to the finish in a final showdown after the last stage
• Magica De Spell’s shadow magic makes Transylvania’s boss a true test of pogo timing
• Learn each boss’s pattern - three solid cane bounces usually settle things

Game Highlights

• Pogo Cane: One of gaming’s most joyful moves - bounce on everything.
• Five Treasures, Any Order: Non-linear stages from the Amazon to the Moon.
• The Moon Theme: A chiptune masterpiece beloved far beyond the game itself.
• Greed Is Score: Your ending changes with the size of Scrooge’s fortune.

Controls

Hunt treasure with the NES controller. - D-Pad: Move Scrooge; hold Down in the air to ready the pogo cane - A Button: Jump - B Button: Swing the cane; with Down in mid-air, pogo bounce - Start: Pause and check your money and treasures

Tips and Strategies to Win

Bounce first, ask questions later - the pogo solves most problems. - Pogo everywhere by default: it beats enemies, crosses hazards, and finds secrets. - Transylvania’s mirrors are a map puzzle - note which mirror sends you where. - On the Moon, bounce on the alien slugs to reach the high route and the hidden treasure. - Save the Himalayas for later; its slippery ice is the trickiest platforming in the game. - Replay finished stages to farm money if you want the ten-million-dollar ending.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: How many stages are in DuckTales? A: Five main stages - the Amazon, Transylvania, African Mines, the Himalayas, and the Moon - each hiding a legendary treasure and a boss.

Q: What is the best ending in DuckTales? A: Finish with more than ten million dollars, including the two hidden treasures, and Scrooge is declared the richest duck in the world in the game’s best newspaper ending.

Q: Can I play DuckTales online for free? A: Yes, you can play it online for free in your browser on RiveGame with no downloads or installation required.