Disney's DuckTales 2 (1993)

Beat on Difficult in slow motion mode. I missed the upgrade in Mu, 1 hidden treasure, and 3 map fragments in the stages. I liked how the game had some Metroidvania elements but I did not want to go back to the stages. The shop to buy items was cool, and the new mechanics for the cane. Pogo was still the main one. I bought 2 hp upgrades and 1 cake but never used it. There was no option to revisit stages once completing them all so you would have to get everything done while leaving 1 boss undefeated. Getting all the map pieces would unlock a new stage and slightly more difficult Scotland boss leading to a slightly different ending. One issue was that I didn't always know when I was walking towards the boss room so could not retreat to get something from another path. The code lock puzzle in Egypt gave me a hard time because I thought it was a simple sequence, but there was a sequence plus how many times to hit each number. That had to be looked up. And I had trouble pulling off jumping golf club smacks to destroy higher up blocks. Otherwise the game was pretty much identical to Duck Tales 1. Same quality and fun but also same very short length. It felt better to play due to refinement and added to the formula but was very late into the NES era so I will rate them the same.

7.6/10

Preliminary: Hmmm I was unsure at first, with this being an NES game in 1993... and the inevitable sprite slowdown (and I really need to stop giving out these 3 stars lol), but I really like the pogo bouncing :-X The non-linearity may prove to be a negative tho.

Welp first stage done and I am enjoying the music and I am loving the Pogo jumping, baeting a boss with that was great. Gave me first Bonk vibes. I just hope it holds my interest unlike the first one (which I also bemoaned the lack of jsut a simple outright cane-smack option while loving the music and pogo... in fact, it looks like almost nothing was altered from the first one heh)

I'm never a fan of the endlessly spawning enemies mechanic... And some of these collision masks for platforms are so off lol. Yeaaa some really clunky mechanics becaues of the rings in that stormy ship level's boss. I will try one more level (which is almost the whole game lol) but likely will just settle with a 3 star like the first DuckTales ugh the perpetual 3 star loop

Look: 7/10

Sound: 7.5/10

Play: 7.5/10 Wow some of those collision masks are terrrrrible... but can't deny that bouncing platforming hook

Feel: 7.5/10

Attachment: 7.5/10 That classic NES platformer feel, but might as well just play the first one?

Overall: 7.4/10

Completion: Completed 3 of the 5 main stages

Playtime: 1h 10m

It's Ducktales, woo-woo

What's not to like? A solid platformer by Capcom with nice graphics and sound. There are some nice moments that scream Mega Man. A few trouble spots (most involving pits) but the game is easy overall, and the maps are fun to play over and over again in the effort to master. The game has a few secrets and a few endings which is a nice touch. Alternate map routes, level select and upgradable gear all add to make It feel very non-linear to the point of being on the cusp of Metroidvania.

Some puzzles are a bit complex for a game marketed to children.

One thing about this game that needs to be noted is the item shop you access between levels, I found that this item shop make the game considerably easier. You can actually replay levels and 'farm' gold this way as well as look for secrets you missed. If a player paces themselves and exploits the shop in this way this you can pretty much guarantee you will never even need to use a continue. Without the shop, well it would be very challenging if not frustrating. Hardcore Japanese gamers don't need Roll to sell E-Tanks and 1-Ups!

It definitely brings the Shovel Knight feelings back (A great game if not perfect) To me it just doesn't feel as impactful as the original Ducktales (particular the game boy release) But like virtually every Disney-licensed Capcom platformer I've experienced, it's well worth a playthrough regardless of intended audience or length.

Platform:

NES version.

Graphics:

The graphics are the same as the previous game. They were good there and are still good in the second game.

Gameplay:

The gameplay hasn't changed much from the first game, which is basically a good thing since it wasn't broken in the first place, so why fix it. One improvement is there however, that is the world map, which makes you dive a bit more into the game world than just a list of levels to choose from as in the first game. There is also an overworld shop to buy things like extra lives or heart containers should you run out.

Difficulty:

I'm not sure but to me it felt a little easier than the first game, mostly because the level design is clearer in some cases, no weird walking through a wall to finish a level here.

Everyone who liked the first will definitely like this too, as the quality is more or less the same. However don't expect a lot of new ideas here.