Two weeks ago I published a scathing review of the atrocious baby game DuckTales. Today, we will look at DuckTales 2; the best game ever made. Our Disney Afternoon Collection tour makes its second stop!Duck Tales 2 is one of the best sequels I have ever played. It expands upon the foundation set by its predecessor in nearly every regard without losing sight of what made the original work. It is able to win me over despite not being too hot on the first game, but still maintains the simple fun at the core of DuckTales.
First and foremost, the gameplay of the DuckTales series has really come into its own in DuckTales 2. While I found the original to be a bit simple for my taste, the sequel spices things up with some interesting gimmicks. Sinking sand, moving platforms, and pulleys go a long way toward making the moment-to-moment gameplay more interesting- doubly so when those mechanics are used in tandem with Scrooge’s pogo jump. Stages themselves are less static, which makes them more interesting to traverse and lend themselves to a greater sense of flow.
And players are further incentivized to experiment with the enhanced gameplay thanks to DuckTales 2’s improved use of collectables. Money itself is just as abundant as before, but it can now be used to purchase items between levels. Players can now spend their hard earned cash on extra lives, health upgrades, and other items. This simple change by itself makes the simple act of collecting the game’s numerous treasures more rewarding because they now have a practical use. While I would ignore treasures in the original title since I didn’t care which ending I earned, I found myself active exploring for more treasures in DuckTales 2.
On top of this, DuckTales 2 adds in even more to do, with special high value treasures, upgrades, and plot-critical page scraps all be hidden within the level. The pursuit of these special collectables usually involves clever use of the pogo mechanic, paying close attention to the level design, or solving a puzzle. The puzzles are well executed, adding variety without detracting from the pace of the game. And again, these prizes feel more enticing and rewarding than their counterparts in the first DuckTales.
But what’s so great about these features is that they’re entirely optional. They are available for completionists such as myself, but can easily be ignored if the player would rather blitz through the stages at a quicker pace. It gives more people more ways to enjoy the game, without restricting anybody. Their inclusion is a categorical positive.
Another improvement is the visuals. DuckTales 2 is a great looking game, plain and simple. The art style is appealing and remains consistent throughout, the enemies designs feel like a good fit for where they appear, and the stage themes themselves are more interesting. Among the stages are a Scottish castle, a trek through Niagra Falls, and a puzzle-filled pyramid. Aside from the stages being more interesting conceptually, they graphics live up to the concepts’ potential. Nice touches include the moving parts in the backgrounds of some levels, such as the dancing flames on torches, or the flowing waterfalls. Moreso than perhaps and game included in the Disney Afternoon Collection, Ducktales 2 looks like a playable cartoon.
On the whole, DuckTales 2 delivers in every way a sequel should. But aside from that, it is a great game in its own right. It taps into the full potential of its mechanics thanks to enhanced level design and improved use of collectables. This title absolutely deserves to be held in the same regard as other NES heavyweights, not just from Capcom- but on the platform, period. This is the best game on the Disney Afternoon Collection, and comes highly recommended to anyone who missed out on the game due to its late release and high resale price. It is a hidden gem that shines just as brightly as its more easily accessible contemporaries.
URL to share (right click and copy) 
