Quackshot Starring Donald Duck
System: Genesis
Release Date: November 1991
Developer: Sega AM7
Publisher: Sega
Genre: Action
Take part in a jet setting, world traveling affair in Quackshot Starring Donald Duck! Donald was looking through Uncle Scrooge’s library, when he came across information on the lost treasure of the Great Duck Kingdom. Daisy wants Donald to come to dinner, but he has other plans… Looking to get some treasure and a gift for Daisy, Donald hops into a plane and takes off. He doesn’t really know what he’s going to find or where to go… can you help Donald find the treasure?
You begin with the ability to go to Duckburg, Mexico, or Transylvania. Getting items in one level will unlock your ability to proceed in another. I mostly stumbled into the correct path as I played. This is a typical platformer. Donald can run with Button A, shoot his currently equipped weapon with Button B, and jump with Button C. Donald is equipped with an unlimited number of plungers to shoot at enemies. These will stun your opponents for a moment, allowing you to walk or scoot by them. You can get a limited amount of popcorn shooters, which is a spreadshot that I really only used on bosses. Later on, you get a bubblegum shooter that is used to destroy certain blocks, but are also limited.
Levels typically have a checkpoint that once you reach, you need to have a specific item to go any further. In Duckburg, for example, you need to have special red plungers in order to climb up a wall. If you get to this point without the item you need, you can call Huey, Dewey, and Louie to pick you up in the airplane and head to another level. Then, when you get the item you need, you don’t have to go back through the entire level again, which I appreciated. It took me awhile to realize this, but you can shoot up by holding up while you shoot. This becomes necessary later when you upgrade your plunger again.
Levels are pretty platformy. Some blind jumps are going to be necessary. This is where you’re going to lose a life or two. Keep an eye open for some hidden areas. There are some gimmicks like these falling platforms and fire chasing you. Enemies are usually straightforward, but it took me a long time to realize I could shoot the snakes on these guy’s heads to stun them. Otherwise, you’ll be shooting to help you get over obstacles and jumping to avoid traps.
There are a few bosses that you need to take care of. They have pretty simple patterns, for the most part. This is where you’ll use your corn shooter. The bosses take good damage from this, but you do use 5 units of ammo per shot, which will drain you quickly. The most aggravating spot was using the map in order to save your life in the pyramid. Otherwise, I had a good time finding Daisy a special treasure.
Graphics: 3.0
Sprites and backgrounds look nice and I don’t have any complaints.
Sound: 2.0
The music and sounds are a bit too wonky for my tastes, but they aren’t horrible.
Gameplay: 3.0
Donald controls pretty well. I used that slide a lot once I figured out its existence.
Difficulty: 3.5
You find plenty of lives and levels aren’t too unforgiving.
Fun Factor: 3.0
I had a fun time with this one, it was in my time requirements of not too short and not too long for a sit down and play.
Overall Rating: 2.9
Quackshot Starring Donald Duck earns a B. You thought Mickey was going to be the only one with a solid game? No, this one is definitely good and worth a play.