DARKWING DUCK

[MurderDate]

I'm kinda obsessed with this game for the night..  I saw some screenshots that look nice - much better than I thought they were.  I wish there was some youtube footage.. not much at all to read about this game on the net, actually.  Does anybody out there actually like it?  Any thoughts?   I like my share of "bad" games if the ambiance is right. 

[PCEngineHell]

The graphics were great for a Disney title,but the gameplay was bad,and the audio was not impressive.

[VestCunt]

It's weird, I like it.  Better than Impossamole, not quite as good as Tailspin.
They actually recycled at least one of the tunes from Tailspin and used it as boss music in DD, which is pretty weak IMO.

[Ceti Alpha]

I'm kinda obsessed with this game for the night..  I saw some screenshots that look nice - much better than I thought they were.  I wish there was some youtube footage.. not much at all to read about this game on the net, actually.  Does anybody out there actually like it?  Any thoughts?   I like my share of "bad" games if the ambiance is right. 

I think I played that at the Radio Shack demo machine back in the day. lol. I remember that the graphics were quite good for the time, though I'm sketchy in terms of what the gameplay was like.  But yeah, it's rarely mentioned. There's a factory sealed Darkwing Duck on eBay for 15.60 CAN. Considering the other sales are over 30 bucks for a factory sealed game, it seems like a good deal. Though makes me wonder why there's so many factory sealed Darkwing Duck games. No one wants to play it?  At least the box art isn't the usual Turbografx ugly. That game definitely stood out on the racks at Radio Shack. heh.

http://cgi.ebay.com/DARKWING-DUCK-TURBO-GRAFX-16-DUO-HuCard-factory-SEALED_W0QQitemZ140200483139QQihZ004QQcategoryZ72501QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD2VQQcmdZViewItem?_trksid=p1638.m122#ebayphotohosting

Here's some screen shots:

http://www.mobygames.com/game/turbo-grafx/disneys-darkwing-duck/screenshots

Here's some other shots (ending spoilers!  ):

http://www.vgmuseum.com/end/tg16/a/dark.htm

...on a side note - How do you rename links so they aren't so long? I think Trekweb spoiled me. They have a function that does it automatically for you.

[Odonadon]

It's weird, I like it.  Better than Impossamole, not quite as good as Tailspin.

I disagree, I think Impossamole is way better than Darkwing Duck (and Tailspin).  I find Darkwing Duck very painful to play - the controls are horrible.  The only thing this game has going for it are the great Disney cartoon graphics.

OD

[Kitsunexus]

LET'S GET DANGEROUS.

[ParanoiaDragon]

You have to extend the Daaaaaangerous!

Anyways, Impossamole blows Darkwing out of the water, not that it's perfect, far from it, but, DD is terrible.  Good graphics, though, kind of blocky at times, love the magnifying glass, & the ridiculous amount of paralax in Moriarty's level, you'd think it was a shmup! 

BTW, is there a driving level in DD?  I've only beaten it on easy, but, I have a picture, from before the game was released, showing DD on his bike, in a 3D(Outrun) view.  Does that happen on normal difficulty?

[Kitsunexus]

You have to extend the Daaaaaangerous!

No no, I wasn't doing like when Darkwing says it, I was doing like the intro.

[Keranu]

As a notorious sucker for bad and cheesy games, Darkwing Ducks was one of the few games I just never liked. Aside from the cool sequences in the lab before levels, I really never appreciated what else this game has to offer and didn't understand how to fight bosses either. Really dull levels, but graphics weren't too bad. Tailspin is the better of the two Disneys games I think.

[SignOfZeta]

The game is an embarrassment to other Disney games on NES and Genesis. When you compare DWD to something like Castle of Illusion...its just sad. DWD's main problem is the floaty controls and *horrible* collision causing you to take damage from enemies you legitimately attacked. The graphics are OK, but its crap.

[Ceti Alpha]

The graphics are OK, but its crap.

hehehe. You can just look at the screenshots of the game to see that it would be awkward to play. And yeah, it is embarrassing when you consider what the other Disney games were like on NES and Genesis. 

[Sinistron]

It's a below average title for sure- but it's not in the bottom dregs of my pc-engine games.  For instance- I find it better than Alice in Wonderdream, Turrican (HATE this p.o.s.), Titan, Klax, Burning Angels (I'll get crucified for saying that), Saint Dragon, Cloud Master and Kiki Kaikai (two of the worst man-this-looks-good-but-isn't-fun-to-play carts IMO).  TaleSpin IS better- but TaleSpin is pretty average though it has a good playing variety.  Anyway- just as everyone says- the DWD gameplay is pretty shitty.  The graphics are great- and Darkwing himself is pretty sweet- pretty much what made me want to beat it- though I was only able to in easy mode because the controls really are that nerve wracking.  It isn't one of those games that I wish I never bought though- I knew it would be below average going in but I still wanted to play it and beat it- even if in easy mode- if you do get it just expect the worst and hope for something fun for a hot minute.

[MurderDate]

I've noticed on EBay it is a pretty in-demand game..  Actually that sealed copy for $15 is a steal -  the game sold (twice) for like $30 and $40 last month. 

I have a copy coming my way..  totally stoked to play it.

[esteban]

I just bought the copy you folks posted in this thread.

I've played this game before and it is one of those games I couldn't play for more than a few minutes, and I am a certified masochist when it comes to games.

The fact that I have zero interest in Darkwing Duck is part of my problem, as well.

But, that said, I'm going to give this game another chance.

I'm also going to give Ghost Manor another chance.

[nat]

Ghost Manor is awesome. It's 10x the game DWD could ever hope to be.

It's funny this thread showed up, just last weekend I sat down and played through on Easy mode though I've had the game for some time. Like most games, the controls aren't that bad once you master them. I think the control issues in Impossamole are far worse, though I enjoy that game to some degree too.

Whoever said it was a disappointment in light of the Genesis and SNES Disney titles got it right though, look at a beauty like Alladin on the SNES, and you'll be really hating Disney/TTI for this.

It's an average platformer for me, with graphics ranging from average to good. The biggest letdown here is the music, which, staying true to the precedent set by Night Creatures, has two or three tunes that recycle throughout. The best number is the boss tune, which I just learned was stolen from Talespin anyway.

I still need to find a copy of Talespin.

[MurderDate]

I have Ghost Manor..  I can't handle it.  I can't even get to level 2.   ha
(the final boss fight up on youtube looks fuckin' sweet, that's why I bought it..  plus I'm a bit of a horror buff, so..)

esteban - glad you the got the sealed DWD.  You should take a picture of yourself holding it up & post it here.
btw how old are you, dude?  I was like 11 in 1991 and Darkwing Duck was definitely the shit back then!

I'm not really put off by lousy control issues in a game (unless it's REALLY bad..).  To me personally, the controls in Forgotten Worlds suck pretty bad but you never hear anyone complaining about that. Even the control in Bonk's..  let's just say it's got personality

hmm I want to play Tailspin.

[Sinistron]

Ghost Manor is awesome.  You need help getting past a certain level?  I had problems for awhile but then figured it out.  I'm thinking you're talking about the second board actually- you have to power up your shot which will then split in two- it's like the only way you can shoot that dude at the bottom in the cave/hollow whom you need to kill.

[nat]

I was stuck on that one for a long time to. After you pass that level the game is busted wide open.

I could never figure out that you had to actually kill that ogre to get the key. I kept thinking it was just hidden somewhere.

Ghost Manor is a fantastic game.

Underrated, unappreciated, misunderstood.

[MurderDate]

GHOST MANOR :  man,  this level (2) is sooo hard !  I just now realized the bullets turn from purple to red - and that's when they're powered up.  But regarding hitting that guy who throws the knives - when can you strike ? I killed the guy up top no problem but the one on the bottom is hard. HE has the key ?

I'll check it out later tonight.   thanks men !

[nat]

Yeah he's got the key. He's not that hard. Try to hit him in his head. If I remember right there is a stalagmite or something on the ground in front of him that blocks your shots unless you jump and shoot him in the head. He takes a few hits before he goes down.

[Sinistron]

I remember it being that your shot has to be powered up as much as possible so that it shoots out as two.  I thought he had to be hit low.  Murderdate- be stingy with those shots- don't use them all up.  True though- Ghost Manor is definitely the shit.  Takes some skill but you keep getting further.  I remember the second board being tricky with some jumps and hitting those snowfreaks just right.  Those flying things can be a bitch too.  If I were you I'd collect all the orbs to power your shot up so that it shoots two- then kill that guy to get the key- then get to the top - I think there's something on the top left?  Free guy?  Don't remember.  Then kill that second guy easily and exit the level.

[esteban]

I have Ghost Manor..  I can't handle it.  I can't even get to level 2.   ha
(the final boss fight up on youtube looks fuckin' sweet, that's why I bought it..  plus I'm a bit of a horror buff, so..)

esteban - glad you the got the sealed DWD.  You should take a picture of yourself holding it up & post it here.
btw how old are you, dude?  I was like 11 in 1991 and Darkwing Duck was definitely the shit back then!

I'm not really put off by lousy control issues in a game (unless it's REALLY bad..).  To me personally, the controls in Forgotten Worlds suck pretty bad but you never hear anyone complaining about that. Even the control in Bonk's..  let's just say it's got personality

hmm I want to play Tailspin.

Tailspin or Talespin or whatever it is called is a medicore game. It's not horrible, but it is pretty bland. I think you can raise the default difficulty, but you're still not going to be challenged... which would really help things, IMO. As someone mentioned recently, there is a variety of gameplay in TaleSpin that keeps things slightly more interesting than it would have otherwise been. One pet peeve: I've never like that Balloo throws coconuts underhanded. I should be the last one to complain about this, but for some reason it really irks me. Go figure.

As for Darkwing Duck, I'm glad you said that you were able to get used to the controls. I have never given the game a chance, but if the controls do not break the game, then I should be OK.

------------
DuckTales was the cartoon I liked when I was "too old" (6-7th grade) for Disney cartoons. By the time Darkwing Duck came out, it didn't seem compelling to me (I watched a few episodes when it first aired). It might be a good cartoon... I've just never watched it. I can't remember much from Chip n Dale Rescue Rangers, either... but I think I liked Rescue Rangers more than Darkwing Duck, if that helps.

I can say that DuckTales went downhill as a series at some point (they added some new characters and the plot lines were not nearly as interesting... I remember being annoyed by Launchpad rather quickly... I might be more forgiving now, though. I haven't seen the show in a bazillion years.

Of all these Disney cartoons, though, I think I disliked TaleSpin the most.

And I think Gummi Bears was a friggin' fun show, so I think I'm all over the place when it comes to judging these shows.
------------

[esteban]

Ghost Manor is awesome. It's 10x the game DWD could ever hope to be.

It's funny this thread showed up, just last weekend I sat down and played through on Easy mode though I've had the game for some time. Like most games, the controls aren't that bad once you master them. I think the control issues in Impossamole are far worse, though I enjoy that game to some degree too.

Yeah, CrackTiger got me interested in Ghost Manor... and then when all you folks started spreading the love about this game, I realized that I had to revisit it.

Of course, I've been trying to get Ghost Manor for a few years now... and it just happened to be offered by the same fellow who is selling DarkWing Duck.

I want to give Gunboat another chance as well. I read runin's (?) review recently.

I think it is fun to revisit some of the games that I didn't like when I was a kid and see if I can appreciate them now. It's fun. If only folks would do this for Blodia and China Warrior!

[nat]

I just sold off my extra copy of Ghost Manor. Where were you? Oh, that's right, you took a year vacation from the forums.

Gunboat isn't bad either. See runinruder's review re: my own feelings on it.

I still have a brand new, shrinkwrapped copy of Falcon sitting here that I've never touched. Maybe one day after I have beaten every other Turbo game...

I think it is fun to revisit some of the games that I didn't like when I was a kid and see if I can appreciate them now. It's fun. If only folks would do this for Blodia and China Warrior!

Preach it, brotha.

[Ceti Alpha]

I still have a brand new, shrinkwrapped copy of Falcon sitting here that I've never touched. Maybe one day after I have beaten every other Turbo game...

Poor Falcon...gets no love. I killed that game when I was a kid. I'm pretty sure I beat it, and I'm pretty sure it's just like Gunboat - no ending.  I kinda forget though. However, Gunboat will definitely have to be bought. In any case, Falcon had one of the best North America HuCARD designs. It was one of the only ones that actually had a picture.

[ParanoiaDragon]

I just bought the copy you folks posted in this thread.

I've played this game before and it is one of those games I couldn't play for more than a few minutes, and I am a certified masochist when it comes to games.

The fact that I have zero interest in Darkwing Duck is part of my problem, as well.

But, that said, I'm going to give this game another chance.

I'm also going to give Ghost Manor another chance.

I came pretty close to buying it, but, it's just more money to spend, however, I was still tempted, now, you have removed temptation from me!

I stopped liking Disney cartoons, when Goof Troop came out, I hated that show.  I love Ducktales, Talespin, & Darkwing Duck.  Chip n Dale were....ok, & I think I remember diggin Gummi Bears, but, really haven't seen it in years to say for sure.

[MurderDate]

man I love all those shows.  You guys are bringing back some great memories for me.

Ghost Manor -   Sinistron I CANNOT figure out how to get my orbs there to double up ?? hasn't happend yet.  I don't know how much more powerful I can get them - they go from purple to red-  right ?

I finally noticed you are supposed to "search" inside doorways and stuff - but the stars go flinging across the game.  If, say, a heart or a orb power-up get flung somewhere out of sght , are they gone from there or will they be hiding some place off screen? I can't seem to find any.

So am I to believe that you basically have to reset the game if you run out of orbs while youre playing?  You have to die and start over? OMG

Enjoying the game - but it's tough !

[nat]

Ghost Manor -   Sinistron I CANNOT figure out how to get my orbs there to double up ?? hasn't happend yet.  I don't know how much more powerful I can get them - they go from purple to red-  right ?

They go from purple to red to double. Or maybe the red is double. Can't remember.

I finally noticed you are supposed to "search" inside doorways and stuff - but the stars go flinging across the game.  If, say, a heart or a orb power-up get flung somewhere out of sght , are they gone from there or will they be hiding some place off screen?

When they go flying like that it's to indicate you have effectively "collected" whatever the given powerup was. It doesn't go anywhere except into your pocket.

So am I to believe that you basically have to reset the game if you run out of orbs while youre playing? 

Yes. Be conservative. This game is 50% strategy.

Another note: it's really not necessary you have the "double shot" to defeat the ogre at the bottom hiding the key. Really. He only takes like 5-7 shots and then he's down, half that if you have the double. Just make sure you are actually hitting him. Whenever I first start the stage, I go up, then all the way to the bottom right, collect the weapon powerup, then go back left and defeat the ogre immediately before trying to fuck with the rest of the level. It's pointless trying to putz around collecting weapon powerups, while losing life, if you don't even have the key to get into the Manor.

[CrackTiger]

I made a sort of play log/mini walkthrough for most of Ghost Manor back when I first played it during a previous discussion-

https://www.pcengine-fx.com/forums/index.php?topic=2264.0

[OldRover]

It's kind of disturbing that DWD is such a bad game, especially considering it was delayed several times before being released. When a game is delayed, it usually means it's getting improved so a better product will result. Bleh...see, even back then, licensed games tended to suck. Today the suckitude is simply magnified.

[SignOfZeta]

It's kind of disturbing that DWD is such a bad game, especially considering it was delayed several times before being released. When a game is delayed, it usually means it's getting improved so a better product will result.

Yeah, I don't know about that.

Bleh...see, even back then, licensed games tended to suck. Today the suckitude is simply magnified.

Yeah, I don't know about that either. There was a time when licensed games were almost always bad, and often unplayable. For every Super Star Wars there is a Shaq Fu, a Home Improvement, and a Home Alone.

Anime games in particular are very good on a regular basis. It used to be that 9/10 games from Bandai were so bad you'd only play them once, now they release great titles every year.

[Sinistron]

Can you really beat that guy without the double shot?  I remember trying a gazillion times and I'd hit him like once or twice as if by a glitch and I'd try standing everywhere and jumping.  Murderdate- with the double shot- if you're standing right in front of an enemy it doesn't look like a double shot- the shot spreads out into two over a distance.  As for the doors- I think on that level they just shoot you around the board to different doors that you can already reach? I know later on in the game you need to go in some but there's another real bitch- some doors take you back to the beginning of the forking game!  From the later levels!  When that happens you just have to curse in crazed frustration and make a note to not revisit the same door.  Yes the game is challenging- but something kept drawing me into it.  Someday I've got to get back to the end boss so I can whup his ass...  But memorizing all the doors from scratch again will be a chore.  Guess I'll be using that walkthrough just posted.

[Sinistron]

ahhhhhh jump and shoot while he's throwing daggers is it?  OK Murderdate scratch what I said lol.  My bad.  These fine folk are right and I'm wrong- of course if you double the shot you can kill him easier- but I see now it's not necessary.

[MurderDate]

man I LOVE Ghost Manor.   Played that bitch for hours last night.   I can't wait until the sun goes down so I can play some more tonight.

THANKS GUYS !! (especially nat, sinistron, CrackTiger & esteban)
 
Huge amount of love & info here!

I can't wait for DARKWING DUCK to arrive !!     Coming in the same box with Gate of Thunder (!!)   SWEET !

[nat]

man I LOVE Ghost Manor.   Played that bitch for hours last night.   I can't wait until the sun goes down so I can play some more tonight.

Yeah, the music is nice, especially if you turn it down a little bit, but still audible. At night, alone, very atmospheric.

[NecroPhile]

It's kind of disturbing that DWD is such a bad game, especially considering it was delayed several times before being released. When a game is delayed, it usually means it's getting improved so a better product will result.

I'd hate to see it before it was delayed and improved; I'm betting that it looked a bit like Drop Rock with Darkwing Duck characters instead of fruit.

[MurderDate]

I went through a whole round of ammo trying to shoot that guy on the bottom throwing the daggers - I only got like 2 shots in.  It's impossible to time it.  I am thinking I should collect most of the power ups and get the double shot -  the problem then is that if you die you have to reset the entire game over (not a huge deal, but annoying) because if you collect all the power ups the first time around you won't be able to collect any this time.   I love the game and I'm not one to consider such eccentricities as flaws but that's .. pretty harsh  pushin' pretty hard

[Sinistron]

Just master the board til it's like breathing- then do it my way.  Double shot kill that forking clown.   

[nat]

I played all the way through Darkwing Duck last night, for the first time.

It's not a horrible game, really. The worst part about it is the controls, which you can get used to. The bosses are all easier than the levels that precede them. The visuals are pretty nice all the way through with plenty of parallax.

My biggest complaint is the game is too short, a mere four levels.

[MurderDate]

cool, nat.  I can't wait for my copy to show up in the mail.    I don't mind at all if the boss is easy at the end of a particularly tricky level - especially if he looks good.

I have only beaten a handful TG16 games so far but it seems to me like a lot of them might be on the short side.

I was playing Pac Land today - despite not being able to figure out how to jump off of those springboards properly I did pretty well !

[nat]

It's funny you mention Pac-Land and short games in the same message.

Pac-Land is extremely long. After you beat the game (32 levels), it unlocks a second secret game on the cartridge called "Pac-Land PRO" which is yet another 32 levels.

[Ceti Alpha]

Pac-Land is extremely long. After you beat the game (32 levels), it unlocks a second secret game on the cartridge called "Pac-Land PRO" which is yet another 32 levels.

'

Woa! Seriously? How much Pac-Land can one person take? lol 

[Sinistron]

Yeah that Pac-land pro is ridiculous. 
Fianlly got to the last guy of Soldier Blade last night- that "I'll be back/I'll kill you" bastard- I would have stayed up and whipped him but it was already 12:30.  He's a joke until his you take off his shield and gun, eh?  That whole short last level is jokey- Mission 6 is the one I was stuck on forever.

[esteban]

I played all the way through Darkwing Duck last night, for the first time.

It's not a horrible game, really. The worst part about it is the controls, which you can get used to. The bosses are all easier than the levels that precede them. The visuals are pretty nice all the way through with plenty of parallax.

My biggest complaint is the game is too short, a mere four levels.

All I remember, from many moons ago, is jumping around the first level. Even those vague memories are making me cringe right now as I type this.

And, you folks who beat Ghost Manor: what is the flying stage like (you fly around in a skull, or something)? I always thought that stage looked really neat, but I've never gotten there.

[MurderDate]

D-WingDuck :

so I played through the game on easy mode last night.   I'm gonna paint myself into a corner here with this one , but :  LOVED IT !
BETTER THAN GHOST MANOR !  As soon as you get the controls down the game actually plays really great.  You are bottom-heavy, like a duck , sure.  But all the jumping feels GREAT !   I didn't like the music at first until I put together that it's supposed to be a film noir spin off and then overall I'd say I changed my mind.  Graphics are great all around - if you like the late era hu-cards vibe as much as I do you won't have any complaints there.   Now the main thing that gets me about this game is how much more difficult the bosses are once you switch from easy mode to "normal" mode.  I only played one (and this was preeeeety late last night), but I'd say it was ALMOST unreasonable.  Definitely will take some practice.    so overall I'd give it a 6 (Ghost Manor gets a 5 from me).

and I was waiting to hear "LET'S GET DANGEROUS!" the whole session but it never came  !!??

[esteban]

D-WingDuck :

so I played through the game on easy mode last night.   I'm gonna paint myself into a corner here with this one , but :  LOVED IT !
BETTER THAN GHOST MANOR !  As soon as you get the controls down the game actually plays really great.  You are bottom-heavy, like a duck , sure.  But all the jumping feels GREAT !   I didn't like the music at first until I put together that it's supposed to be a film noir spin off and then overall I'd say I changed my mind.  Graphics are great all around - if you like the late era hu-cards vibe as much as I do you won't have any complaints there.   Now the main thing that gets me about this game is how much more difficult the bosses are once you switch from easy mode to "normal" mode.  I only played one (and this was preeeeety late last night), but I'd say it was ALMOST unreasonable.  Definitely will take some practice.    so overall I'd give it a 6 (Ghost Manor gets a 5 from me).

and I was waiting to hear "LET'S GET DANGEROUS!" the whole session but it never came  !!??

wow.

wow.

This has to be a first in the history of the TG-16 universe: unabashed praise for DD.

[Sinistron]

And, you folks who beat Ghost Manor: what is the flying stage like (you fly around in a skull, or something)? I always thought that stage looked really neat, but I've never gotten there.

I never beat it- but I got to that last guy- honestly he seemed pretty easy but I was too amazed that I reached him and got owned.  It's not much of a stage- just a boss fight where you get to fly around on some kind of skull chariot- if I remember correctly every time you hit him (the boss) he disappears and reappears.  Gonna have to beat that game soon.  I just wish that I wrote down which doors teleport you back to the beginning which to me is the biggest bitch in that game.

[ParanoiaDragon]

I remember beating it back in the day on easy, & then promptly returning it to Babbage's & got Bonk 3 instead.  What I'd still like to know, if anyone has ever seen a motorcycle scene in the game that you can play.  Maybe on normal?

[MurderDate]

What I'd still like to know, if anyone has ever seen a motorcycle scene in the game that you can play.  Maybe on normal?

great question.  Anybody know ?