DuckTales

DuckTales for Game Boy is a pocket version of one of the most popular licensed platformer titles from the late 80s, created just like the famous NES version by Capcom. The player takes on the role of the wealthy duck Scrooge McDuck, and his main weapon and tool is his cane, with which he can not only strike enemies but, above all, bounce off it like a pogo stick – this movement trick forms the basis of the vast majority of the game's platforming and combat. The level design is built around five different destinations that the player can choose in any order from the world map, ranging from snowy mountains to the surface of the Moon.

Porting to the smaller display required adjustments to the levels and graphics, but the key gameplay principles remained intact – bouncing on the cane serves to destroy enemies, collect treasure, and reach otherwise inaccessible spots, turning every level into a small platforming puzzle. The game also retains the characteristic humor and visual style of the popular animated series, albeit in a much more modest hardware guise of a black-and-white display.

Even considering the limitations of the handheld at the time, this is one of the technically and gameplay-wise most accomplished licensed titles of the early Game Boy, and it still holds up today as a brisk and well-controlled platformer. In fact, thanks to its quality execution, this installment is often cited as proof that licensed games based on cartoons didn't automatically have to be shoddy cash-ins.

Why play it: Anyone who likes precise bounce mechanics and cleverly built levels will find one of the best-executed licensed games on the Game Boy in this pocket version.