Plot to QuackShot is almost akin to an episode of Ducktales, only lacking in the out and out greed of Scrooge McDuck. Donald finds information about the mysterious King Garuzia's treasure, and with Indy fedora and his trusty plunger gun, he embarks on a worldwide trip to pretty much find something nice for Daisy. However, the always scheming Pete learns about the treasure and sets out to stop Donald in his tracks.
You move Donald with the D-pad, can run with the A button, shoot with the B button, and jump with the C button. The game is your standard action platformer as you'll have to run and gun your way everywhere from Duckburg to Transylvania, Mexico the the Maharajah, and the North Pole to a viking ship as you find the treasures needed to get you closer to finding the location of the treasure. Donald is equipped with his plunger gun that can stun most enemies, and with later upgrades can stick to walls to ensure an easier climb over seemingly impassable walls.
Donald can also use popcorn ammo that offers a three way shot, but for the most part isn't as useful as the tried and true plunger. Another item you'll earn is the bubble gum ammo which gets rid of blocks to help advance in certain areas like Transylvania. But the best weapon is the chili peppers, which after eating five sends Donald into a fit of rage which acts as the game's invincibility.
Most of the levels start you off having to battle your way through most of the level's enemies, be they Pete's goons, ghosts, turtles with boxing gloves, or other baddies. When you make it to a certain point, you'll place a checkpoint flag that will allow you to call Huey, Dewey, and Louie to take the plane and allow you to go to another place. This is essential as you'll be backtracking through the different areas to find items to help you advance further along.
For example, you'll need a red plunger upgrade to go further in Duckburg, but you'll need to go to Mexico first. The item is in the temple (being held by Goofy, who is just there), but you'll need the key, which is back in Duckburg. I like this concept of having to constantly search for where you need the next item to advance as it does add to the game's treasure hunt feel.
The game has several bosses, each which can be taken down with several plunger shots. There's Dracula Duck, a tiger, a viking skeleton, Pete, and finally the guard of the treasure. The difficulty in the battles can be tricky, especially the Pete fight, but don't feel impossible. Which fits the game's difficulty in general, a fun challenge. Not a cakewalk, but you'll definitely lose a lot of lives in the trip. The game has good controls, but the jump does feel a bit flighty at times, mainly in the game's two mine cart sections where you have to jump from cart to cart.
Graphically the game looks great for a Genesis title. All the characters look like their animated counterparts, especially Donald, who has been given a lot of the personality that the fowl favorite is known for.The game is definitely a loving tribute to Indiana Jones. From Donald's attire to the final level almost coming straight from the Last Crusade. It's definitely the best Indiana Jones game ever made, and it doesn't even feature Harrison Ford.
On the sound level, another fantastic soundtrack can be found here. Every tune sounds great, and fits the area. From the hustle and bustle of Duckburg, to the Egyptian beats, and especially the game's best track, the haunting Transylvania. The game's composer was Shigenori Kamiya, whose other project was Castle of Illusion, so he brings the great music quality of that game to this awesome Disney game.
QuackShot is a game often overlooked when you think of the greatest Disney games of all time. We remember Ducktales, Rescue Rangers, Aladdin, Kingdom Hearts, and even Castle of Illusion, but often leave such a solid title like QuackShot to be forgotten, and that's definitely not fair. It's easily one of the finest titles on the Genesis, with great graphics, sound, and gameplay. If you're building a Genesis collection, pick this one up. This game is certainly not fowl.
Rating: A-