DuckTales 2 (1993-)

• Developer: Capcom

• Publisher: Capcom

• Genre: Platform

• Designer: Ichirou Mihara

• Composer: Minae Fujii, Akihiro Akamatsu

DuckTales 2 for the NES was developed and published by Capcom, releasing in 1993 during the final years of the console’s commercial life. It served as the direct sequel to the 1989 original DuckTales and retained the core gameplay formula while introducing new features and refinements. The game was also released on the Game Boy in the same year, with the portable version preserving the main mechanics and levels. Due to its late release, the NES version had a limited production run, which has since made it one of the rarer titles in the console’s library.

The story once again follows Scrooge McDuck, this time on a quest to recover pieces of a map belonging to his ancestor, Fergus McDuck, which is said to lead to a hidden treasure. Players journey through five diverse locations, including Niagara Falls, the Bermuda Triangle, Mu, Egypt, and Scotland. While clearly inspired by the globe-trotting adventures of the first game, DuckTales 2 aimed to expand the concept by offering more interactive environments and additional puzzle-solving elements. The theme of uncovering ancient mysteries and navigating treacherous locales remained true to both the TV series and Scrooge’s established persona.

Gameplay builds upon the original’s pogo-jumping and cane-swinging mechanics, with the addition of new abilities such as pulling levers, moving blocks, and firing a cannon with the help of other characters. Players could also upgrade Scrooge’s cane to reach new areas, encouraging backtracking and exploration. As before, levels could be tackled in any order, and hidden treasures were scattered throughout. The soundtrack, composed in Capcom’s signature NES style, delivered upbeat, location-specific themes that fit the adventurous tone of the game, though it never quite eclipsed the iconic tracks of its predecessor.

Promotion for DuckTales 2 was more modest compared to the first game, as the NES was being phased out in favor of newer consoles like the Super Nintendo. Reviews at the time were generally positive, praising the refined controls and new mechanics, but some critics noted it felt too similar to the original. The smaller print run meant many players missed it upon release, but over time it has gained a cult following among NES collectors and fans of Capcom’s licensed titles. With no further DuckTales games released for the NES, the series would remain dormant until the modern DuckTales Remastered in 2013, which reimagined the first game rather than continuing the events of DuckTales 2.

Images from MobyGames