With DuckTales Remastered set to release for digital download, players will get to experience Capcom’s classic like never before, with beautiful high-resolution graphics and a reworked soundtrack by Jake “Virt” Kaufman. However, it’s the gameplay that’ll bring back memories, with Scrooge McDuck hopping across chasms on his cane and whacking objects with a golf club swing.
To prepare you for this wonderful retro-style experience, we put together some tips to get you through the Amazon, one of the five stages offered in the game. With the help of his clumsy yet loyal pilot Launchpad McQuack, Scrooge makes his way into the jungle, where dangers – and the King’s Scepter – await.
Unreachable Areas: Hardly
Some ledges are just out of reach, even with Scrooge using his pogo hop. If that’s the case, look for a red oil drum or treasure chest you can bounce off of. If the drum isn’t close enough to the ledge, remember that you can use your golf club swing to move it around the stage.
Enemies Galore
Upon entering the Amazon, you’ll encounter four types of enemies. The first is the snake.This is the easiest to take out, though you’ll need to be aware of the way it raises and lowers its head. You can still kill it with a bop of your cane, but you may need to change trajectory, depending on the creature’s height.
The second enemy is the gorilla. This creature charges from the right side of the screen or the left, jumping over obstacles in its way. Either knock an object into it, or bop it on the head as the gorilla passes by.It’s not that hard to defeat.
As for the third enemy, it’s much trickier – a man-eating plant. It sits calmly if you don’t go near it, but if you come close it’ll chomp in an upward direction. Pogo-bopping it is useless because Scrooge takes damage. The safe way to get rid of it is to knock an object from above, like a block or an oil drum.
Then we have oversized bees. These come buzzing around in a waving fashion, moving up and down. It’s an easy pattern to figure out, so you can pogo-bop them with ease. In fact, you can hit bees and jump even higher to snag a treasure chest, so long as you nail the timing.
Know Your Areas
Capcom divided Amazon into three areas: caverns below ground, the jungle just about that and the plains, where Launchpad is ready to lend a hand in the helicopter. Exploring below ground is your best bet, though it can be dark at times. Not to worry, as light surrounds Scrooge, allowing you to see at least a little bit ahead.
As you get further into the caverns, you’ll need to deal with other dangers. Spiked floors and walls could spell disaster for Scrooge if he doesn’t jump properly, so proceed with caution. In addition, watch out for rolling boulders, because they’ll smash anything in their way – including Scrooge. Keep moving and look for a safe platform to land on.
The jungle is a good area, but you’ll find the most enemies. Stay on your guard, ready to launch into a pogo bop when the situation calls for it. You’ll also want to keep an eye out for hittable objects and treasure chests.
Finally, there’s above ground, where you have Launchpad flying over the top of the jungle, with several platforms – and plants – scattered throughout. While hanging on the rope, watch out for low-flying bees, as they’ll easily cost Scrooge health. Whatever you do, keep hanging on until you find a safe platform. Although this stage isn’t nearly as complicated as it was in the 8-bit version of the game – where you had to pogo hop across huge gaps – it’s a good idea to keep your eyes open.
Don’t Forget to Collect Treasure
Finally, when it comes to the Amazon, don’t be afraid to go after the treasure. Sure, the King’s Scepter is the end goal, but collecting funds along the way is part of the fun. You don’t have to worry too much about time running out, so don’t be afraid to look for hidden areas.After all, Scrooge’s money bin won’t fill itself.
DuckTales Remastered releases this Tuesday on the Wii U eShop, PlayStation Network and PC, and September 11th for Xbox Live Arcade.
