Deep Duck Trouble Starring Donald Duck

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Deep Duck Trouble Starring Donald Duck
Master System box art
Developer(s)	Aspect
Publisher(s)	Sega
Composer(s)	Saori Kobayashi
Platform(s)	Master System, Game Gear
Release	Game Gear JP: December 17, 1993 NA: 1993 EU: January 1994[1] Master System EU: January 1994[1]
Genre(s)	Platform
Mode(s)	Single-player

Deep Duck Trouble Starring Donald Duck,^[a] also known simply as Deep Duck Trouble, is a 1993 platform game developed by Aspect and published by Sega for the Game Gear and Master System. Players control Donald Duck on his journey to rescue his uncle, Scrooge McDuck, from a mysterious curse that has made him inflate like a balloon.

The gameplay consists of the player going through five 2D linear side-scrolling levels, each broken into two parts, where the goal is to reach A treasure at the end, while contending with obstacles, platforming challenges, enemies and bosses. Many of the gameplay mechanics have similarities to previous licensed Disney video games.

The game has received relatively positive reviews.

Deep Duck Trouble is a 2D side-scrolling platform game in which the player controls Donald Duck, the protagonist of the game. The game is reminiscent of both DuckTales (video game) and Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse, as the two games share similar gameplay elements with the former.

The game has a total of five courses, with the final course needing to be unlocked by completing every course prior. The player selects their course through a level select on a map. The majority of gameplay takes place in 2D side-scrolling linear levels, containing obstacles, enemies and assorted platforming challenges, which involve the player traversing the stage by running, jumping, dodging or defeating enemies. Each level is split up into two areas, each a branching part of the same core stage.^[2] At the end of stages a boss battle will occur and if the boss is defeated A treasure can be collected to then end the level. The player starts the game with three lives (referred to in the game as tries), which are lost if Donald's health is fully depleted; additional lives can be earned or regained through life-ups found sparingly throughout stages. If all the players lives are lost the game ends, although the player can choose to continue their game back on the level select screen by selecting "Continue".^[3]

Donald's primary means of attacking enemies are by jumping on them or kicking a box at them.^[4] Certain boxes, modeled as a treasure chest, contain power-ups such as health-ups, items that increase your score or a chili pepper power-up, which automatically makes Donald run forward, destroying any enemies or boxes that you come across for a limited time.^{[citation needed]}

The plot of Deep Duck Trouble is detailed in the instruction booklet.^[5] On an uncharted island a priceless golden amulet was hidden away. No one had found or knew the whereabouts of the island until Scrooge McDuck came across an old map hidden in a book stating the location of it.^[6] Scrooge set off on a treasure hunt to the island where he found the amulet in a shrine around the neck of a goddess statue and brought it home with him. However, the amulet is secretly cursed so when he returned he had inflated like a balloon.^[7] After seeing Scrooge's condition, Huey, Dewey and Louie call Donald for assistance. When Donald arrives he is informed about the problem from his nephews^[8] and Scrooge who asks that he return the amulet to the island in order to undo the curse.^[9] Donald accepts and before he sets off on his journey is given Scrooge's adventure diary as a means of assistance.^[10]

Donald arrives on the island via boat and realizes, through an entry in Scrooge's adventure diary, that he must collect four treasures and cast them into a sacred lake in order for the shrine to reveal itself.^[11] Donald does just that and the shrine reveals itself from the lake. Donald goes into the shrine and, after dealing with the trails within, returns the amulet back to its original place. After Donald places the amulet back a crown appears before him; without hesitation he takes it back home with him. Upon returning home Donald learns that the curse has been lifted and Scrooge is back to his old self.^[12] When Scrooge learns that Donald had taken the crown back with him he scolds Donald telling him that the crown is likely to be cursed just like the amulet.^[13] The game ends with Donald in the same predicament as Scrooge was and Scrooge, Huey, Dewey and Louie walking off into the sunset with Donald in tow ready to go on another adventure back to the island to help with Donald's curse.^[14][15]

In February 21, 2001, Majesco announced plans to re-release Deep Duck Trouble alongside a re-launch of the Game Gear system, with both releasing later that same year.^[16][17][18]

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The game has received "favorable" reviews, according to Sega Magazine.^[1] They gave the Sega Master System version a 80% while they gave the Sega Game Gear version an 81%.^[1]

• Deep Duck Trouble Starring Donald Duck at MobyGames