Any gamer around my age (30 something…) will no doubt remember the classic 8 bit games from the Nintendo system based on some of our favourite TV shows in the early 90’s. Capcom have delivered The Disney Afternoon Collection bringing in the best of those games including Duck Tales 1 and 2, Darkwing Duck, Tale Spin and Chip and Dale Rescue Rangers 1 and 2. The simple and straightforward ports of the original games released on the Nintendo system back in 1991, the purpose of this game is pure nostalgia and it makes no apologies for this.
Graphics wise this game is exactly how it was when it was released. This has not been updated with the pixelated graphics still in play here. Initially I was a little disappointed with this, but it could be a stepping stone to see if fans were keen for a full HD graphical upgrade like the stand alone Duck Tales game received two years ago. You can turn the filtering on and off to stretch the graphics out to fit your screen or use the border around it to keep the original ratio (honestly this is the best looking way to play).
The gameplay has not been altered and it just as challenging as you remember it. The levels are infuriating at times and Capcom have added in a handy Rewind feature that lets you turn back a few seconds to have another go which is extremely useful, particularly in games like Tale Spin that were deliberately made to infuriate and anger gamers everywhere.
Apart from the games themselves, they have also added in some interesting extras including some advertising from the original era, both the English and Japanese cardboard game covers from the original Nintendo entertainment system. There is also the soundtrack to each game track by track and some concept art. It is a great addition to this collection and helped capture this particular moment in gaming history.
For me the Disney Afternoon collection was one of my early memories gaming as a child and this nostalgic trip down memory lane delivered everything that I wanted it to. The games were left in tact as they were and were able to invoke those beautiful and frustrating memories I had as a child loving these franchises and enjoying their games. Capcom have delivered another successful nostalgic experience.
Each game has two new modes added including Boss Rush and Time Attack. Boss Run pits you against all of the games difficult bosses and is not one that I particularly enjoyed. Time Attack moves the game into a social experience which lets you do a run through the levels and this can then by compared to the online leaderboards. You can if you want to compete for the fastest times but I didn’t have a desire to do this.
Overall The Disney Afternoon Collection is a great trip down memory lane. These iconic games have been beautifully restored to current gen consoles without compromising on the classics. Millenial gamers may find frustration with the difficulty of these games, and while the gameplay style may seem simple compared to today’s open world standards, the difficulty is beyond words and an experience that every gamer should to see just how far we have come.
The Disney Afternoon Collection is available for PS4, Xbox One and PC now.
