{{short description|1991 platform video game}} {{for|the 1954 Merrie Melodies cartoon|Quack Shot}} {{Infobox video game | title = QuackShot Starring Donald Duck | image = QuackShot - Starring Donald Duck.jpg | caption = | developer = Sega | publisher = Sega | director = Emiko Yamamoto | artist = Takashi Yuda | programmer = Hiroshi Momota<br />Masato Omori<br />Keiichi Yamamoto | composer = Shigenori Kamiya | platforms = Sega Genesis, Sega Saturn | released = '''Genesis'''{{vgrelease|NA|November 1991<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/details/Electronic_Gaming_Monthly_29/page/n21/mode/1up|title=Review Crew: Quackshot|magazine=Electronic Gaming Monthly|issue=29|date=December 1991|page=22|access-date=April 10, 2022}}</ref>|EU|December 1991<ref name="ctw365">{{cite magazine |title=The Release Schedule|magazine=Computer Trade Weekly|issue=365|publisher=Opportunity Publishing|date=2 December 1991|page=23|url=https://retrocdn.net/images/f/f1/CTW_UK_365.pdf|access-date=25 February 2025}}</ref><ref name="SegaForce1">{{cite magazine |title=QuackShot Starring Donald Duck |magazine=Sega Force |publisher=Europress Impact |location=United Kingdom |date=January 1992 |issue=1 |page=26}}</ref>|JP|December 20, 1991<ref name="Sega titles - Sega JP">{{cite web |title=Software List (Sega Release) |url=https://www.sega.jp/history/hard/megadrive/software.html |website=Sega Hardware Encyclopedia |publisher=Sega Corporation |access-date=May 15, 2023 |language=ja}}</ref>}} '''Saturn'''{{vgrelease|JP|October 15, 1998}} | genre = Platform, metroidvania<ref>{{cite news | url = https://venturebeat.com/2013/04/19/5-other-retro-disney-games-that-deserve-remakes/ | title = 5 other retro Disney games that deserve remakes | first = Mike | last = Minotti | date = April 19, 2013 | access-date = July 20, 2016 | work = VentureBeat | quote = "The labyrinth-like dungeons and upgradable weapons also gave QuackShot a bit of a Metroid feel long before it was cool to make endless 'Metroidvania' clones." | archive-date = October 22, 2022 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20221022155618/https://venturebeat.com/games/5-other-retro-disney-games-that-deserve-remakes/ | url-status = dead }}</ref> | modes = Single-player }} '''''QuackShot Starring Donald Duck''''', known in Japan as {{Nihongo foot|'''''I Love Donald Duck: The Treasure of King Garuzia''''',|アイラブドナルドダック グルジア王の秘宝|Ai Rabu Donarudo Dakku Gurujia-ō no Hihō|lead=yes|group=lower-alpha}}{{Efn|The game's Japanese title screen, box art, and instruction manual feature the English ''QuackShot'' title; the former as {{Nihongo|'''''QuackShot: The Treasure of King Garuzia'''''|QuackShot グルジア王の秘宝|QuackShot Gurujia-ō no Hihō|lead=yes}} and the latter two separately from the full title.<ref name=JPManual>{{Cite book |title=I Love Donald Duck: The Treasure of King Garuzia Instruction Booklet |year=1991 |language=Japanese |url=https://archive.org/details/QuackShot_I_Love_Donald_Duck_1991_Sega_JP/mode/2up}}</ref> However, the game is commonly cited by Japanese third-party sources with the ''I Love Donald Duck'' wording of the title.<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=December 19, 1991 |title=Donald Duck, It's Showtime!! |magazine=Famitsu |url=https://archive.org/details/famitsu-0157/page/114/mode/2up |page=115 |issue=157|language=Japanese}}</ref><ref name=Famitsu/>|group=lower-alpha}} is a 1991 platform game developed and published by Sega for the Sega Genesis. The player controls Donald Duck as he, alongside his three nephews Huey, Dewey and Louie, attempt to track down a lost artifact which was treasured by King Garuzia. The game was influenced by the ''Indiana Jones'' film series.
''QuackShot'' was released with a positive response from video game publications. The game was universally lauded for its graphics, with magazines like ''Sega Pro'' describing them as "some of the best graphics around", and the game was also praised for its music and puzzles. Adversely, the game was criticized for its overall difficulty and the controls in certain situations. Retrospectively, ''QuackShot'' was also criticized for its lack of speech samples by ''IGN''.
==Gameplay== [[File:QuackShot - Starring Donald Duck Mexico platforming.jpg|thumb|Donald traverses platforms in a level modeled after Mexico. The player's health is signified by the number of hearts in the lower-left corner.]] The player, as Donald, ventures through a variety of side-scrolling levels. Generally, each level is divided into an overland part and a dungeon, such as the Maharajah's palace or the temple in which the Great Duck Treasure resides.<ref>{{Citation | title = QuackShot: Starring Donald Duck Instruction Manual | author = Disney Interactive Staff | publisher = Sega | date = December 19, 1991 | pages = 16–17}}</ref> Although the player may choose any order to play the overland sections, various obstacles prevent the player from entering the dungeons outside a specific order. In addition to this, some levels provide the player with vital clues which solve puzzles needed to progress in later sections. Once Donald has completed the overland section of an area, he may leave by calling his nephews' biplane, and will return to the dungeon entrance of that area if the player chooses to return.<ref>{{Citation | title = QuackShot: Starring Donald Duck Instruction Manual | author = Disney Interactive Staff | publisher = Sega | date = December 19, 1991 | pages = 12}}</ref>
Donald is armed with a special gun that can shoot plungers, popcorn or bubble gum.<ref name=donalditems>{{Citation | title = QuackShot: Starring Donald Duck Instruction Manual | author = Disney Interactive Staff | publisher = Sega | date = December 19, 1991 | pages = 9–10}}</ref> Donald has unlimited plungers which can temporarily stun enemies (though bosses can still be damaged with plungers), and can collect popcorn and gum along the way or get the latter from Gyro Gearloose. Later in the game, the plunger is upgraded to act as a temporary platform to climb walls with and, when stuck to a passing bird, allows Donald to traverse longer distances.<ref name=ign/><ref name=donalditems/> In the overland sections of Duckburg, India, and Egypt, Donald can also pick up chilli peppers which increase his temper, eventually temporarily activating a "quack attack" mode that allows him to become invincible, automatically run forward and knock out enemies in his path.<ref name=donalditems/>
==Plot== While Donald Duck is combing through his uncle's library, an incomplete map falls out of a book relating to the treasure of King Garuzia, the ruler of a kingdom from ancient times. The map leads to the location of the king's most prized possession, which was hidden away shortly before his death. Donald, thinking this could lead to riches, teams up with his nephews Huey, Dewey, and Louie, in order to search for the treasure; completely disregarding his girlfriend Daisy's concerns. However, Donald's rival, Pete, overhears about the mission and sets out with his own team to obtain the treasure for himself.
Donald follows the incomplete map's directions until arriving in Transylvania, where he obtains the complete map from Count Dracula's castle. Now with the complete map, Donald continues on his journey until reaching a Viking ship, which supposedly contains an old diary containing the secret to locating the treasure's whereabouts. Upon contending with the undead Vikings on the ship, Donald learns that the diary is not within the ship but rather near the South Pole. He travels to the Pole and finds the diary, but upon obtaining it Donald's nephews are temporarily held for ransom by Pete for the book. Donald gives Pete the diary, then gives chase for Pete's hideout and manages to get the book back, defeating Pete in the process. After following the diary's writings, and subsequently the final directions of the map, Donald manages to find the treasure, which is revealed to be an ordinary stone statue. Disappointed, Donald returns home with the statue, however upon accidentally being broken by his nephews it is revealed that it holds a golden jeweled necklace. Donald gives the necklace to Daisy and the two walk away into the sunset together.
==Development and release== ''QuackShot'' was developed and published by Sega for the Sega Genesis. In May 1991, Sega presented the game at the Consumer Electronics Show.<ref name="Fantasia-Supergame">{{Cite magazine |url=https://retrocdn.net/images/6/68/Supergame_BR_02.pdf |date=August 1991 |title=The Planet Disney enters the orbit of Sega |magazine=Supergame |issue=2 |pages=20–21}}</ref> The game was released in North America on November 1991, in Europe a month later, and in Japan on December 20, 1991. ''QuackShot'' was released as part of a bundle called ''The Disney Collection for Genesis'' in 1996 alongside ''Castle of Illusion''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mobygames.com/game/disney-collection |title=The Disney Collection for Genesis (1996) – Mobygames |work=Moby Games |publisher=Sciere |access-date=27 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029193243/http://www.mobygames.com/game/disney-collection |archive-date=29 October 2013}}</ref> The game was also ported to the Sega Saturn and released exclusively in Japan alongside ''Castle of Illusion'' again as part of the Sega Ages series in 1998, entitled ''Sega Ages: I Love Mickey Mouse''.<ref>{{cite web|last=Miles|first=Nathan |title=Review – QuackShot|url=http://retro4ever.com/review-quackshot-sega-genesis/ |website=Retro4Ever|date=March 15, 2012|access-date=20 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141104014348/http://retro4ever.com/review-quackshot-sega-genesis/|archive-date=4 November 2014}}</ref>
==Reception== ===Contemporary=== {{Video game reviews <!-- Reviewers -->| GR = 77/100<ref name=gamerankings>{{Citation | url = http://www.gamerankings.com/genesis/586403-quackshot-starring-donald-duck/index.html | title = Quackshot: Starring Donald Duck for Genesis - GameRankings | publisher = GameRankings | access-date = 2014-06-13 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20191209012602/http://www.gamerankings.com/genesis/586403-quackshot-starring-donald-duck/index.html | archive-date = 2019-12-09 | url-status = live }}</ref> | CVG = 89/100<ref name="C&VC-QShot">{{cite magazine |author=Paul Rand |date=January 1992 |title=Quackshot |type=Review |magazine=Computer and Video Games |url=https://archive.org/stream/Computer_Video_Games_Issue_122_1992-01_EMAP_Publishing_GB/Computer__Video_Games_Issue_122_1992-01_EMAP_Publishing_GB#page/n51 |issue=122 |page=52 |access-date=August 17, 2015}}</ref> | Fam = 6/10, 6/10, 6/10, 6/10<ref name=Famitsu>{{Cite magazine |date=December 27, 1991 |title=New Games Cross Review |magazine=Famitsu |url=https://archive.org/details/famitsu-0158/page/40/mode/2up |page=41 |issue=158|language=Japanese}}</ref> <!-- Custom reviewers -->| rev1 = ''Console XS'' | rev1Score = 92/100<ref name="XS">{{cite magazine |title=Software A-Z: Mega Drive |magazine=Console XS |date=23 April 1992 |issue=1 (June/July 1992) |publisher=Paragon Publishing |location=United Kingdom |pages=126–37 |url=https://archive.org/details/console-xs-01/page/126/mode/2up}}</ref> | rev2 = | rev2Score = | rev3 = ''MegaTech'' | rev3Score = 82/100<ref name=megatech>MegaTech rating, EMAP, issue 5, May 1992</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |title=Game Index |magazine=MegaTech |date=31 May 1995 |issue=42 (June 1995) |pages=30–1 |url=https://archive.org/details/megatech-42/page/n29/mode/2up}}</ref> | IGN = 7.3/10<ref name=ign>{{Citation | url = http://retro.ign.com/articles/923/923146p1.html | title = QuackShot Retro Review - IGN | date = 23 October 2008 | publisher = IGN | access-date = 2014-06-13 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140613202401/http://www.ign.com/articles/2008/10/23/quackshot-retro-review | archive-date = 2014-06-13}}</ref> | rev4 = ''Sega-16'' | rev4Score = 8/10<ref name=gamerankings/> | rev5 = ''Sega Pro'' | rev5Score = 95/100<ref name=segapro>[http://www.outofprintarchive.com/articles/reviews/MegaDrive/Quackshot-SegaPro3-2.html Out-of-Print Archive • Mega Drive/Genesis reviews • Quackshot]</ref> }}
In the United Kingdom, ''QuackShot'' was the top-selling Mega Drive game upon release.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=CVG Charts |magazine=Computer and Video Games |date=15 December 1991 |issue=122 (January 1992) |pages=87–9 |url=https://archive.org/details/cvg-magazine-122/page/n86}}</ref>
''QuackShot'' received a positive response from critics upon release. Paul Rand of ''Computer and Video Games'' magazine praised the graphics and gameplay, but noted its slower pace compared to action games.<ref name="C&VC-QShot"/> ''MegaTech'' magazine also praised the graphics and gameplay, but criticized the lack of difficulty.<ref name=megatech/> ''Console XS'' magazine called it one of the "best games for the Mega Drive."<ref name="XS"/> Damian Butt from ''Sega Pro'' gave it a 95% score, praising the graphics and puzzles, explaining that "[e]ven if the ideas are not original, the way they are strung together to accelerate the pace to overload is nothing short of breath-taking". That said, he had several criticisms, including Donald's controls in certain situations, the difficulty of some levels and puzzles, and "the number of credits" that make the game seem easy with unlimited continues, but noted that the player will "still need considerable skill to reach the treasure island". Ultimately, he said that "[y]ounger players will instantly be enthralled by Donald's quest" and that "''QuackShot'' is everything a cartoon game should be and more".<ref name=segapro/>
''Entertainment Weekly'' gave the game an A and wrote: "What does this action game have in common with classic 1950s Disney cartoons? The completely deranged hero. During the Donald's 'quack attacks', the feathers practically fly off the screen and into your lap".<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/article/1992/01/31/latest-video-games-2/|title=The latest video games|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|access-date=2018-09-07|archive-date=2018-09-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180908015637/https://ew.com/article/1992/01/31/latest-video-games-2/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
===Retrospective===
GameRankings, an aggregator for video game reviews, assigned the game a score of 77% based on two retrospective reviews from ''Sega-16'' and ''IGN''. ''Sega-16'' scored it eight out of ten.<ref name=gamerankings/>
Levi Buchanan from ''IGN'' gave ''QuackShot'' a 7.3/10, lauding the graphics and animation as excellent, and saying the music was pleasing.<ref name=ign/> He criticized the controls, calling them "float-y" and noted the difficulty in executing precision jumps, explaining that "[i]t's far too easy to over- or under-shoot a narrow column and slip to your doom".<ref name=ign/> He was also disappointed with the lack of speech samples, explaining that it's "a bit of a drag with a character that is so defined by his voice".<ref name=ign/> Buchanan summed up the game as being a "good platformer tripped up by some questionable controls" and recommended the game as "a mildly enjoyable 16-bit platformer that would fit nicely in your Genesis collection".<ref name=ign/>
In a 2011 review for ''Hardcore Gaming 101'', Audun Sorlie called it “not only one of the best Disney games ever made, but one of the best platformers on the Genesis as a whole”. He highlighted the influence of the ''Indiana Jones'' series, itself inspired in part by Carl Barks’s Donald Duck comics, as well as the engaging “semilinear” gameplay, detailed graphics, smooth animations, and the “glorious soundtrack.”<ref>{{Cite web |title=Quackshot Starring Donald Duck – Hardcore Gaming 101 |url=http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/quackshot-starring-donald-duck/ |access-date=2026-01-16 |language=en-US}}</ref>
In 1992, ''Mega'' placed the game at #7 in their "Top Mega Drive Games of All Time" list.<ref name="megamagazine">Mega magazine issue #1, page 76, Future Publishing, Oct 1992</ref> In 2017, ''GamesRadar'' ranked the game 28th on its "Best Sega Genesis/Mega Drive Games of All Time".<ref>{{Cite web|last=GamesRadar Staff|date=2017-06-21|title=Best Sega Genesis/Mega Drive games of all time|url=https://www.gamesradar.com/best-sega-genesis-games-all-time/|access-date=2022-02-24|website=gamesradar|language=en}}</ref>
==See also== *''World of Illusion'' *''Illusion'' (video game series) *List of Disney video games
==Notes== {{Notelist}}
==References== {{Reflist|30em}}
==External links== *{{MobyGames|id=/quackshot-starring-donald-duck}}
{{Illusion series}} {{Donald Duck games}} {{Portal bar|Disney|Video games|1990s}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:QuackShot}} Category:1991 video games Category:Donald Duck video games Category:Metroidvania games Category:Platformers Category:Sega video games Category:Sega Genesis games Category:Sega Saturn games Category:Video games set in Antarctica Category:Video games set in Egypt Category:Video games set in Norway Category:Video games set in Romania Category:Video games set in India Category:Video games set in Mexico Category:Video games set on islands Category:Side-scrolling platformers Category:Video games developed in Japan Category:Single-player video games