And that's it! We hope these interesting facts about some of Capcom’s Disney games has got you hyped to play the old NES classics again on your modern system. The most well-known games in the collection seem to be those which are connected to the cartoons we remember the most, like DuckTales. 

It’s interesting which games inspired Capcom’s other franchises and which games took inspiration from said franchises. Check out our review of The Disney Afternoon Collection here! 

TaleSpin Plays Very Differently Depending on the Console

Like the cartoon, TaleSpin is the least well-known and probably least popular title on this list. The game released on a number of platforms, including the Sega Genesis and Game Gear. Despite being developed by Capcom, the game plays very differently on each console. 

The Game Gear version, which I owned growing up, is a traditional side-scrolling platformer with flying sections between certain stages. However, players almost always fly in the NES version. Consequently, the controls are a bit tricky, making each version frustratingly difficult instead of challenging.

Chip and Dale 2 took inspiration from Mega Man

Chip and Dale and its sequel were also produced by Tokuro Fujiwara. However, unlike the aforementioned titles, this game is quite easy, as it’s appropriately aimed at a younger market. It even got a port to the Nintendo arcade system, the PlayChoice 10.

An image of the PlayChoice 10 from the
International Arcade Museum website.

Later zones in Chip and Dale 2 will be familiar to those who have played Mega Man. Capcom, of course, developed both franchises, and the mechanical zone pictured above is extremely similar to Mega Man 3 (with the exception of the gopher sprites!). Chip and Dale 2 also takes inspiration from Mega Man in its gameplay. Unlike the rinse and repeat ball-throwing strategem of Chip and Dale, the sequel switches up boss patterns, making things a bit more like Mega Man. 

Darkwing Duck was Produced by the Same Person Who Created Ghosts n' Goblins

Aesthetically, you don’t need to look far to see that this game (and the original cartoon) is a Disney interpretation of Batman. With his grappling hook moves, sharp wit, and brooding tone, Darkwing could comfortably hold the title of Caped Crusader. And no one would be able to deny that he couldn't hold his own in today’s superhero brawlers like Marvel vs Capcom.

As a platformer, this game was notoriously hard. You only have two hit points, the controls can be a little fiddly, and your jumping and grappling have to be pixel perfect. The difficulty curve is most likely because of its producer, Tokuro Fujiwara, who also created Capcom classics like Ghosts and Goblins.

Fujiwara went on to create his own studio, Whoopee Camp, which made the Tomba platformers for PlayStation. These were very well received, and helped to cement Fujiwara’s reputation as a developer of very hard games!

Capcom’s DuckTales Staff Went on to Create Mega Man

Many key Capcom staff members who worked on Mega Man also worked on DuckTales. Indeed, a key artist in the DuckTales game, Keiji Inafune, produced Mega Man Zero. This installment of the game featured a Triple Rod weapon which let the player attack in up to eight different directions, while also allowing them to bounce on top of enemies. Like Shovel Knight, it seems almost directly inspired by Scrooge McDuck’s pogo jump.

Scrooge McDuck’s Pogo Move Inspired Shovel Knight

The first DuckTales game, released in 1989, is remembered as a classic partly due to Scrooge McDuck’s pogo-jump move. Not many platformers around at the time gave their main character a unique move like this – for example, Mario’s special abilities in Super Mario Bros 3 came through temporary power ups while Scrooge's came naturally. 

Shovel Knight, which is openly inspired by NES classics platformers like Ghosts n' Goblins, Darkwing Duck, and Duck Tales, was developed by Yacht Club Games. Interestingly, Yacht Club Games was set up by Sean Velasco, who used to direct WayForward Technologies. In turn, WayForward was behind 2013's remaster of the first NES DuckTales. Their involvement seems to reveal how Sean Valseco cut his teeth learning the intricacies of these old titles -- and how Shovel Knight came to be. 

During the 90's, showing cartoons at the same time kids were getting home from school was a trend. Disney was at the forefront, and releasing a selection of shows with new takes on classic characters was a large part of their strategy. There was Baloo, of The Jungle Book fame, starring as an ace pilot in TaleSpin, or the chipmunks, Chip and Dale, from the old 1940s and 1950s shorts taking up badges as crime solving detectives in Chip and Dale: Rescue Rangers. This block of cartoons was known as the Disney Afternoon, which is why this compilation is called the Disney Afternoon Collection, a collection that attempts to recreate that afternoon magic on the video game consoles of today. 

Capcom had the rights to make games with Disney characters in the 1990s, and they tried to encapsulate the fun of the cartoons into a series of games for various platforms of that era, ranging from the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) to the Sega Game Gear. Some were fantastic experiences, while others were much less so. 

However, The Disney Afternoon Collection, which includes the NES compilations of DuckTales 1 & 2, Chip & Dale: Rescue Rangers 1 & 2, Darkwing Duck, and TaleSpin was not one of the latter. Because of that, this collection was recently released as the Disney Afternoon Collection on PS4 and Xbox One.

Despite being games based on cartoons, they have a rich history that the average gamer doesn’t know. So without further ado, here are five things that you probably didn’t know about this little collection.

The Past Fondly Remembered

Although all of the games on this list released just this year, their inspirations and/or source material shows how much players and creators appreciate the nostalgia the past has provided.

With more remasters, new games based off of older properties, and spiritual successors to games of the past still to be announced and released, the nostalgic past won't be forgotten any time soon.

PaRappa The Rapper Remastered 

Platforms: PlayStation 4

One of the first modern rhythm games is back, and features updated HD graphics and sound.

PaRappa The Rapper is an iconic game which is commonly credited for starting the modern rhythm game genre. In the game, you play as amateur rapping dog, Parappa, as he tries to impress the girl he likes and learns to believe in himself.

PaRappa The Rapper Remastered is a great musical experience with a catchy soundtrack--although arguably not as good as the soundtrack of the sequel-- and can provide fun for any fan of late 90's PlayStation Games.

PaRappa The Rapper Remastered is available for download on PlayStation 4. The sequel to the original game, PaRappa The Rapper 2, is available for download in the PS2 for PS4 section.

Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap 

Platforms: PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch

Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap is a remake of the 1989 Sega Master System game, Wonder Boy III: The Dragon's Trap.

In the game you play a Hu-Man, a character who has been cursed into being a half-human and half-lizard monster by the Meka-Dragon, on his journey to find the Salamander Cross so he can remove his curse.

 You can also play as Hu-Girl, Hu-Man's new co-star, Lizard-Man, Mouse-Man, Piranha-Man, Lion-Man, and Hawk-Man, who each have their own unique special abilities.

With amazing hand-drawn graphics, a re-orchestrated soundtrack, and the ability to switch from modern graphics and sound to 8-bit graphics/audio whenever you want, Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap provides an enjoyable experience for both players who grew up in the 1980's and newer players today.

Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap is available for download on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch. The game is also planned for release on PC in June 2017.

Snake Pass 

Platforms: PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch

Snake Pass, is a recently released platformer developed by Sumo Digital.

Like Yooka-Laylee, was also inspired by Nintendo 64 era platformers, although whereas Yooka-Laylee sticks to the formula created by its predecessors, Snake Pass has a unique twist which helps make it somewhat more interesting.

You can read more about the comparisons between Yooka-Laylee and Snake Pass here.

Snake Pass is available for download on PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.

Yooka-Laylee 

Platforms: PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch

This spiritual successor to the beloved Nintendo 64 game, Banjo-Kazooie, may not have the best reviews, but is a great purchase for fans who would like to feel like they've gone back to a simpler time.

Yooka-Laylee may not do anything new or interesting to improve the gameplay of its predecessors, but it provides a great amount of nostalgia for gamers who prefer older games.

Yooka-Laylee was also part of a short lived yet interesting controversy with a popular YouTube personality, which you can read more about here.

Yooka-Laylee is available for download on PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and will be Nintendo Switch in the near future. Yooka-Laylee also has physical copies available for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.

Cosmic Star Heroine 

Platforms: PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita

Cosmic Star Heroine is an indie RPG by Zeboyd games and is heavily inspired by beloved RPGs of the past, such as Chrono Trigger and Phantasy Star.

In Cosmic Star Heroine, you play as Alyssa L'Salle, an agent of the Agency of Peace & Intelligence on the Planet Araenu, who goes rogue after uncovering a horrible conspiracy. 2D visual style straight from the height of gaming's 16-bit era! Animated cutscenes reminiscent of the Sega CD & Turbo Duo era!

Cosmic Star Heroine features the ability for players to save anywhere, no separate battle or overworld screens, a turn-based combat system that focuses on flow & strategy and multi-character combo techniques.

Cosmic Star Heroine is surely an enjoyable experience for any fan of RPGs from the 16 bit era.

The game is available to download on PC, PlayStation 4,  or PlayStation Vita.

Transformers: Forged to Fight

Platforms: Android & iOS

Transformers: Forged to Fight is a free-to-play mobile fighting game by Kablam featuring both the original G1 Transformers and Transformers from the live action movies, as well as other Transformers from the entire Transformers universe.

Transformers: Forged to Fight also has some light RPG mechanics. In this giant robot fighting mobile game you can: Fight against other players using special attacks and ranged blasting, while demolishing destructible terrain in large three-dimensional arenas; play with your friends and battle in global events; set a group of Transformers to defend your base from other players; and deploy teams to obtain loot.

Transformers: Forged to Fight is a surprisingly great fighting game for any fan of the Transformers Franchise. The game is available on Google Play and the App Store.

Saban's Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers: Mega Battle 

Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One

This nostalgic game released a few months before the new movie, which is rather odd timing. But nonetheless, Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers Mega Battle is a beat 'em up based on the original series, and similar in playstyle to the original Power Rangers games, which were on the Super Nintendo and Sega Genesis.

In Mega Battle, you can play as the original six rangers, and you have the option to download three replacement rangers as DLC. The game is a pretty standard beat 'em up, but it doesn't do anything new or interesting. The graphics also make the game look like it would be something you'd play on your web browser, rather than a game you would play on a modern console.

Despite its low-res graphical style and subpar gameplay, Saban's Mighty Morphin's Power Rangers Mega Battle is still a game where you can have a lot of fun playing co-op with your friends.

The game is available for download on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.

The Disney Afternoon Collection 

Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One

This highly anticipated collection contains five games from the NES era based on different cartoons that aired on the Disney Afternoon programming block on the Disney channel in the late 80's and early 90's.

The games in the collection are: Chip N' Dale Rescue Rangers, Chip N' Dale Rescue Rangers 2, DarkWing Duck, DuckTales, DuckTales 2, and TaleSpin. Out of these five games, Chip N' Dale Rescue Rangers 2 and DuckTales 2 are the most difficult to find the original NES cartridges of. 

The collection also features a rewind mode so players can undo past mistakes, time-attack and boss rush modes, as well as concept art to look and music to listen to from each game.

The Disney Afternoon Collection is available for download on PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.

Video games have come a long way since their genesis in the late 70's and early 80's. In the year 2017 we have three different versions of the fourth PlayStation, the third Xbox, which confusingly sounds like it's the first one, several different virtual reality headsets, and a Nintendo handheld that can also easily connect to your TV screen.

For those overwhelmed by all this new technology and different choices, there are still new games that will help make them feel as if they never left the simpler times they remember.

Here are 8 recently released games for any fan of 80's and 90's nostalgia.

Nostalgia for an old video game is one thing, but nostalgia for an old video game that’s an adaption based on an equally old property is an entirely different beast. Some of the reverence that’s held for a niche title isn’t always attributed to the game experience, as it can sometimes be associated with the media that it ties into -- adding an entirely different pair of rose-tinted glasses to our memories of those pixelated adventures.

The Disney Afternoon Collection isn’t simply just a bundle of cult-classic Nintendo games that you’ve heard a thing or two about from some old nerds on a retro forum -- it’s a meticulously crafted package that’s filled with content and permeated with a wealth of history, along with appreciation for the legacy it represents.

Which adds so many layers to the new bundle of NES classics by Capcom; from their work with Various Disney franchises. I don’t think I’ve ever been more sentimental about a group of cartoons than I am with the faces featured here (I don’t think that there’s a week that doesn’t go by where I take the opportunity to remind the Internet of my love for the feathered bazillionaire, Scrooge McDuck.) It goes without saying that this collection knows exactly what it is, and it spares no expense towards empathizing both the nostalgia of both the games, and licenses that they’re based on -- this works to its benefit.

The Six games featured in this retro ensemble include the rare and extraordinarily expensive sequels to both DuckTales, and Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers alongside their originals, with TaleSpin, and DarkWing Duck to round out the run. Each entry is the authentic ROM that was dumped directly off of the real carts that housed them by Digital Eclipse, the same studio behind The Mega Man Legacy Collection, and similar to their work on the Blue Bomber tribute game, the effort to restoration in these games are nothing short of pristine.

Running on the proprietary Eclipse engine, the default display is scaled at a 4:3 ratio with the option to expand to 16:9, or the fullscreen itself, with a bevy of output filters that can enhance the retro ambiance that it aims to deliver. The choices for overlays are either TV mode, which compiles the compressed resolution of the visuals through familiar scanlines, or the Monitor display, which emulates the sharp yet antiquated S-Video look that still features a restrained Screen-Door effect. The accuracy is a bit too faithful though as the games all feature the same performance issues that plagued them in their prime, with slowdown and screen flickering galore.

The games all feature a brand new option to rewind the gameplay however far back that they need to, giving back a virtual endless loop of second chances to players who may not be prepared for the deceptively crushing difficulty that some of these games hold (I’m looking at you Rescue Rangers 2.) While the new option is certainly a welcome one at points where the challenge in these entries can be especially harrowing, it’s a modernization that somewhat dilutes the old-school flavor that makes the software so appealing. It’s a shame really because other than working as a helpful do-over, the new ability is a bit lacking in its potential, lacking any options to limit the number of times you can use the rewind feature in one play-through for example, or any unique challenges where they could be used to alter certain aspects of each title’s gameplay.

Other new additions include a Boss Rush Mode, and Time attack mode, and in terms of gameplay, are the most engaging of the extras that were bundled -- Boss Rush Mode in particular.

The Battle gauntlet will pace you through each boss that its respective game has to offer where you’ll race the clock to until you best the final big baddie to finish the run. Aside from the appeal of challenging times with other on the online leaderboards, all of the end level face-downs are engineered to challenge the player’s mastery of the mechanics with the tightest situations that the games have to offer. The Time attack modes are another welcomed expansion, incentivizing skillful gameplay with yet another online leaderboard that showcases the fastest times earned by the dedicated few who have taken their intimacy of the Capcom classics to a professional level.

Easily the best element of The Disney Afternoon Collection is the Museum mode, where players will get a first-hand look at original assets and promotional materials of all six games, along with some extras. They are all peppered with insightful facts that demonstrate the labor of love that Capcom Japan put into the side-scrolling adaptations of beloved Disney properties. From instruction manual scans and promotional print ads, to the original boxes that the games were sold in, are all digitally remastered with a level of visual fidelity that you could never have imagined, like, the resolution on all of these pieces are just jaw-dropping.

The soundtracks can also be accessed for each title, including cult-favorites like backdrop melody to the Moon level from DuckTales, and the J Level’s background score from Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers, all though they unfortunately haven’t translated so well, often cutting out or skipping over soundbites, or clipping in between chiptunes altogether in a jumbled mess.

Shoddy playback functionality of the excellent soundtracks in the extras notwithstanding, the labor of love is worn proudly on the sleeve of this collection’s colorful exterior as Digital Eclipse have truly outdone themselves with the production value that The Disney Afternoon Collection has to offer. Traveling down memory lane with these games isn’t just a joy to those who’re revisiting these adventures, they’re also a gateway to the past that can bridge the gap between the generations of yesterday and today.

The Disney Afternoon Collection is truly a testament to the rich past of video games that we have yet to fully explore the way that Capcom and Digital Eclipse has with this arrangement of 8-bit software, and is an incredible steal at just $20 to play these games. Download it to whatever hard drive you game on -- you won’t regret it.

The Disney Afternoon Collection is available for PS4, Xbox One, and PC, and includes: 

• DuckTales
• DuckTales 2
• Darkwing Duck
• TaleSpin
• Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers
• Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers 2

Note: This copy of the game was purchased by the reviewer on Steam.

Of course, these are only six options out of the large number of platformers -- from the decade of slap bracelets and boy bands -- which could return. Hopefully we'll get to see games like these and others like them return to the limelight in the years to come.

But are there any you REALLY want to see comeback? Let us know in the comments below!

Mr. Nutz

This is the most obscure title on this list, but there's a great reason why this relatively unknown character should make a comeback.

Mr. Nutz was created in 1993 by Ocean Software -- now known as Atari, Inc. -- for the SNES, Sega Genesis and Sega Mega Drive, Game Boy, Game Boy Color, and Game Boy Advance. The game starred the titular red squirrel, another 90's mascot which just a touch of attitude. Mr. Nutz was a standard 2D side scrolling platformer with no unique gameplay elements, yet was still able to get several games and a remake.

Mr. Nutz could be an interesting title for an up and coming indie game studio to revive. They could even add several distinct features which help make the game stand out among its competition, including giving Mr. Nutz himself a more fleshed out personality.

The return of Mr. Nutz may be necessary, since another brightly colored squirrel hasn't been looking too great these days.

The Disney Movie Collection

This one is kind of cheating since it's four games in one, but there's a good reason for that.

With The Disney Afternoon Collection releasing soon, much to the joy of fans around the world, this should be the next step. This new collection would include: The Lion King, Aladdin, The Jungle Book, and Pinnochio.

Similar to how games in The Disney Afternoon Collection were all made by Capcom for the NES, these games were all made by now defunct company Virgin Interactive Entertainment for both the SNES and the Sega Genesis, with the Genesis versions being commonly credited as superior to their SNES counterparts.

The hypothetical collection would also include similar additions to The Disney Afternoon Collection, such as  a concept art, a rewind function, boss rush and time attack modes, music, and online leaderboards.

Croc

You may have noticed a trend of reptiles on this list. That's purely a coincidence.

Croc and its sequel were developed by a now defunct company, Argonaut Games, for the original PlayStation, Microsoft Windows, and Game Boy Color. The games starred the adorable titular crocodile, who was found and raised by tiny furry creatures called Gobbos.

The two games in the Croc series were relatively standard 3D platformers, and when first pitched, Croc actually started as a Mario spin-off starring Yoshi, which was rejected by Nintendo. This may explain their exceptional quality and why Croc has a drop smash move similar to Mario in Super Mario 64.

Croc would be an interesting platformer to make a return, but if done right with some unique gameplay elements thrown in, could be a great addition to the modern platformer genre.

Gex

Similar to Poochie of Simpsons fame, and actually voiced by comedian and former Simpsons writer Dana Gould, Gex was a smooth-talking, sunglasses wearing product of the 1990s created by Crystal Dynamics. Gex was also the company's former mascot.

Due to his unhealthy obsession with television, Gex's adventures primarily take place in the "Media Dimension," a world that exists inside of a TV, adventuring through areas based on different movie and TV show genres while making plenty of 90's pop culture references along the way.

A modern take on Gex would be a welcome addition to the increasing yet still somewhat small amount of humorous games played today. Gex could even explore more modern pockets of the media dimension, based off of services like Netflix, YouTube, and Twitch.

It's unknown how likely the gecko's return would be, but now with how much entertainment has changed it would be the perfect opportunity for the green lizard to make a comeback.

Spyro

With the upcoming return of fellow former PlayStation mascot, Crash Bandicoot, it would only be fair to give this purple dragon the HD remake treatment as well.

Spyro has had a bit of a hard time since his original PlayStation days, with later games in the series featuring the dragon having being less popular than their older counterparts; getting an unnecessary reboot starring celebrities like Elijah Wood and David Spade; and most recently taking a backseat to all the other characters in the Skylanders game series.

The flying reptile deserves to be in the spotlight again, and an HD remake collection of the three original PlayStation game, similar to the Crash Bandicoot N-Sane Trilogy, would be a great way to put him there.

Mega Man X

There has been an absence of new Mega Man titles in last few years, and with the release of the Mega Man Legacy Collection -- which compiles Mega Man 1 through 6 -- almost two years ago, it's time Capcom brought back this maverick hunting incarnation of the blue bomber.

The Mega Man X series has had eight main games starting with the release of the first game in 1993 for the Super Nintendo. The series also had an RPG spin-off, Mega Man X Command Mission, and two Game Boy spin-offs, Mega Man Xtreme and Xtreme 2. Megaman X7 was the first game in the series to transition to 3D and and had the worst reception out of all the games in the series.

A Mega Man X collection, which contained the first six games in the series, as well as Mega Man: Battle & Chase, was released for PlayStation 2 and GameCube in 2006.

A PSP remake of the first game, titled Mega Man Maverick Hunter X, was also released in 2006. and Maverick Hunter X contained updated graphics, as well as additional features not present in the original game.

With his guest appearance in the upcoming Marvel Vs Capcom Infinite, now would be a great time for Mega Man X to make his return. Recent spiritual successors to series in the Mega Man franchise, such as Mighty No. 9 and Azure Striker Gunvolt, just haven't been able to properly match the feel or quality Mega Man games are known for.

A Mega Man X Legacy Collection on modern consoles containing either Mega Man X through Mega Man X8 -- or also including the spin-offs -- would be a good start. If it sold well enough, maybe Capcom would consider making a brand new game for the series.

Platform games, a genre that dates all the way back to the earliest days of gaming. There have been a ton of different platformers over the years, both 2D and 3D, big budget and indie. From fondly remembered games like Super Mario Bros. to some of the worst games ever made like Bubsy 3D, platform games have been an important staple in video game history.

As video games have evolved over time, platform games have become one of the most well known video game genres, with plenty of games in other genres borrowing common elements platform games are known for.

With the success of games like Shovel Knight and Inside, as well as nostalgia trip games like Yooka-Laylee (reviewed on GameSkinny) and The Crash Bandicoot N-Sane Trilogy, here are some platformers from the 1990's we'd love to see come back.