A beautifully crafted Donald Duck Disney game blending exploration and action in the Maui Mallard world. Charming, funny, one of the last great platformers on the console.
Your verdict
Category
Platformer1 player3+
Description
Donald Duck alias Maui Mallard battles ninjas and zombies in this exotic Disney Mega Drive adventure. Published by Disney/Sega, released in Europe in 1995. Platformer with Donald as private detective, exotic levels from jungle to city, varied enemies and ninja moves.
Donald in Maui Mallard review
4/5
Art direction
★★★★★
"Striking"
4/5
Music
★★★★★
"Excellent"
2/5
Story
★★★★★
"Classic"
The duck changes outfit at will, detective in a raincoat or ninja in dark costume, and each appearance has its own complete set of animations. The tropical island scenery, sunken temples, swamps, factories, is painted with fine gradients and a carefully worked depth of field.
The accompaniment changes register with the outfits and the places: tropical percussion on the island, flutes and plucked strings in the ninja passages, darker pads underground. The arrangements stay airy, with clearly detached melodies that let every jump or shot sound through.
Gameplay
"Excellent"
Fun
"From the very first minutes"
Addictiveness
"Engaging"
Difficulty
"Easy"
Lifespan
"Average"
Technical info
💾1,4 MB📅01/01/1995
Published by Sega
Donald in Maui Mallard (Mega Drive) price, value & rarity
Maui Mallard in Cold Shadow, sold in PAL territories as Donald in Maui Mallard, is among the last major Disney platformers issued on Mega Drive in 1995, as the format was fading in Europe. That twilight release meant a reduced print run, the basis of its present scarcity. Donald's dual identity as detective then Cold Shadow ninja, paired with polished animation, sets it apart in the 16-bit Disney catalogue and draws fans of late-cycle mascot platformers.
