The Disney Afternoon Collection has received a grand update for its Nintendo release, with the SNES Bonkers and Goof Troop games standing out as fantastic new additions. The NES games are fun experiences themselves, so combining them with these top-notch SNES titles makes for an even better package.
The Disney Afternoon Collection
Developer: Digital Eclipse
Price: $20
Platform: Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2 (reviewed)
MonsterVine was supplied with a Switch 2 code for review.
I’ve thought about grabbing The Disney Afternoon Collection on many occasions over the last few years, but never got around to it for one reason or another. Then comes the Nintendo Switch 2 version, which includes two SNES titles for good measure – Goof Troop and Bonkers. Naturally, I had to jump on that opportunity, and it paid off. Not only are the already included games a blast to go through, but the new additions go a step beyond to become some of the best of the bunch.
I’ll briefly go over the quality of each included game, then delve into the universal aspects of the package afterwards. Let’s dive right in with likely the most well-known game of the collection:
DuckTales (1989)
Ducktales is the game I have the most experience with, having beaten it a few times over the years. It was a brilliant platformer when it was first released, and it still holds up as a novel and wonderfully creative game. The levels’ themes give off a sense of worldwide adventure, the pogo-jumping mechanic is as exciting to use as ever, and the music has held up as iconic for a reason. DuckTales alone is worth the price of admission, though you’ll want to stick around for the rest, too.
DuckTales 2 (1993)
I had never played DuckTales 2 before this review, but I had fairly high expectations given my enjoyment of the first. These expectations were dutifully met, as the pogo-cane now has several new features that weren’t present in DuckTales. You can hang from hooks and interact with switches and the like, making for slightly more complex levels that still manage to never lose the straightforward charm of the weighty platforming. It’s a suitable evolution of its predecessor, and I’ll likely revisit it down the line.
TaleSpin (1991)
Admittedly, Talespin is probably my least favorite game in The Disney Afternoon Collection. Unlike most other games, it’s not a platformer; it’s a side-scrolling shooter. You fly Baloo’s plane and shoot at enemies and, eventually, bosses throughout each stage. It fits the show better, but it feels rather basic and quickly grows dull. The music and visuals are pleasant and upbeat, and TaleSpin’s inclusion helps diversify the genres a bit, but I didn’t end up getting especially invested in the game compared to the rest of them.
Chip ‘n Dale Rescue Rangers (1990)
Chip ‘n Dale Rescue Rangers brings us back to the platformer side of things, though with the ability to play as Chip or Dale. The two chipmunks’ size plays an intriguing role here, as the levels are regular areas like streets that seem huge and almost insurmountable to the duo. You’ll be hopping around and avoiding enemies like robotic dogs, with the unique mechanic of the game being that you can pick up and throw objects. It’s not especially complicated, but it’s an enjoyable 2D platformer in the vein of Super Mario Bros. 2, and I’d place it firmly in the middle of this gathering of games.
Darkwing Duck (1992)
Darkwing Duck opts to combine the projectile-heavy gameplay of TaleSpin with the platforming focus of DuckTales to solid results. You use the titular hero’s Gas Gun to blast away F.O.W.L. thugs while running and jumping through Mega Man-esque gauntlets and using different gun types. This leads to a nifty multi-stage platforming game that hits a slightly darker (insomuch as a game based on a children’s cartoon can be “darker”) vibe than the other games while striking its own balance with its running-and-shooting gameplay. A small touch that I dig is that you can deflect enemy projectiles with your cape, which looks extremely cool and adds a very specifically “superhero” feeling to the game.
Bonkers (1994)
Bonkers is the first of two 16-bit titles added to The Disney Afternoon Collection’s Switch 2 version, and the more straightforward of the duo. As cartoon character Bonkers, your job is to catch a thief who’s stolen some neat little Disney Easter egg items throughout Hollywood. The platforming is weighty and enjoyable, and being able to increase your number of usable projectiles and your health through optional collectibles feels like a dandy extra layer of depth. I love how colorful and vibrant the enemies and settings throughout the title are, as well as how expressive the sprites and animations are. I didn’t even know this game existed before this collection, but I came away feeling it was one of the best of the seven.
Goof Troop (1993)
Honestly, this might be the crown jewel of the entire collection. Goof Troop, which you may be surprised to learn was designed by Resident Evil co-creator Shinji Mikami, is a singleplayer or cooperative action-adventure game that I’d describe as similar to The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventure. You solve puzzles, move blocks, and bat away enemies as Goofy and/or Max in order to navigate to the end of an area. It’s a remarkably fun game, even if you play alone, and I’m glad it’s finally been released on a modern console. The presentation and gameplay are absurdly charming, and, like DuckTales, make The Disney Afternoon Collection entirely worthwhile on its own.
In general, these games all support rewind and save states, which is pretty commonplace for retro rereleases at this point. Both functions are smooth and work without issue, and they’ll certainly be especially handy for anyone who isn’t accustomed to how intensely challenging some of these older titles used to be. And as a small side note, the very ‘90s menus are wonderfully nostalgic.
Beyond that, the NES games include Time Attack and Boss Rush modes that, while not my cup of tea, work great for those who want to test their speedrunning skills, serving up even further value for The Disney Afternoon Collection. The Gallery is filled with fascinating glimpses at how these games were made through all sorts of archival content that Disney fans in particular will really get a thrill out of, and the Music Player means you can listen to “The Moon” from DuckTales at any time. All of these bonuses round things out and make The Disney Afternoon Collection a perfectly complete package, so unsurprisingly, Digital Eclipse has done it again.
The Final Word
The Disney Afternoon Collection is a brilliant bunch of Disney video games that are mostly well worth playing 30+ years later. Though some of the games stand out above others, they’re largely a blast to play, with the two new inclusions standing out as especially grand games that certainly deserve some additional spotlight. I hope Digital Eclipse and Atari find a way to get Bonkers and Goof Troop to the other platforms’ versions of The Disney Afternoon Collection, because they’ve really made this an essential gathering of retro classics.
MonsterVine Rating: 4.5 out of 5 – Great
