Anyway, I really like this game. =) The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past has inspired and influenced a lot of action-oriented adventure games in terms of gameplay and structure (e.g. Ancient’s Beyond Oasis, Quintet’s Tenchi Sōzō /Terranigma, Lenar’s Ganpuru: Gunman’s Proof, Matrix Software’s Alundra, et al), and while Capcom’s adaptation of Goof Troop doesn’t hold a candle to Nintendo’s quintessential classic (which would a tall order), it *is* the closest we’ll get to a Disney take on the third Zelda. And for what Capcom accomplished in the one and only video game adaptation of the 1992-1993 series, they did a really good job.

I really like the polished nature of this game and its nonlinear layout of its five stages. I love that both Goofy and his son Max have distinguishing characteristics about them where Goofy makes up for his lack of speed with his strength while Max makes up for his lack of power (particularly when he’s carrying an object above his head) with his quick agility. It’s a really pleasing game to look at also, and I like how there are moments of puzzle-solving (I like puzzles). I’m not a fan of its soundtrack given how brief the songs are, with the exception of the penultimate stage with its relaxing background accompaniment succinctly augmenting the atmosphere of the cave.

It’s interesting how this is one of Shinji Mikami’s early games he’s worked on, alongside Nintendo 16-bit Disney’s Aladdin, for he would go on to create Resident Evil for some elements from this game would resurface there. Humble beginnings, huh?

Also, isn’t it curious how this game originally made in 1993 bookends on a fight against a pirate captain decked out in red with a bionic hook a la Bionic Commando in a similar-ish fashion to how Ukiyotei’s 1992 adaptation of Steven Spielberg’s Hook did the same, different genres aside? It’s a bit too similar to be a coincidence.

I only played the Japanese version Gūfii to Makkusu – Kaizoku Shima no Daibōken on the Super Famicom which has two extra difficulty settings that were added a year after the release of the original NTSC SNES release. There is a sense of replay value as the puzzle solutions are different depending on the difficulty, but the game has got a reasonable difficulty throughout as the areas are laid out well. The only real downside is that it’s really brief, but while it lasts it is a lot of charming fun. =) Four years ago I played it with one of my cousins on Game Type 2, and it was a real enjoyable two-player session.

Of the six Disney licenses Capcom developed for the Nintendo 16-bit, this is one of their better ones and in my Top 3:
6. Bonkers
5. Disney’s Aladdin
4. The Magical Quest starring Mickey Mouse
3. Gūfii to Makkusu – Kaizoku Shima no Daibōken
2. The Great Circus Mystery starring Mickey & Minnie*
1. Mickey to Donald: Magical Adventure 3
* I haven’t played The Great Circus Mystery in a few years, so the order might be subject to change.

To each their own