Donald Duck: Goin' Qu@ckers (Quack Attack in Europe) is a Donald Duck game made by Ubisoft in 2000, in dedication to Carl Barks, who had passed away a short time earlier. It was originally released for the Nintendo 64, Sega Dreamcast, Sony PlayStation, and PC. The Game Boy Color and the Game Boy Advance got 2D versions of the game, and later a remake was made for the PlayStation 2 and the GameCube.
When Daisy, who is a reporter as in Quack Pack, is spying on Merlock's evil plans, she's captured. Donald has to travel around the world to set antennas which will power Gyro's teleporter and allow him to reach the temple in which she's imprisoned. Gladstone also appears in the story and, oddly, he's quite unlucky and a Butt-Monkey.
Gameplay is basically a Crash Bandicoot clone made for kids. Where you, as Donald, are going through linear 3D and 2D platformer levels. The main objective is not just to reach the end however, as you also need to collect orbs in all levels in each world to unlock that world's boss level. There's also Donald's nephews' toys to collect for a bonus fifth level, and beating Gladstone's Time Attack for unlocking new costumes for Donald.
Quackin' tropes in this game include:
- 1-Up: Donald's face surrounded by light, or a sphere with Donald's face in it.
- 2½D: In the console/PC version. Two levels out of four in each world is like this.
- A Winner Is You: the GBA version's take on the original game's ending is a rather anticlimactic shot of Donald reuniting with Daisy and Gyro, followed by something along the lines of "and then everybody in Duckburg threw a big party" and then just "The End". Cue the main menu.
- Advancing Boss of Doom: The final battle against Merlock in the Nintendo 64, Sega Dreamcast, and PC versions involve Donald Duck running and activating three switches before getting into a cannon to shoot Merlock's amulet while being chased by Merlock in the form of a winged beast. This is done three times, once for each unit of Merlock's health.
- Advancing Wall of Doom: In the extra levels, Donald must run away from something. In the remake, the pursuer is always the giant glove (Master Hand?) from Magica's Manor. In the GBA version, those levels are mandatory. The trope is also inverted by having Donald chase after a squirrel... for absolutely no reason, since Donald can't catch it and the squirrel isn't ever shown doing anything to Donald.
- All There in the Manual: The instruction booklet identifies the first boss in the console versions of the game as Bernadette the Bird, who is otherwise not given a name in the actual game.
- Alliterative Name: Bernadette the Bird, though the only way you'd know her name would be if you read the instruction booklet.
- And Your Reward Is Clothes: If you beat the levels in Time Attack mode, you get more clothes for Donald. Interestingly, the tourist outfit is what he wears in Quack Pack, but he also gets a cap, which brings Maui Mallard to mind...
- Anticlimax: The last thing you do in the long extra level of the GBC version is to break a ominous skull barrier. There's no bonus boss after it.
- American Kirby Is Hardcore: The American and European releases
◊ featured an angry Donald against the Beagle Boys. The Japanese release◊ instead has a stock image of a happy Donald, along with Gladstone and Daisy... in the same background as the release of the former, still with the Beagle Boys in it. - Ash Face: Happens to Magica after she is defeated in the Nintendo 64, Sega Dreamcast, and PC versions.
- Attract Mode: Available as an option in the GBC and GBA versions. The first one on the GBC quickly teaches everything you need to know about the game's mechanics.
- Badass Adorable: As this is a Donald Duck game, he's portrayed as being much more courageous and cheerful than usual. His usual duck voice helps, too.
- Bears Are Bad News: For the extra level in the forest, Donald is chased by a bear (see Advancing Wall of Doom above). In the GBC version, Donald has a Boss Battle against Humphrey the Bear.
- Big Bad: Merlock from the DuckTales movie.
- Big Ball of Violence: Donald's Mercy Invincibility animation if he's hit.
- Big Boo's Haunt: Magica De Spell's Manor is an old, vacant haunted mansion and the third world of the game.
- "Blind Idiot" Translation: The Finnish dub in the original PlayStation version of the game explains that to jump, you need to press the A-button, which any PlayStation controller does not have. So either the translators screwed up somehow or they didn't spend much time when localizing it.
- Bonus Stage: In the consoles/PC version excluding the PS2/GC. Collecting all toys in every levels in each world will unlock that world's fifth level in the form of a chase scene. While the toys are counting toward 100% completion. Beating the bonus level itself is not required.
- Boss-Arena Idiocy: Present in some versions:
- In the Nintendo 64, Sega Dreamcast, and PC versions of the final battle against Merlock, you are only able to win thanks to activating three switches to briefly immobilize Merlock by electrocuting him, jumping into a turret to shoot at Merlock's projectiles and his amulet, then repeating those actions twice.
- In the Game Boy Color version, Magica De Spell can only be harmed by jumping on the chandeliers above her when their candles are not lit. Also, Humphrey the Bear is beaten by feeding him drops of honey, which come from the hives on the platforms above Humphrey when you jump on them.
- Boss Arena Urgency: The console versions' Beagle Boys use this tactic; after the first hit, the Boys will break off parts of the roof that makes up the boss arena.
- Boss Battle: Against Bernadette the Bird, a Beagle Boy, Magica and Merlock. The GBC version replaces Bernadette with Humphrey the Bear. In the GBA version, only Merlock is present.
- Bottomless Pits: Some areas have pits that Donald must avoid.
- The Cameo: Chip appears in the PS1 version of the game on the first part of the "Main Street" level, where Donald must chase him. It is actually impossible for him to catch him, fittingly enough, but if Donald manages to land a hit on him, he will drop a Blue Star.
- Canon Welding: Between DuckTales and the more general Disney Ducks Comic Universe.
- Cobweb Trampoline: There are cobweb trampolines in the Haunted House-themed levels.
- Demoted to Extra: In the GBA version, Gladstone appears on the password screen, but is left out of the actual story.
- Developer's Foresight:
- In the PS1 version of the Time Attack mode. If you get hit twice or fall into a pit, you will be sent back to the last checkpoint with the remaining time, but you do not lose a life. Makes sense as this mode (in this version specifically) got rid of stars to collect. Running out of time will kick you back to the world hub however.
- In the N64, Dreamcast, and PC version. The game will skip the build-up animation after getting a milkshake if collected in a bonus chase level or in Time Attack mode. To prevent players getting stuck and getting killed by the whatever chasing them and losing time respectively.
- Disney Villain Death: The fate of some bosses, depending on the version:
- Bernadette the Bird falls to her doom after being defeated in the remake for PlayStation 2 and GameCube.
- All console versions have the Beagle Boy/Beagle Boys fall to his/their doom after Donald defeats him/them.
- In the Nintendo 64, Dreamcast, PC, and PlayStation versions, Magica falls from her broomstick after she is beaten.
- The cutscene after the final boss fight with Merlock has the villain fall into the lava below his platforms in the PSX version.
- Doomy Dooms of Doom: For the PS1 release, Magica De Spell’s line at the start of her boss battle begins with “Welcome to your doom, for this is your tomb!”
- Double Jump: Donald can do it in this game. In the portable versions, it is justified by him kicking the air with Wheel o' Feet to do it.
- Expressive Health Bar: An important aspect of the game: Donald does not have an actual life meter, instead his condition is determined by his current humour, which you can check by looking at his mugshot next to the lives counter. If Donald is happy it means he is a full health, if he gets hit he will get furious and be granted Mercy Invincibility and once that ends he will get angry and the next hit he will suffer will cause him to lose a life. You can recover from being angry by drinking a sundae, and if Doland is already happy when he gets one, he will become "hyperactive" instead, which acts in some versions of the game as a a state of invincibility.
- Event Flag: As the GBC version is obviously made in a Rayman engine, Donald finds yellow coins that trigger objects in the levels.
- Fat Bastard: Bernadette the Bird, the first boss in the console versions of the game, who tries to kill Donald by throwing her eggs and/or children at him and squishing him with her butt.
- Final Boss: Merlock. In fact, he is the only boss on the GBA version.
- Forced Tutorial: In the remake's first level. Originally, getting instructions was optional.
- Fountain of Youth: in the remake, Merlock becomes a child after he is defeated.
- Game-Breaking Bug: In the GBA version's Final Boss fight, it might look like a good idea to save those sundaes that Bat-Merlock drops for later use, but remember that the game kills you if you get hit while standing at them!
- Game-Over Man: In some versions of the game, losing all your lives results in Merlock cackling evilly before the words "Game Over" appear.
- "Get Back Here!" Boss: Magica De Spell in the Nintendo 64, Sega Dreamcast, and PC versions, as Donald chases her in between the segments where he is able to hurt her.
- Ghibli Hills: The Duckie Mountain levels are lush and green, with lots of waterfalls, butterflies, and rainbows.
- The Ghost: Donald's uncle Scrooge McDuck is briefly mentioned by Magica in the remake, but he otherwise isn't present in the game.
- Goomba Stomp: Many enemies can be defeated by jumping on them.
- Green Hill Zone: Duckie Mountain is the first world of the game, and it takes place in lush green forests and cliffsides.
- Ground Pound: Doable in the GBC version if Donald is powered up.
- Hawaiian-Shirted Tourist: The first unlockable costume for Donald.
- Hyperactive Metabolism: Sundaes heal Donald if he is not at full health and if he is, in some version of the games, makes him Hyperactive.
- Hyperactive Sprite: In the remake, Donald's idle animation in his happy mode has him dancing and shaking his butt around. It looks like an exaggerated version of the idle animation from The Lucky Dime Caper.
- Idle Animation: If he's left still for a while, Donald dreams about Daisy, then wakes up and hugs the thought balloon. He has other animations for his other clothes as well. Also the PSX version has a unique idle animation for Magica De Spell's Manor.
- Indy Escape: In the GBA version, the chase level in Merlock's temple features the giant rock.
- Invincibility Power-Up: The sundae item makes Donald invincible, though in the PSX version you need to be at full health, otherwise it just restore your hit point. (In Advance, it only restore health) The GBC version has an item that makes Donald invincible and able to crush barriers and butt-stomp. The remake has the Special Move mechanic as your mean of getting invincibility. (As like in Advance, the sundae only restore health)
- Law of 100: Each hundred of those stars/coins/gears awards you an extra life.
- Lone Wolf Boss: Zig-zagged depending on the version. In most versions, Bernadette the Bird (or Humphrey the Bear), the Beagle Boy(s), and Magica are depicted as independent threats that merely serve as obstacles to prevent Donald from rescuing Daisy immediately, but the remake have the Beagle Boys and Magica imply that Merlock ordered them to attack Donald.
- Lucky Charms Title: The "@" in "Qu@ckers".
- Marathon Level: Some levels in the GBC version, especially the extra level.
- Market-Based Title: The game is called Quack Attack in European releases.
- Metropolis Level: Duckburg is the second world of the game, and most of its levels take place on top of sky high buildings.
- Mission Control: Gyro Gearloose serves this role, as he is the inventor of the teleport system that Donald uses to travel through the levels and also narrates the tutorial.
- Mook Maker: The console version has two bosses capable of this:
- The first boss of the game, Bernadette the Bird, throws eggs during her boss fight. Some of the eggs will hatch into baby birds that will rush to attack Donald.
- Magica can summon normal enemies during her boss fight in some versions, summoning pumpkin monsters in the Nintendo 64, Sega Dreamcast, and PC versions and skeletons in the remake for PlayStation 2 and GameCube.
- Mythology Gag: The game is essentially a big love letter to the Donald Duck franchise. Characters from the Disney Duck Comics universe appear (including Gladstone Gander, Gyro Gearloose, and Magica De Spell), Daisy is a news reporter as she was in Quack Pack, and Humphrey the Bear is even featured in the GBC and GBA versions. In the "Urban High-Rises" section of Duckburg (N64/PC versions) you can even see Scrooge's Money bin in the background at one point, and in the remake, it's clearly visible in the background of the Beagle Boys boss fight. However, Scrooge himself is nowhere to be seen.
- One-Winged Angel: In the Nintendo 64, Sega Dreamcast, and PC versions, Merlock changes into a winged monster during the final boss fight and turns into a different winged monster whenever he gets hit. This is averted in all other versions, where he battles Donald in his normal form in most cases and in the Game Boy Advance version only changes form briefly as one of his attacks.
- Pain-Powered Leap: If Donald falls into lava.
- Painting the Medium: Running out of time in time attack mode makes the clock on the heads-up display fall on Donald's head.
- Pajama-Clad Hero: One of the costumes Donald can unlock is a nightcap and nightshirt. His idle animation has him yawning loudly.
- Password Save: In the portable versions. Yes, even in the GBA...
- Puzzle Boss: In the remake, Magica De Spell is not directly beaten and instead loses health whenever you defeat one of the skeletons she summons while she is flying over it.
- Reformulated Game: Depending on the version you played, the game can be quite different from each other. To recap:
- Nintendo 64, Dreamcast, and PC versions are mostly identical with completely separate 2D and 3D platformer level designs. Saved for the lack of full-motion cutscenes and more compressed soundtrack on the N64 version.
- Playstation version has different level designs for most stages and boss battles. 3D platformer stages also has 2D segments unlike the above version. A completely different soundtrack and harder Time Attack mode. (Unlike the N64/DC/PC version, you get a fixed time limit with no way to increase it.)
- Playstation 2 and Gamecube versions are mostly identical to each other. Saved for small differences like some platforms were removed in the GC version making it slightly harder. It reused the full-motion cutscenes from the earlier version and the PSX soundtrack. Otherwise this version feature new mechanics like the Super Move system, different way to unlock costumes, and a bonus fifth world. This version is more in line with the PSX version however.
- The Game Boy Color and Game Boy Advance versions, unlike the consoles/PC counterpart, were exclusively 2D platformers with its own quirks. The GBA version reused the PSX soundtrack, but with a shorter loop however.
- Rhymes on a Dime: Magica De Spell's pre-boss fight cutscene has her speaking in rhyme in the original game, but the remake has her instead gloat about being told by Merlock to defeat Donald and how easy it was for her to find him.
- Rocky Roll Call: Such an exchange occurs in the PlayStation 2 and GameCube versions during the cutscene prior to the final boss fight.Daisy: Donald!
Donald: Daisy!
Merlock: Donald!
Daisy: Merlock!
Gladstone: Daisy!
Donald: Gladstone!
Merlock: Daisy!
Donald: Merlock!
Daisy: Gladstone!
Gladstone: Merlock!
Merlock: That's enough! Quiet!
Donald: Gyro! - Rogues' Gallery Transplant: Merlock serves as the main villain of a Donald Duck game after menacing Scrooge McDuck and his grandnephews Huey, Dewey, and Louie in DuckTales the Movie: Treasure of the Lost Lamp.
- Running Gag: In the remake, every pre-boss fight cutscene has Gladstone Gander get comically injured and say that he found a nickel.
- Say My Name: "DAISSSSYYY!!", screams Donald if he falls into a bottomless pit.
- Shout-Out: In the PS1 release, Magica De Spell starts her boss fight with an extended version of the famous Altered Beast (1988) quote.
- The Spiny: Some enemies can't be stomped.
- Super Title 64 Advance: The Game Boy Advance version is called Donald Duck "Adv@nce"!*#.
- Tactical Suicide Boss: In the console versions, pretty much every boss is doomed to failure because one part of their attack pattern has them deliberately leaving themselves open to attack. One notable example is the Beagle Boy(s) boss fight, which, depending on the version of the game, either has Donald toss a piece of dynamite thrown at him back to the Beagle Boy before its time runs out or baits the wrecking ball into knocking one of the Beagle Boys into the fray.
- Temple of Doom: Merlock's Temple is the final world of the game, with molten lava and traps galore.
- Timed Mission: A time attack mode becomes available in levels that have been cleared once.
- Variable Mix: In the remake: If Donald is at full health, the music plays normally. If he grabs the orange juice item, the music gains additional drums and the sound intensity increases. If he got hit once, the drums drop out and the remainder of the music sounds washed-out.
- Victory Pose: Donald taking off his hat and bowing cutely in the GBC version. In the remake he has an extravagant dance upon reaching the end of the level.
- Villain: Exit, Stage Left: In the Nintendo 64, Sega Dreamcast, and PC versions, after Merlock is defeated, he makes himself disappear.
- Wheel o' Feet: Present in some of Donald's animations in the portable versions.
- Winged Soul Flies Off at Death: Bernadette the Bird dies this way in the Nintendo 64, Sega Dreamcast, PC, and Sony PlayStation versions.
- Wolfpack Boss: The remake for PS2 and Game Cube and the Game Boy Color version both have the Duckburg boss fight be against three Beagle Boys instead of just one. In both cases, each individual Beagle Boy is taken out in one hit like any regular non-boss enemy.
