Disney's Goof Troop Review

    Cartoons of the eighties and nineties were really something special. So many outstanding series across a variety of networks have made lasting impressions on anyone who grew up during the time. Nickelodeon had it's massive giants in shows like Rugrats while Cartoon Network worked the magic of Bugs Bunny and other more classic characters. Personally I feel like by the late nineties Cartoon Network had the better line up with the classics in addition to shows like Johnny Bravo and Dexter's Laboratory. Still other blocks of cartoons would also be prominent, in particular on weekends on channels near me such as WB11 that played shows like Animaniacs and the first season of Pokemon. Trying to remember all the shows on all the blocks is pretty impossible. In addition to mentioned stations and shows, the Disney Channel also got in on a bunch of the cartoon action. The biggest difference here is that unlike Nickelodeon and Cartoon Network shows, many of the Disney Channel cartoons ended up having pretty awesome video game adaptations. Games like Duck Tales and Chip N' Dale Rescue Rangers would go on to become classic NES titles. The Super Nintendo would get in on the Disney cartoon series action with Goof Troop.

SPOILERS RELATED TO THE GAME, BUT NOT THE SHOW AHEAD!!!!

    Goof Troop was developed and published by Capcom and released in North America on July 11th, 1993. The game is often referred to as a fun game with a low challenge. My experiences with Goof Troop vary as I've had the game ever since I was young and I know I had issues with it back then. Perhaps for a young mind the puzzles are more difficult? I can see how that would be personally, but of course I cannot say for sure. For all I know I may not had been that bright back then. This is a game that my dad and I actually used to play a decent amount, but I don't remember whether or not we actually beat it back then. Whatever the case, the last time I played this game I really didn't run into a challenge. Whatever the case, let's take a closer look at the game. 

    The game begins when Goofy, his son Max, and their neighbors Pete, and his son PJ are out on a fishing trip. Suddenly a band of pirates show up and kidnap both Pete and PJ. Goofy and Max pursue the ship to an island. As they searched for Pete and PJ they learn that the pirate's captain, Keelhaul Pete had been missing after being swallowed by a whale. The pirates believe that Pete is actually Keelhaul Pete. Pete enjoys being considered a captain and continues to fool the pirates. Eventually Goofy and Max run into the real Keelhaul Pete. Worried about their neighbors, Goofy and Max enter the pirate ship and rescue Pete and PJ just before they are fed to an alligator. With Pete and PJ rescued, the four return to their fishing trip. 

    The game's graphics, much like many of the Capcom Disney games are great. There's a ton of bright colors, hilarious faces on enemies when they are defeated, and all the characters really look great. I dare say the graphics of this game somewhat rival that of The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past. Overall I think Zelda's are better, but the graphics here are, I think, comparable. 

    As is expected from these games, the sound effects and soundtrack are great with each level having it's own music track. The sound effects sound cartoonish which is great considering this is a game based off a cartoon. The tracks can get repetitive if you stay on one level for too long as the same track just keeps looping and is not very long. My guess is that since the levels themselves are not particularly long, Capcom felt the music didn't have to be either. Again though, the music that is there is great and cartooney. 

    Goof Troop's gameplay is what I like to call an adventure puzzle game that is best experienced with two people. One player plays as Goofy, the other as Max. Max and Goofy do not play exactly the same, but unlike in Donkey Kong Country, both characters can do the same things. The biggest differences between the two are that Max moves faster than Goofy, but Goofy is stronger than Max and able to defeat enemies faster as a result. Along the way you'll find a variety of items that are imperative to moving through the levels. The bell will attract enemies to the player that rings it. This can be really helpful in setting up for some awesome teamwork kills. The hookshot can be used to pull items towards the player, stun and push enemies, and even create rope bridges. The wood plank acts as a bridge over incomplete docks. The shovel can be used in soft patches of dirt to dig up other items. The candle lights up dark caverns. The key opens a door (makes sense right?). All of these items are needed at the right time to get through the game. Each player can hold one item at a time. If you are playing single player than you can hold two. 

    The puzzles in the game mostly feature kicking blocks to proper locations. Sounds easy enough right? For the most part they are not overly difficult, but as the game progresses you'll be faced with totems that spew fire at you while you are trying to solve the puzzle as well as enemies kicking the blocks as well. Reseting the puzzle is easy enough though as all you need to do is leave the area and come back. The last notable gameplay features are the controls and boss battles. The boss battles are nothing hard. Most of the time you'll walk around with your hands up trying to catch whatever they throw at you to throw back at them. As far as the controls go, the game plays in a top down style just like A Link to the Past. The controls are responsive and very easy to learn and master. Again, similar to A Link to the Past. 

    All in all I have to give Goof Troop a solid 7 out of 10. This game is a lot of fun. As I said earlier, my dad and I played this game when I was younger and we had a tough, but good time with it. Now though I still have a lot of fun with it, but now I can see some problems. For one the game is very easy. Outside of enemies kicking puzzle blocks quickly, I really dont find myself having any problems outside of that. In addition the game is quite short. There are only five levels, and none of them are really long at all. Perhaps the biggest downside to the game that I now experience is the single player mode. There is a significant difference in how much I enjoy this game based on the number of players. Alone the game gets a bit tedious and repetitive. When both characters are on the screen though, it is a completely different experience. Being able to work as a team and solve puzzles as a team is just much more enjoyable. Goof Troop is a good game either way, but it is a great two player game that friends should certainly give a shot.