CoolROM.com's game information and ROM download page for M.C. Kids (Nintendo). Rom Download for NES M.C. ALTERNATIVE DOWNLOAD LINK: M.C. Kids Contact Us; Privacy Policy.
| M.C. Kids | |
|---|---|
| Developer(s) | Visual Concepts (GB) Virgin Games (NES) Arc (PC, Amiga, ST) Miracle Games (C64) |
| Publisher(s) | Virgin Games Ocean Software |
| Producer(s) | Justin Heber C64: Micheal Merren |
| Designer(s) | Darren Bartlett Gregg Iz-Tavares GB: Cary Hammer |
| Artist(s) | NES: Darren Bartlett PC, ST, Amiga: Jon Harrison C64: Debbie Sorrell GB: Dean Lee |
| Composer(s) | NES: Charles Deenen PC, ST, Amiga: Andi McGinty C64: Henry Jackman Gameboy: John Loose |
| Platform(s) | NES (original) Game Boy, C64, Amiga, Atari ST, MS-DOS |
| Release | NES
Atari ST
|
| Genre(s) | Platform game |
| Mode(s) | Single-player, Two-player |
M.C. Kids is a 1992 platformvideo game developed and published by Virgin Interactive. It was initially released for the Nintendo Entertainment System in February 1992 in North America, and by Ocean Software in May 1993 in Europe. As a licensed product for the McDonald'sfast food restaurant chain, the game stars two children named Mack and Mick who venture into the fantasy world of McDonaldland in order to return Ronald McDonald's magical bag which has been stolen by the Hamburglar. The game was created by four people in eight months: Darren Bartlett (art and level design) Gregg Iz-Tavares and Dan Chang (programming) and Charles Deenen (audio).[1]
M.C. Kids was ported to the Commodore 64, Amiga, Atari ST and MS-DOS as McDonaldland which was only sold in Europe. The NES release in Europe had the same name as the home computer ports. A different version of the game was published for the Game Boy also called McDonaldland; outside of Europe it was re-themed for the Cool Spot franchise and released as Spot: The Cool Adventure. Virgin would later make another McDonald's-themed video game titled Global Gladiators, which was released in 1992.
Gameplay[edit]
The player can choose to play as one of the two 'M.C. Kids'. There is no difference between the two characters aside from their skin color and hair styles. Up to two players can play the game at once, and both characters can walk, jump, duck and pick up blocks to throw at enemies as they travel through the seven large worlds of magical McDonaldland.
In a similar format as Super Mario Bros. 3 or StarTropics, the game has seven different worlds. Each one starts out with a visit to a McDonaldland character. However, unlike games such as Super Mario Bros. 3, simply defeating the various levels is not enough for success. McDonald's franchise imagery found in this game includes the various characters from restaurants and television commercials, and McDonald's cards and Golden Arches — all of which are variously available for plot advancement and as power-ups.
Novel gameplay mechanics found in M.C. Kids include a spin device that turns the player upside down and reverses gravity, the ability to warp throughout the current level via a zipper, and a boat that can be both ridden and carried.
Plot[edit]
The story begins with the titular M.C. Kids, Mick and Mack, reading a storybook about Ronald McDonald showing off his magical bag at a picnic in the meadow. Suddenly, Hamburglar appears and steals Ronald's Magic Bag. Mick and Mack then search outside Ronald's clubhouse for four of the puzzle cards. After collecting four of the puzzle cards, Mick and Mack are told by Ronald that Hamburglar was sighted near Birdie's treehouse.
Upon arriving at Birdie's treehouse, Mick and Mack search her house for five of her puzzle cards. After finding her puzzle cards, Mick and Mack are told that Hamburglar is sighted near the cliffs.
Following the directions given by Birdie, Mick and Mack arrive at Grimace's loft in the Highlands and search his house for three of his puzzle cards. After finding two more cards, Grimace lets them head down a path to the Professor's workshop.
When Mick and Mack reach the Professor's workshop, they find that he has invented something to help them in their quest. He then has Mick and Mack find five of his puzzle cards.
Using the rocket that the Professor gave to them, Mick and Mack head to the moon to visit CosMc. They meet up with CosMc on the moon at his getaway where he tells him to find five of his puzzle cards. After collecting his cards, CosMc tells Mick and Mack to find an entrance to a volcano as Hamburglar might be hiding out there.
Mick and Mack brave the scary volcano in their efforts to find Hamburglar and the Magic Bag. When they find Hamburglar, he tells them that the Magic Bag escaped from him. After collecting all six of his cards, Mick and Mack confront the Magic Bag where it launches a tied flag, a magic wand and then a rabbit in a hat in order to attack. When the Magic Bag is defeated, the game ends with Mick and Mack returning the bag to Ronald.
Marketing[edit]
The magazine advertisement for M.C. Kids, featuring a mohawked Darren Bartlett, was actually taken as he was hanging upside-down on the Virgin Games sign.[2]
Reception[edit]
| Reception | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||
GamePro considered the game to be very similar to Super Mario Bros., but with 'some great features that Mario lacks'; their review gave the game a rating of 'Great' (the second highest of five options) in the Graphics and Challenge categories and a rating of 'HOT!' (the highest of five options) in the Sound, Gameplay, and 'FunFactor' categories.[3] In 2010, Nintendolife's retrogaming review scored M.C. Kids at 6 out of 10, finding it to have a 'generally uneven difficulty level' but also 'colourful graphics, imaginative Sid and Marty Krofft-esque level and enemy design, innovative game physics, and exceptionally jocular score.'[4]
Programmer Gregg Tavares expressed disappointment at the poor reception of M.C. Kids, especially after later and similarly styled games from Virgin received more attention.[5]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
Nintendo Nes Download For Pc
- ^Tavares, Gregg (1992). 'Programming M.C. Kids'. The Journal of Computer Game Design.
- ^EPNdotTV (2016-01-26), Electric Playground: Season 1, Episode 8, retrieved 2018-08-23
- ^'Nintendo Pro Review: M.C. Kids'. GamePro. January 1992. p. 34. Retrieved September 3, 2017.
- ^Monti, Darrell (October 3, 2010). 'Review: M.C. Kids (NES)'. Retrieved March 18, 2014.
- ^Tavares, Gregg (May 21, 1997). 'M.C. Kids'. greggman.com.
External links[edit]
- McDonald Land at the Amiga Hall of Light
- McDonald Land at Lemon 64
In today's world of cut-throat competition even video games need a 'hook' to stay alive in the treacherous swamps of consumer land. Hooks such as movie titles or television characters lend a game instant appeal. What's next? Welcome to McDonald land and M.C. Kids by Virgin Games.
Big Mac, Filet of Fish, Quarter Pounder, French Fries...
Well, as it turns out the Hamburgler has seized Ronald McDonald's bag of magic and made a break for it. To where, no one knows but being a trustworthy friend of Ronald's you (Mick or Mack) must track this friend down through six levels of adventure-style play and retrieve the loot. All the McDonalds' characters (Birdie, Grimace, etc.) are willing to help you, for a price. Find them each the number of hidden puzzle cards they desire, and they'll build you a path to the next world.
Big Mac Attack
In M.C. Kids your only weapons are the blocks you pick up and hurl at the multiple enemies.
Speaking of enemies, boy, are they cute. Splinter, the little beaver, is always out to foil your progress, and the McMoose will charge right through you if you don't watch out. Don't judge these guys by their looks, though, or you'll be flattened into one big McPancake.
ProTip: If you're carrying a block when you jump on a super springboard you'll be shot sky high.
M.C. Kids lives and breathes Super Mario Brothers. From the smooth play control to the general construction of each level, you keep forgetting you're not that little Italian plumber. There are no airborne or underwater levels but the game does pack some great features that Mario lacks, such as the Spinner that literally turns your entire world upside down, and Zippers, which enable you to unzip the wall of a level, climb out, and return to another area of the game. Plus, if you collect 100 Golden Arches, you'll go to a bonus stage.
- Touching the Reverser sends you spinning back to the beginning of the level. This is useful because often you're hurled onto an unreachable platform just above the start.
- To reverse the Earth's gravitational pull run across a Spinner at full speed. Looking at the world upside down always reveals new nooks and crannies, and often a puzzle card or two. Having to find hidden puzzle cards gives a new purpose to each level. You can't just book through the levels and say 'done.' You've got to search them top to bottom to find what you're looking for.
- During the bonus game concentrate on raising the block closest to you and forget about the others. It'll save you a heck of a lot of trouble, and up above you'll find a bunch of bodacious 1-Ups.
- Don't be afraid to take a long, blind leap off any ledge. More often than not you'll land on a string of sky platforms leading to new turf.
A Happy Meal
Nes Download For Pc
Seasoned Nintendonians will be able to run, jump, and spin through this game's six worlds in a couple of days, but it's just right for its target audience -- younger kids. M.C. Kids will tantalize you with its puzzles and secrets, while making you hungry for some good ol' Mickey D's.