Underrated Gem: Maui Mallard in Cold Shadow Review

And our first platform moment of the day is talking about a game that Disney purposefully made it bomb and forever remain a game that is criminally underrated and that my firends is Maui Mallard in Cold Shadow

Maui Mallard in Cold Shadow

Platform: Genesis, SNES, PC
Release date: 1995
Developed by: Disney Interactive
Type of Platformer: Straightforward, Pro Jumper(name subject to change)
Collectibles: Yes but not needed to 100%  game file since there are no 100% game files although the SNES version does have the 100% completion even though its not necessary besides getting the bonus stages
Difficulty: Medium-Tough
Total number of Levels: 8

Before I begin to tell you about the game, there is something you should now about the title of the game. Originally, it was called Donald in Maui Mallard and it was released in Europe for the Sega Mega Drive. However, the North American release changed the title as Maui Mallard in Cold Shadow. Whether this was to avoid Donald being in a dark toned game or if Disney did not want the game to be popular remains unknown. But frankly speaking, this is Donald Duck's alter ego Maui Mallard folks and the voices he makes are sure as heck Donald Duck trademarked voices.

But let's talk about the game. The story is about the island Shubum Shubum protecting an idol for centuries. But then out of nowhere, the idol went missing and Maui Mallard is tasked to retrieve the idol back to get a nice pay. While the plot may be straight forward, there's lots of stuff here that normally, you'd not expect to see for a Donald Duck game..but what is dark and terryfying here?

Oh I don't know..how about Zombies? Ninjas? Man eaters? Zombies?!? Yeah, for a Donald Duck game, that doesn't sound like it would fit there now would it? This game has a rather obscure feel to it as you play which I can get why Disney would not want to do anything with it but then why not just use a different character if they felt Donald didn't fit in.

But honestly, this is my favorite Donald Duck game because this is the only ever time Donald acts all edgy. Just look at this pic right here!

We need Ducktales to bring Donald's alter ego back!

Yeah, who thought Donald could ever try to be a Ninja. I know what you're thinking though, Donald may turn to something only to like be a total screwup right? Actually no. Infact Donald is just pure edgy in this game as there are no signs of old donald trying to be mixed here. He's short tempered but that temperment is more on action side and nowhere does he goof around in the entire game!

And his Ninja form is just out of pure awesomeness! While..yes he's blindfolded, but he acts like he can see things and him with the stick adds to another slice of action.


And may I just take a moment to say that I love the animation of this entire game. All the characters animate smoothly and are very crisp. But being that this is Disney we're talking about here, that is expected I guess..

A ninja doing a holaloop with a stick is awesomeness in my book!

But what about the gameplay? Well now, you play as Maui and run through levels using the westchester gun to shoot bugs to beat enemies while getting treasures, health pickups and ammo along the way.

But then later on, Maui gets to turn into a Ninja called Coldshadow, who is a different beast around as the bamboo stick is your best friend whacking ninjas left and right, jump on higher areas and swing on pegs from one to another as well as running super fast! The catch here is that the Ninja operates with the Ying Yang which drains gradually and if he runs out of them, he'll go back to his old self. Luckily, the Ying Yang coins are scatherred everywhere when he is needed so just collect them when you are running low on them.

Teenage Ninja Ducks anyone?

Eventually, you can play a combination of them both. Some levels will focus on Maui, some for Cold shadow and the rest are a mix of both. What really stands out here is the level design being extremely good. You have tons of secrets to find here and the levels often test your skills with either the bug gun man or the crazy ninja.

And believe me when I tell you that the levels are well designed here. The first level has you exploring a mansion where you enter newer places through doors. Each part you go has you doing something different like climbing on a chain ball to get goodies or like jumping on organ pipes to get higher.

There's one level that has you dealing with vines and the gimmick here is the higher the platforms you jump on, the lower you can go down to to reach the lower ones.

The levels will test you too as to make sure you've understood the abilities of the bug shooter and the ninja duck but its never overdone to death as once you get it, you get it and can breeze through it. Now you can't save but the game does give you passwords when you get enough treasure so you don't have to beat it in one sitting. The bosses are no cakewalk either as they take a while to beat and they can rip you quite easily if you're not careful.

And you thought Metroid was creepy?

If the gameplay and the dark atmosphere isn't enough, what about the music? Composed by Michael Giacchino? The music here is downright phenominal..right on par with that of Donkey Kong Country music! It uses real instruments and many of the songs really don't fit in a Donald Duck game..and yet it works!


Infact, the dark atmosphere, gameplay and soundtrack..they all work here..so much so that I think I now get why Disney didn't want to menion this game as it could just damage the Donald Duck brand they feel is better(you know? The regular sailor one that isn't anywhere as edgy as this one right here?)



In the end though, this is a forgotten gem that no one talks about. But if you want a Donald Duck game, this is easily the best one Disney has to offer as the later ones are more of a...meh. I recommend getting the PC version due to it having smoother frames and an enhanced version of the soundtrack.



And you're in luck too! Its out on GOG and Steam so you should easily be able to get this game. As for me, its one of those games that I can play from time to time and I'm happy I got my hands on it.