The Lucky Dime Caper Starring Donald Duck

The Lucky Dime Caper Starring Donald Duck^[a] is a 1991 platform game developed and published by Sega for the Game Gear and Master System. The player controls Donald Duck as he attempts to retrieve the Number One Dime from Magica De Spell. Another game featuring Donald Duck for the Game Gear and Master System, Deep Duck Trouble, was released in 1993.

The Lucky Dime Caper Starring Donald Duck
Master System box art
Developer(s)	Sega
Publisher(s)	Sega
Designer(s)	Emirin
Platform(s)	Game Gear Master System
Release	Game Gear NA: October 1991 EU: November 1991 JP: December 20, 1991 Master System EU: 1991
Genre(s)	Platform
Mode(s)	Single-player

Gameplay

The game is a side-scrolling platformer. The gameplay follows the same pattern of Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse, which was released for Sega consoles a year before, but unlike Mickey, Donald can attack enemies by hitting them with a hammer or throwing discs. He can also attack faster by collecting star items.

The game consists of seven stages: the Northern Woods, the Great American Forest, the Andes Mountains, the Tropical Isles, the Pyramids and the South Pole, followed finally by Magica's Castle.^[1]

Despite the Master System and Game Gear being very similar systems, there are some differences between the two versions of the game:

• While following the same storyline, the intro sequences are different.
• The level select screen on the Game Gear does not have any music.
• The layout of platforms and enemy positions are different.
• In the Game Gear version, bonus items are pre-placed in the level, whereas in the Master System version they are only obtainable by defeating enemies.
• The Master System version has a timer while the Game Gear version has not.
• The Master System version allows players to backtrack, while the Game Gear version does not.
• Collecting five stars in the Master System game gives players limited invulnerability, while the Game Gear version gives additional points.
• When hit by an enemy, Donald loses his hammer weapon in the Master System version; it can be obtained as bonus item after defeating an enemy. The hammer is not lost when hit by an enemy in the Game Gear version.

Plot

Screenshot of the Master System version.

The evil witch Magica De Spell has stolen Scrooge McDuck's Number One Dime and kidnapped his nephews, Huey, Dewey, and Louie. Donald Duck embarks on a mission, traveling around the world to save his three nephews and recover Scrooge's lucky dime.

Release

The UK version of The Lucky Dime Caper was sold in a limited edition box set^[2] that included a Donald Duck-themed T-shirt and cassette tape with a selection of eight Disney music songs.^[3]

Reception

Reception

Review scores

Publication	Score
	Master System	SGG
Computer and Video Games	90%[4]	N/A
Console XS	85%[5]	N/A
Sega Force	92%[6]	78%[6]
Sega Master Force	78% [7]	N/A

In a 1992 review, Game Zone described the game as "A bit on the slow side maybe but nice graphics, just about the right level of challenge and a fair variety of gameplay make up for that".^[8] In 1993, Sega Master Force stated "Although The Lucky Dime Caper's tough for a Disney game, it's a lot of fun and many players welcome a challenge. Great graphics, sound and game design have made it a classic."

Notes

1. Known in Japan as Donald Duck's Lucky Dime (Japanese: ドナルドダックのラッキーダイム, Hepburn: Donarudo Dakku no Rakkī Daimu)