Maui Mallard in Cold Shadow is a platform adventure game made by Disney Interactive. It was first released in Europe in November 1995 for the Sega Mega Drive. The game was also brought to the Super Nintendo by Eurocom, and released in North America in 1997. In some places, it was called Donald in Maui Mallard.
The main character in the game is actually Donald Duck, even though the title says Maui Mallard. Maui Mallard is really just Donald Duck taking on a tougher, but cool new persona. I have always liked Donald Duck as a kid. He is one of my all-time favorite Disney characters. Well, just knowing he’s the star of the game made me really want to play it.
Japan only box cover art (Image source)
The Story
When Donald Duck (as Maui Mallard) transforms into a ninja, things really heat up! You will switch between his two forms; as cool detective Maui and his powerful ninja side throughout the adventure. Your mission? Find the missing Shabuhm Shabuhm idol before the whole island goes kaboom!
The game promises around hours of action-packed gameplay, so bring your attitude and your bug-blasting gun. You’ll face off against all kinds of crazy enemies. Explore wild places like a fiery volcano, the deep ocean, the creepy Realm of the Dead, and the intense ninja training zones.
Every level is full of danger, so treat each damn one like it could be your last!
Box, manual and cartridge of the game. (Image source)
The Graphics and Sound
The game looks like a living cartoon, full of bright colors and fun little visual touches in every level. It’s an eye candy for sure. One standout area is the Ninja Training Grounds, where the statues and stone carvings look great.
The character animations are excellent. Maui has some really fun ones like when Ninja Maui ducks, all you see is his staff on the ground and his eyes sneaking a peek over it, darting side to side. If you leave Maui alone for a few seconds, he’ll start doing some silly, charming animations.
The music is catchy and memorable. Some tunes are catchy. Each track has its own style and instruments that match the stage perfectly, like the groovy organ music in Mojo Mansion or the playful accordion in the Flying Duckman level. It really helps set the mood for every part of the game.
The sound effects are great too. And of course, you get to hear Donald Duck’s classic, quacky voice whenever Maui gets hit. It would not feel right without it.
video sample of Maui Mallard in Cold Shadow on the SNES. Watch in 360p for near TV resolution of that time._
The Gameplay
This game is a 2D platformer with around 30 levels. You play as Donald Duck with mystical ninja powers. He uses a gun that, for some reason, never runs out of ammo. You have two main ways to attack: shooting your gun (which has different types of ammo) or using a ninja staff when you switch to your ninja form.
Your ninja powers depend on the belt you are wearing. As you collect Yin-Yang coins and special "Skill" coins, your belt changes color like in martial arts and gives you more power. The highest level is the black belt, which lets you deal more damage to enemies.
The controls are a bit difficult in accuracy. Since Maui your character can't jump high, you have to use these "hooks" of a sort which you stick your ninja stick in to hang on. And do not think about jumping over that small hole. You can't jump far at all.
Replay value is mediocre. After you beat the game, that's it. It has a pretty low replay value since there's not that many levels. They could have included more. Also, the game doesn't have a save feature, so you'll have to write down all your passwords. An emulator's save state feature is a blessing in this case.
My Verdict
Maui Mallard in Cold Shadow is great for Disney fans of all ages, and if you are looking for a real challenge, the Hard mode definitely delivers. It is one of those hidden gems that doesn’t get the attention it deserves. It’s a fun, well-made platformer that any SNES player who enjoys platformers should definitely give a try.
Play it on the mighty Super Nintendo/Super Famicom or play it on a snazzy gaming emulator.
