M.C. Kids

M.C. Kids
Front cover of the North American NES version Front cover of the European NES version
Developer(s)	Visual Concepts (Game Boy version) Virgin Interactive (Other versions)
Publisher(s)	Virgin Interactive, Ocean Europe Limited
Platform(s)	NES, Game Boy, Commodore 64, Amiga, Atari ST, PC:DOS
Release date(s)	NES NA February 1992 EU May 19, 1993 Game Boy, C64, Amiga EU 1992 Atari ST EU 1993 PC version NA February 1992 EU 1993
Genre(s)	Platform game
Mode(s)	Single-player, Two-player
Media/distribution	2-megabit cartridge

M.C. Kids (released in Europe as McDonaldland) is a 1992 platform 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. The game is loosely based on the McDonald's fast food franchise and features two teenagers that venture into the McDonald's fantasy world "McDonaldland" in order to return Ronald McDonald's magical bag, which has been stolen by the Hamburglar.

The game was also released for the Game Boy (known in North America and Japan as Spot: The Cool Adventure, based on the Cool Spot franchise), Commodore 64, Amiga, Atari ST, (though all only in Europe) and for PCs running MS-DOS.^[1] Virgin Interactive would release another game based on the McDonald's franchise for the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis called Mick & Mack: Global Gladiators that has more of a traditional side-scrolling action-adventure game. Both games were criticized for advertising the McDonald's fast food restaurant chain. but regarded as cult classics ever since.

Gameplay

The main menu.

You 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 McDonald Land.

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 McDonald Land character. However, unlike games such as Super Mario Bros. 3, simply defeating the various levels is not enough for success. You must also find the hidden McDonald's cards that are scattered throughout the worlds in order to advance to the next level.

Golden Arches can be collected for extra points, and can unlock bonus rounds. The game has numerous secrets such as the zipper (used to enter secret areas), a spin device that turns the player upside down, and reverses gravity, a boat that can be both ridden and carried, and arrow blocks which return you to the beginning of a level.

The bonus rounds feature blocks which randomly light up as either up or down arrows. Your task is to jump on the up arrows and to avoid the down arrows in order to reach the top, enter the zipper, and collect extra lives.

Plot

The story begins with two M.C. Kids named Mick and Mack reading a book where Ronald McDonald was showing off his magical bag at a picnic in the meadow when the 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, the players 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, he has invented something to help them in their quest. He 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. Mick and Mack confronts the Magic Bag where it launches a tied flags, a magic wand, and a rabbit in a hat to attack. When the Magic Bag is defeated, Mick and Mack return the bag to Ronald.

See also

• Donald Land, another platforming game based on the same fast food franchise that was developed and published by Data East only in Japan.
• TUME, One of the tools used to create M.C.Kids

References

1. ^ http://www.mobygames.com/game/mc-kids/screenshots

External links

• M.C. Kids' developer's page
• M.C. Kids at MobyGames
• Developer interview