M.C. Kids is the title of a video game released for the Nintendo Entertainment System by Virgin
Interactive during 1991 in Europe (where it was called
McDonald Land), and in February of 1992 in the United States. The game is loosely
based on the McDonald's fast food franchise and features
two teenagers that venture into the McDonald's fantasy world 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 (though only in Europe), Commodore
64, Amiga, and for PCs running
MS-DOS.[1] Virgin Interactive would release another game based on the McDonald's franchise for the Sega Mega Drive called Mick & Mack: Global
Gladiators that has more of a traditional side-scrolling
action-adventure game.
Gameplay
One can choose to play either one of the M.C. Kids, but there is no difference between the two characters other than the fact
that one of the youths is white and the other one is black. 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 Star Tropics, the game has seven different worlds. Each one starts out by having the character visit a
McDonald Land character. However, unlike games such as Super Mario Bros. 3, simply defeating the various levels is not
enough for success as one needs to find the hidden McDonald Land cards that are scattered in a world in order to advance to the
next world.
One can collect various McDonald Golden Arches for extra points and, aside from the game's numerous secrets, including a
secret level, the game has various objects in the game that one needs to use to advance, i.e., a zipper to enter secret areas, a
spin device that turns the level upside down, a boat that can be both ridden in and carried.
Level descriptions
Ronald's Clubhouse
The first world of the game, this is where Mick and Mack's adventure begins. This world consists mostly of forest levels and
open field levels. In order to progress to the next world, the player must collect four Puzzle Cards for Ronald McDonald.
Collecting all six of Ronald's cards will allow the player to access "Ronald's PuzzLeWoRlD". Only five Ronald Puzzle Cards in all
can be obtained in this world. One card each for "Professor's Workshop" and "Hamburglar's Hideout" can also be found.
Birdie's Treehouse
In addition to sky levels, this world also features snowy levels. To progress to the next world, the player needs to get five
cards for Birdie the Early Bird. Finding all six will let Birdie reward the player with an
extra life. All six of Birdie's Puzzle Cards are collectable in this world, as well as one for "Hamburglar's Hideout" and one for
"Ronald's PuzzLeWoRlD".
Grimace's Highlands
This world has mountainous themes for its levels. This time, the player needs to find three of Grimace's Puzzle Cards to access two of its six levels and another two to progress. Finding all six would allow
Grimace to talk about the blocks seen in level goals. All six Grimace cards are available here, in addition to one for
"Professor's Workshop" and one each for Ronald's "Clubhouse" and "PuzzLeWoRlD".
Professor's Workshop
This world has mostly shore and desert themes for its levels. The Professor has been building a rocket ship to the moon to
help Mick and Mack in their adventure. To use the rocket, the player must collect at least five of the Professor's Puzzle Cards.
Finding all six allows the Professor to create a shortcut to "Ronald's Clubhouse". Four of the Professor's cards are hidden in
his world, as well as one for "CosMc's Retreat", one for "Hamburglar's Hideout", and two for "Ronald's Puzzleworld".
CosMc's Retreat
Since this world takes place on the moon, most of the levels here have low gravity. Five of CosMc's Puzzle Cards need to be
collected in order to proceed with the game. This is the only world that offers no reward once all six of its cards are found.
Five of CosMc's cards can be found here, as well as one card for "Ronald's PuzzLeWoRlD".
Hamburglar's Hideout
The final world of the game, Ronald's Bag of Magic that the Hamburglar stole had escaped into the depths of the volcano. The
player must find all six of the Hamburglar's Puzzle Cards before they could access the final level of the game. Three of the
Hamburglar's cards can be found here, as well as one for "Ronald's PuzzLeWoRlD".
Ronald's PuzzLeWoRlD
The secret world of the game, only accessible by finding all of Ronald's cards in addition to the Puzzle Cards belonging in
this world. There are no enemies or cards in this world, instead set around the player trying to get to the end of each of the
world's levels while dealing with various obstacles.
Reception
The game did not do well in 1992 in part because McDonald's was not happy with the final product and thus the advertisement
campaign for the game was largely muted. Video game critics often accused it of copying from other games (particularly from
Super Mario Bros. 3), and the game was far too difficult to be marketed for a
younger videogame audience.
External links
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