M.C. Kids

For the clothing line, seeMcKids.

M.C. Kids
Cover of the North American NES version
Developer(s)	Virgin Games(NES) Visual Concepts(GB) Arc(PC, Amiga, ST) Miracle Games (C64)
Publisher(s)	NA:Virgin Games EU:Ocean Software
Producer(s)	Justin Heber C64:Micheal Merren
Designer(s)	Darren Bartlett Gregg Iz-Tavares GB:Cary Hammer
Artist(s)	NES:Darren Bartlett PC, ST, Amiga:Jon Harrison C64:Debbie Sorrell GB:Dean Lee
Composer(s)	NES:Charles Deenen PC, ST, Amiga:Andi McGinty C64:Henry Jackman GB:John Loose
Platform(s)	NES(original) Game Boy,C64,Amiga,Atari ST,MS-DOS
Release	NES NA:February 1992 EU:May 1993 Game Boy, C64, Amiga EU:1992 Atari ST EU:1993 PC EU:1993 NA:February 1992
Genre(s)	Platform game
Mode(s)	Single-player,Two-player

M.C. Kidsis a 1992platformvideo gamedeveloped and published byVirgin Games.It was initially released for theNintendo Entertainment Systemin February 1992 in North America, and byOcean Softwarein May 1993 in Europe. As a licensed product for theMcDonald'sfast foodrestaurant chain, the game stars two children named Mack and Mick who venture into the fantasy world ofMcDonaldlandin order to returnRonald McDonald's magical bag which has been stolen by theHamburglar.The game was created by four people in eight months: Darren Bartlett (art and level design) Gregg Iz-Tavares and Dan Chang (programming) andCharles Deenen(audio).

M.C. Kidswas ported to theCommodore 64,Amiga,Atari STandMS-DOSasMcDonaldlandwhich was only sold in Europe. The NES release in Europe had the same name as the home computer ports. A different version of the game was published for theGame Boyalso calledMcDonaldland;outside of Europe it was re-themed for theCool Spotfranchise and released asSpot: The Cool Adventure.Virgin would later make another McDonald's-themed video game titledGlobal Gladiators,which was released in 1992.

Gameplay

The main menu

The player 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. The game has an alternating two player mode, 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 McDonaldland.

In a similar format asSuper Mario Bros. 3orStarTropics,the game has seven different worlds. Each one starts out with a visit to a McDonaldland character. However, unlike games such asSuper Mario Bros. 3,simply defeating the various levels is not enough for success. McDonald's franchise imagery found in this game includes the various characters from restaurants and television commercials, and McDonald's cards andGolden Arches—all of which are variously available for plot advancement and as power-ups.

Novel gameplay mechanics found inM.C. Kidsinclude a spin device that turns the player upside down and reverses gravity, the ability to warp throughout the current level via azipper,and a boat that can be both ridden and carried.

Plot

Front cover of the European NES version

The game begins with the titular M.C. Kids, Mick and Mack, reading a storybook aboutRonald McDonaldshowing off his magical bag at a picnic in the meadow. Suddenly, theHamburglarappears 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 the Hamburglar was sighted nearBirdie's treehouse.

Upon arriving at Birdie's treehouse, Mick and Mack search her house for five of her puzzle cards. After finding her puzzle cards, Mick and Mack are told that the Hamburglar is sighted near the cliffs.

Following the directions given by Birdie, Mick and Mack arrive atGrimace'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 reachthe Professor's workshop, they find that he has invented something to help them in their quest. He then has Mick and Mack find five of his puzzle cards.

Using the rocket that the Professor gave to them, Mick and Mack head to themoonto visitCosMc.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 avolcanoas the Hamburglar might be hiding out there.

Mick and Mack brave the scary volcano in their efforts to find the Hamburglar and the Magic Bag. When they find the Hamburglar, he tells them that the Magic Bag escaped from him. After collecting all six of his cards, Mick and Mack confront the Magic Bag where it launches a tied flag, a magic wand and then arabbitin a hat in order to attack. When the Magic Bag is defeated, the game ends with Mick and Mack returning the bag to Ronald.

Marketing

Themagazineadvertisement forM.C. Kids,featuring amohawkedDarren Bartlett, was actually taken as he was hanging upside-down on the Virgin Games sign.

MC Mario

In some countries, anunofficial,modified version of the game titledMC Mariois known to exist. This version of the game is identical to the original, except that the player characters have been replaced with Nintendo'sMario Brosas they appear in the 1988 gameSuper Mario Bros. 3.

In 2003, Gregg Tavares, programmer of the originalM.C. Kidsgame, made a blog post acknowledgingMC Mario.In the post, he states that while he found the hack interesting, he was disappointed to see his work being ripped off.

Reception

Reception

Review scores

Publication	Score
GamePro	4.6/5
Nintendo Life
Nintendo Power	3.23/5
N-Force	81/100
Total!	77%
Power Unlimited	68/100(Game Boy and NES)

Critics fromGameProandN-Forcepraised the original mechanics ofM.C. Kids,such as its Spinner blocks, Zipper entrances, and hidden puzzle cards, which they suggested made it superior and competitive with other platform games, such as those in the Mario series.In 2010, Nintendolife's retrogaming review scoredM.C. Kidsat 6 out of 10, finding it to have a "generally uneven difficulty level" but also "colourful graphics, imaginativeSid and Marty Krofft-esque level and enemy design, innovative game physics, and exceptionally jocular score. "Power Unlimited reviewed the Game Boy version and found it similar to the NES version and they reviewed the NES version commenting: "McDonalds Landis one of the cheapest games of all time. Basically it's just the gameCool Spot,but with some changed graphics. Fortunately,Cool Spotwas a good game, so for McDonalds fans, this should be a dream come true. "

Programmer Gregg Tavares expressed disappointment at the poor reception ofM.C. Kids,especially after later and similarly styled games from Virgin received more attention.

See also

• Global Gladiators
• McDonald's Treasure Land Adventure

External links

• McDonald Landat the Amiga Hall of Light
• McDonald Landat Lemon 64
• Developer interview
• M.C. KidsatMobyGames