Ducks Overview
Ducks is a DOS game originally released as shareware, now available as freeware. It adapts the core concept of the Lemmings series, but replaces the humanoid creatures with waterfowl. The player directs a group of orange ducks toward a rocket ship, which requires a specific number of them to board before departure. Control is exerted through a single green leader duck, which the others will follow when it is nearby.
Movement is managed with the mouse; holding the right button directs the green duck, and dragging changes its path. The environment presents a challenging array of lethal obstacles. These include spikes, fans, electric bolts, and falls, with deaths depicted in a gory fashion. A roaming monster also consumes the ducks. Certain hazards like electric arcs can be disabled by switches, but only the leader can activate them once per stage.
An assortment of tools, selected via keyboard and deployed with the left mouse button, assists in navigating these dangers. Destructive options like bombs and upward-firing balloons alter the landscape. Construction items allow for building bridges with bricks or placing pre-made spans and ladders. Other utilities can halt the flock's movement, teleport the leader, or provide automated guidance via seagulls or flying saucers. If a level becomes impossible to complete, the leader can be eliminated to restart.
Beyond the included stages, a separate level editor can be obtained from the developer's website for creating custom content.
