I owned an NES but never got around to playing DuckTales.
For a Capcom platformer of its vintage, it's actually a fucking cakewalk.
For a game released in 2013, it combines some of the worst design trends of yesteryear with some of the worst ones of today.
The decision to keep the gameplay mostly intact is a highly questionable one. The game is Nintendo Hard; its difficulty is largely the result of cheap placement of infinitely-spawning enemies and instant-death pits, not enough checkpoints, and not enough lives. WayForward, instead of attempting to alleviate any of these issues, added a completely unnecessary tutorial level and a bunch of cutscenes. It overexplains shit that doesn't need explaining, and it doesn't explain...well, I just covered this two pages ago.
Don't get me wrong, I love this fucking thing. I love the graphics, I love the music, I love the gameplay, and hell yes I love the completely unnecessary, momentum-killing cutscenes.
The other day I played through the Amazon. I managed to blow through all the extra lives I'd racked up on the Moon and Transylvania, which doesn't bode so well for the rest of the game.
Near as I can tell, the main difference between Normal and Hard is that Hard removes the map and most of the extra hearts.
I wanted to be tougher than the toughies

I tell you, I broke out in a grin when Scrooge delivered the "smarter than the smarties and tougher than the toughies" line. And then I thought about how Barks got screwed and felt sad. Like what Chris Sims said the other week about how much he loves Batman but every now and again he'll see the "Batman created by Bob Kane" credit and just be angry for the rest of the day.
Sure is nice seeing Barks and Rosa named in the credits. I'm sure Rosa would have preferred a check. (Hey, I gave him twenty bucks the last time I saw him. I really do need to put this signed print up on my wall sometime.)
Anyhow, no, the point of a Capcom game where you get to choose the level order is to poke around until you find the right one to start with. Lots more fun, and a good way to get a tour of the game while you're getting your ass kicked.