After an introductory cutscene featuring Dick Dastardly, the player guides Muttley through a series of platform levels similar to those in Super Mario Bros. Each level ends with a boss battle between Muttley and one of the Wacky Racers. Muttley's primary means of attack is barking: He can kill most enemies with a single bark. By collecting bones, Muttley can gain other abilities, such as throwing bombs and healing damage. Muttley can also collect gems, 100 of which will give him an extra life. The game consists of three courses: