Whenever I come back to the NES, I think about all the famous games that have been praised for so many years, such as Super Mario Bros, Mega Man II, Contra, and even double dragon. But there are those hidden gems, games that were praised for a short time before being just a shadow of a much more commercially successful game. This is the case with Duck Hunt for NES, as it was soon left in the dust for Mario. So, how great is this game you ask?
Graphics: 6
Now being an early NES game, you really wouldn't expect much of the graphics to be impressive. But, they turn out pretty good (for an early NES game). The duck animations are pretty fluid and there isn't a horrible texture in the game. However, with the limited technology they had in '84 they really couldn't cook up a graphical masterpiece like Mega Man II, but at the time, these graphics were indeed pretty impressive.
Sound: 8
If there was one game from the early days of the NES that truly had amazing sound, it had to be Duck Hunt. While there really wasn't much sound that playing the game, the duck noises were pretty good, even though it was all synthesized. The music is pretty good for its time but what really gripped me about the sound of this game was the dog. It has such realistic sound and truly is the kicker for immersing you into an already great hidden gem.
Addictiveness: 9
This is where Duck Hunt shines. You're one shot away from 1 million points. One bullet left, and then, you miss. You may rage out, and you may break something as well, but there is still a feeling inside you that keeps your eyes glued to the TV, memorizing duck patterns and clay-shooting sequences, and just sitting there as your minutes drift off into hours. Point is: Duck Hunt's simple gameplay and challenging premise has a special quality that leaves you wanting more.
Depth: 3
There is really not much to do in this game. You have 3 different game modes, each of them involving you to shoot a target. Your quota becomes more and more demanding of you and soon becomes pretty hard.
Difficulty: 6
To be honest, Duck Hunt is not as hard as most people may think. Except for the ever so demanding quota, and the faster speed of targets, there really isn't much to be worried about in duck hunt. As long as you have a quick finger, and good reflexes, you should be able to clear Duck Hunt with ease (at least up to round 20, because that's when the difficulty ramps on the ducks!)
Overall Rating: 8.4
To be honest, I think that this is one of the hidden gems of the NES that really offers you a lot. Sometimes the simple premises that games have to offer have so much greatness awaiting behind the door of great NES games. Sure, there may be some flaws that this game has, and it really should have offered more to do, but look past that and see a true game that makes your drab day become a totally awesome life! |
User Notice 
