Duck Hunt: NES ClassicDuck Hunt is probably one of the most well known NES games, and for good reason. Anyone who was a child when the NES came out (and many of their children) probably has fond memories of taking the zapper and holding it up to the screen one nobody was looking. This game is a classic on the Nintendo Entertainment System, and it's pretty clear why.
Graphics: 5The graphics in this game aren't necessarily bad, but they're nothing great. Compared to other games of its time, they're so-so. There are far better NES games, but Duck Hunt still has its own style. Some of the drawings are rather crude, but it does have some redeeming values. I personally think the ducks stand out from the rest of the game as particularly good. Not terrible, but nothing exceptional.
Sound: 7As far as the Nintendo Entertainment System goes, this game has some decent sound effects. The music at the start of the game is nothing bad, and everything sounds like its supposed to. You hear the dog barking, you hear the wings flapping, and you hear the ducks quacking. Much of the game is silent though, which could obviously be improved on.
Addictiveness: 9Addictiveness is definitely this game's strength. There's something about shooting at little images of ducks that just never gets old. Much of it has to do with the simplicity and repetition that it provides while still presenting a genuine challenge (especially later on). Many people have watched their lives waste away to nothing as they sat there shooting at the ducks. Okay, that might be a slight exaggeration. But when it all comes down to it, this game is very fun and very addictive.
Story: -No story here. You're shooting stuff, and that's about it. The closest thing to an antagonist in this game is that good-for-nothing dog.
Depth: 4This game has very little to offer. The only thing you can do is point and shoot. The main redeeming aspect of Duck Hunt as far as depth goes is the fact that is has three different modes. The first mode being "one duck", the second mode being "two ducks", and the third mode being "clay shooting". You can switch between the three, but they all feel pretty much the same.
Difficulty: 5The difficulty can vary depending on a few factors. The first factor of course, is what mode you are playing. If you're playing one duck, you shouldn't have much problem for a while. With two ducks, you might miss more ducks sooner. And with clay shooting, your targets are a lot smaller and therefore harder to hit. The difficulty also increases rapidly depending on how far in the game you are. Most people can win level one, but only the champion duck hunters can shoot down every duck in round twenty. Then of course, it's always easier if you're right up against the screen.
Overall: 8.8Duck Hunt may not be the greatest game on the NES, but it's definitely worth a mention when discussing the great games that it provided. Duck Hunt could offer more, but what it does offer is definitely worth a play. Or two. Or ten. Maybe I would give it another point if you could shoot the dog, but that's never going to happen. My conclusion: A little basic, but still a fun classic.
Graphics
5 Sound
7 Addictive
9 Depth
4 Difficulty
5