Duck Hunt

Duck Hunt
File:DuckHuntSymbol.png In-game sprite of the dog and a duck as they appear in Duck Hunt.
Universe	Duck Hunt
Debut	Duck Hunt (1984)
Smash Bros. appearances	Melee (Duck only) Brawl (Duck only) SSB4 Ultimate
Console/platform of origin	Nintendo Entertainment System
Species	Dog (dog) Duck (duck) Presumably human (hunter)
Gender	Male (dog) Unknown (duck) Varies (hunter)
Place of origin	Unknown
Article on Wikipedia	Duck Hunt

Duck Hunt (known in Europe as Duck Hunt Duo and in Japan as Duckhunt) is a name used for the playable group of the dog, a duck, and the hunter from the NES light-gun title, Duck Hunt. The hunter is off-screen at all times, just like in his origin game, and is involved in all of Duck Hunt's smash attacks, as well as Duck Hunt's neutral and side special moves.

Origin

The hunter is the playable character in all versions of Duck Hunt. The hunter is never seen, as he/she is supposed to represent the player.

Throughout Duck Hunt, the goal is to shoot all of the ducks with a limited amount of bullets and time. By plugging a controller into the player 2 slot on the NES, a duck can be controlled to a limited extent by a human player.

The player also owns a non-playable scent hound who would pick up any ducks that were shot down by the player; the opening cinematic of the game also shows that the dog is the one who finds the ducks in the first place. If the player failed to shoot down any ducks, the dog would infamously laugh at the player's misfortune before slinking back down into the grass; while the home version of the game did not allow players to shoot the dog, arcade versions of the game, as Vs. Duck Hunt, could allow the player to shoot the dog in the bonus rounds, though they would receive no points from the round if they did so.

In Super Smash Bros. Melee

Ducks trophy in Melee

While not an official universe and lacking significant representation, Duck Hunt did receive some recognition in Super Smash Bros. Melee. The Ducks from the game received as a collectible trophy, and its description makes reference to both the hunter and the dog from Duck Hunt.

Ducks
These friendly fowl are the targets in the game Duck Hunt, which utilizes the Nintendo Zapper Light Gun. They appear and randomly fly about trying to escape after your faithful (if slightly clamorous) hunting dog flushes them out. Once you drop the ducks, your dog dutifully fetches them by the napes of their necks and grins at you.

• Duck Hunt, 10/85 (NES)

In Super Smash Bros. Brawl

The Duck's sticker in Brawl.

A duck appears on a collectible sticker in Brawl equipable only by Ice Climbers, Pit, R.O.B., and Mr. Game & Watch, giving +20 Launch resistance to them when equipped.

In Super Smash Bros. 4

Duck Hunt as they appear in Super Smash Bros. 4

Duck Hunt is an unlockable character in Super Smash Bros. 4. It consists of the dog with a duck on its back who fight together. Their special moves include gunmen from the NES title Wild Gunman and cans from Hogan's Alley, both of which were also light gun games contemporary to Duck Hunt. Their smash attacks are shots fired from the fourth wall by a "hunter". They were the final newcomer to be officially revealed.

Trophies

Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS trophy descriptions

Duck Hunt

NA: You could call these two the stars of the NES 1985 launch title Duck Hunt. The goofy dog would chase down any ducks hit by the Zapper. In Smash Bros., these two work as a team to fight. When a can or a clay pigeon is in play, hit the button again to fire at it. Show your foes how the ducks felt!

PAL Back in 1987, when Duck Hunt came out, these two might not have had the best relationship. That all seems to have changed now, and this unlikely pair are here to fight together. After throwing a can or a clay pigeon, press the button again to have a little helper fire the NES Zapper for extra damage!

Duck Hunt (Alt.)

NA: Duck Jump, an up special, has the charming twosome float up in an adorable fashion. It also makes getting back to the stage much easier. Their side smash can hit up to three times at close range, depending on your shooting skills. By charging up the attack, you can increase the range even further!

PAL Duck Jump Duo, an up special, has the charming twosome float up in an adorable fashion. It also makes getting back to the stage much easier. Their side smash can hit up to three times at close range, depending on your shooting skills, and by charging up the attack, you can increase the range even further!

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  Classic

• DuckHuntAllStarTrophy3DS.png

  Alt.

Trivia

• Duck Hunt is the only newcomer in Super Smash Bros. 4 not to appear as a significant character in any games featured on Nintendo's 7th and 8th generation consoles other than the Smash Bros. series. The duck cameoed in Wii Play and the pair appeared in a microgame in WarioWare: Smooth Moves.
  • Adding to the above, Smash 4 is Duck Hunt's first non-cameo appearance in a game since Duck Hunt, released 30 years prior, the longest gap for a Smash Bros. fighter.
• The dog from Duck Hunt, Palutena and the Wii Fit Trainer are the only playable characters in the Super Smash Bros. series that do not have a playable appearance in any other video game.
  • The duck and the hunter are the only playable characters from the trio, as the duck was playable in game A of the original Duck Hunt, while the hunter was playable regardless.
• The text in trophies implies the off-screen hunter doesn't count as part of the character Duck Hunt; the English language PAL version makes this more clear by calling the character Duck Hunt Duo instead.
  • However, in Pit's Smash Taunt Palutena points out that while they appear to be a duo they are technically a trio.