Vs. Duck Hunt (Arcade) Playthrough - NintendoComplete

A playthrough of Nintendo's 1985 light-gun arcade game, Vs. Duck Hunt.

The game has no ending, so I played until I got a game over on Round 13.

What kid in the late 80s didn't dream of being able to shoot the dog in Duck Hunt? His smug face just begged to be rearranged with a piping hot serving of lead, if for no other reason than to permanently silence that infuriating laugh.

Or maybe I'm just a bit off-kilter. But I'd be willing to bet that I'm not the only one.

But more to the point, it was completely possible to shoot that damned mutt, though you would've never experienced the joy of doing so unless you played Vs. Duck Hunt. Originally appearing in arcades in 1984 (Japan)/1985 (America), its US release actually led the American launch of the NES by about five months. It was also featured in Nintendo's famous line of candy red Playchoice-10 arcade machines.

Vs. Duck Hunt's basic gameplay is the pretty much the same as what you'll find in the NES version. I mean, it's Duck Hunt. What else are you going to do but shoot at ducks with a light gun? There are a few neat differences that would've been cool to see at home, though.

Instead of giving you the option to shoot at ducks or clay pigeons, the game alternates between them. You play a duck stage and a clay pigeon stage, a bonus round, and then play another duck stage, followed by another clay pigeon stage, topped off with yet another bonus round. Each second time through this three stage game loop, you'll get to see an amusing cutscene featuring the dog chasing the duck. (Until the duck turns the tables, that is!). Everything then repeats at a slightly harder level of difficulty, and will continue to do so until you get a game over.

You might only be able to shoot the dog in the bonus stages, but for all of us that cut our gaming teeth on the NES, it's every bit as cathartic as you'd imagined it to be.

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No cheats were used during the recording of this video.

[GaryBeltz]

"Ouch!! Shoot the ducks, not me!!" Well, maybe if your laugh wasn't so annoying I wouldn't.

[Peter_Morris]

What? There’s a version of Duck Hunt where you can shoot the dog?!?

Every one of us has ALWAYS wanted to shoot that dog. This is incredible!

[NintendoComplete]

For anyone that ever dreamt of shooting that obnoxious dog, this is a dream come true. It's just cathartic to finally wipe that smirk off of his face.

[mattsneed]

That dog deserved it everytime he laughed at us for not shooting the ducks or when it was Game Over.

[waynemacfarland]

Dog: "OUCH!!! Shoot the ducks, not me, you idiot!"
Me: "Shut up, dog! You've had it coming for decades!"

[thecunninlynguist]

Wow, never knew this was also released as a Vs title. Would've been nice if the NES release had those bonus stages

[rcblazer]

You would think if the dog didn't want you to shoot him that he wouldn't keep jumping out of the grass into your line of fire. This dog must have trained the innocent bystanders in other Light Gun games.

[TrueSolunar]

You could also shoot the dog when he was jumping into the grass... Do it too many times, however, he quits, and you Game Over...

[AlidarJarok]

To this day I have never seen the arcade version of this. Its nice to see on the channel, thanks for playing this.

[DarkFrozenDepths]

3:39 "Shoot the Ducks, not me!"

Me: So anyway, I started blasting.

[VahanNisanian]

Just about all of the Vs. versions were significant improvements over their NES originals. Can’t wait for you to do Vs. Hogan’s Alley and Vs. Gumshoe.

[MrVariant]

Cool, didn't even know there was an arcade version where you could shoot the dog lol 1:47

[anafurry]

Players in the original version of Duck Hunt:"i wish i could shoot the annoying dog!"
Arcade version of Duck Hunt:"i'm a *joke* for you?"

[predatorarroyo]

I don't want to forget Duck Hunt, except i've never played the arcade version. 🐕🦆🥏🔫

[miroslavzima]

I could only dream to see revenge on that damn dog! After decades of laugh! xD
Who´s laughing now, punk? Huh? HUH?!

[ken_danerdiest]

I'll take Vs. Duck Hunt over the 8-bit version any day.

[Ryoko]

I forgot this had a VS. version. A shame we never got it on the Wii U, and an even bigger one that House of the Dead could be the only light gun shooter on the switch as well.

[ladynikkie]

3:35 That's what you get for laughing at every kid for over the last 3 decades. He deserved it

[therealseanw.stewart]

This looks super-fun, a bit more going on than the NES port, but that was usually the case with home console ports of the more advanced arcade originals at the time.
OUCH !!
SHOOT THE DUCKS, NOT ME !!

[oosha]

I don't remember playing this before but damn that dog.