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Ultimate Duck Hunting Review for the Nintendo Wii

Ultimate Duck Hunting Review for the Nintendo Wii

Stick with Hunting Deer

Sometimes there are games out there that really need to be recreated on other systems. How many people asked for another Ocarina of Time, but with a unique presentation and stronger visuals? How about a remake of the classic Final Fantasy VII for the Playstation 3? Though it may seem unorthodox for developers to waste time on remakes or ports, some games are so good that they transcend the systems, Super Mario 64, which has made an appearance on the Nintendo 64, Nintendo DS, and the Wii Virtual Console. Unfortunately, there are also games that are best left to deteriorate on the platform they originated on. Well, I had the misfortune of unearthing a culprit of this, and it goes by the name of Ultimate Duck Hunting.

Ultimate Duck Hunting screenshot

Originally released on the PC back in May of 2006, Ultimate Duck Hunting promised, and I quote, “the most realistic duck-hunting game ever made.” A bold claim, but at the time, they were right. Aside from the refreshing classic Duck Hunt on the original Nintendo Entertainment System, no other bird hunting shooter had ever been released. And who could possibly forget Duck Hunt? Combined with the Zapper, it was one of the most unique gaming experiences back in the eighties. With a tight control scheme, simplistic visuals, and another mode of play, Duck Hunt was a sign of things to come in the realm of motion sensing. Of course, the dog was so annoying that you wanted to strangle it, but that all added to the charm. Ultimate Duck Hunting tries to bring the fun of the original NES title to the next generation consoles, but falls short. Not so much because of the presentation, but from just about everything else.

The first thing you will notice right off the bat about Ultimate Duck Hunting are the visuals. When the title was released a year and a half ago on the PC it already looked quite dated, and unfortunately, no improvements have been made. From the textureless ground and motionless sky to the cardboard cut-out trees, the title looks like it could’ve been done on the Dreamcast. The environments are quite uninspired as well, leaving as much to the imagination as being in a desolate field in southern Mississippi. Speaking of which, there are six other potential havens to lurk in, from the South Dakota bog to the mountains of northern Virginia. I’m not sure why they picked these particular locations, but then again I’m no hunting connoisseur. Lastly, there is the audio or lack thereof. Aside from the barking of your dog, quacking of ducks, and pop from your gun, there really isn’t anything notable to speak of. Sound exciting so far?

Ultimate Duck Hunting screenshot

As you begin your wonderful journey through the barren swamps of the Mideast, you will notice that you have a companion. Yes, as said earlier, a dog accompanies your trek through the marsh, offering its assistance in helping you nab those ducks. One positive that can be mentioned right off the bat is that this dog is actually useful (unlike the one from Duck Hunt). As you start the single player mode, you will have to sit through a training session in which you throw newspapers to your dog in order to train it. The process is extremely boring, but fortunately, only lasts for a few minutes. Now wouldn’t it be wonderful if all dogs could be trained that quickly? Your next job will be to setup camp in the open wilderness and prepare to do just what the title suggests: hunt ducks . . . “ultimately.”

Ultimate Duck Hunting screenshot

After picking a gun, your dog’s color, and what hunting suit you want, you are on your way. From here on out, you can wander the countryside, searching for the spot with the most potential for duck spawns. Calling the ducks is done by using one of three duck calls, with little difference between them aside from the color of bird it’ll bring. Once this is accomplished, you will begin to see ducks circling right over your head. The key is to shoot as many ducks as the game will allow you and then follow up by having your dog scoop them up in its mouth. Now this is where things get frustrating. First off, the Wii-mote, while interesting at first, is very loose and unresponsive at times.

Ultimate Duck Hunting screenshot

There were moments where I positioned the gun right in front of a duck just a few yards ahead of me and the bullet would sail right through it. With a little practice it does become easier, but I can imagine a keyboard and mouse being the more viable control option, since the PC was where the game originally came from. On another note, the dog is just as frustrating. Imagine waiting about one to two minutes for your dog to walk over to the fowl and bring it to you. Got it in your mind? Good. Now picture occasionally waiting double that amount because your dog thinks it’s funny to wander around aimlessly. Chock it up to poor A.I.

Okay, you’ve shot your share of ducks and racked up as many points as you can; now what? Well, that’s it. There is no time limit, point limit, or goal. Just shoot ducks, have your dog pick up said ducks, and then do it again and again. After you’ve had enough, you will probably notice that there is a multiplayer mode. If you happen to know of anyone else who owns Ultimate Duck Hunting, then give him or her a call and get ready for a little split-screen action. Up to two players can compete in a shoot-off to see who can build up enough points within a certain amount of time. Unfortunately for me, I could not find anyone else online who owned the game and wanted to have a little hunting session. Ah, it can get lonely in the great outdoors, but at least you have a dog by your side, unless it happens to get stuck behind a tree or wander off.

At the end of the day, there really isn’t a lot to say about Ultimate Duck Hunting. It serves as nothing more than a throwaway PC port-over with the intent of taking advantage of the Wii’s controls. The problem is that it wasn’t built as a Wii game from the ground up, thus the awkward feel of aiming and positioning with the Wii-mote. Aside from that, the visuals are lackluster, the audio is virtually non-existent, and the gameplay is shallow. The original Ultimate Duck Hunting on the PC wasn’t a spectacular game and sending it over to the Wii hasn’t changed that. So if you are a fan of hunting birds, just dig out your old NES and play some Duck Hunt. The controls are better, the visuals are easier on the eyes, and you don’t have to wait an eternity for your dog to retrieve it – but it will laugh at you.

Features:

  • “The most realistic duck-hunting game ever made.”
  • Customize your dog’s color, your hunting outfit, and the type of shotgun you will be using.
  • Up to six states are available for play, from South Dakota to Arkansas.
  • Split-screen multiplayer for up to two players.
  • Utilize the Wii-mote to shoot down ducks from the air and control your dog for retrieving them.

    RATING OUT OF 5 RATING DESCRIPTION 1.8 Graphics
    The colors are very dull and the environment, while large, is uninspiring. 2.5 Control
    The Wii-mote has its moments, but ultimately the controls feel too loose and awkward. 1.5 Music / Sound FX / Voice Acting
    Nothing to really speak of aside from some animal sounds and the snoring from whoever is watching you play. 1.2

    Play Value
    Assuming you find someone to play with you, there is probably between two and four hours of total play time. That is, if it holds your interest for that long.

    1.4 Overall Rating – Avoid
    Not an average. See Rating legend above for a final score breakdown.

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