Social The Dog Opens a Can of Whoopass: Duck Hunt Social Thread

[Arcadenik]

Another one: Based on the Dog guards in Animal Crossing.

Maybe that outfit could work for Duck Hunt Dog's Red Team palette swap but it's accessorized with General Pepper's hat?

 

[TheCreator]

Point is, you could make a desk lamp a suitable moveset for Smash. Actual fighting ability is like literally the least important thing.

My thoughts exactly.

 

[Arcadenik]

I am bringing posts about whether Duck Hunt Dog can be a viable contender or not from the SSB4 Character Discussion thread to here where they belong.

Habanero's post

How anyone can seriously think the dog from Duck Hunt can be a viable contender in any shape or form is beyond me. It's like taking the fish from Balloon Fighter and begging for that.

Arcadenik's reply to Habanero's post

Because the Balloon Fight Fish doesn't have a proper body build and the Duck Hunt Dog does?

Because there is virtually no demand for Balloon Fight Fish but there is actually some demand (from other people who are not me) for Duck Hunt Dog?

Because Balloon Fighter is the logical choice from Balloon Fight (since he is the protagonist) and Duck Hunt Dog is the logical choice from Duck Hunt by default (since the ducks don't exactly have proper body builds for Smash)?

Fastblade5035's reply to Arcadenik's post

Still don't understand why people support him. He's not really interesting at all, imo. (Please dont quote me on this). And giving him things from the game (ducks, the blaster) could be done for essentially any character. It seems to me the core of his support is because:
"He's retro, a Nintendo IP, and could use the ducks!"

Other than that, basically his whole moveset will be spins and kicks, and random stuff that dogs do. Not saying it's bad, but when people like Mach Rider and Takamaru are in the fray with potentially awesome movesets, (samurai swordstyle, shurikens, a bike, gunz) I just cant get behind Duck Hunt Dog. Seems like a very wishful thought that could be applied to almost anyone (except for the support part). Oh, and why should Duck Hunt get a rep anyway, aside from being retro? Plenty others deserve that spot, and frankly, are cooler imo than a dog.

This has been, "Poor Rants" With Fastblade.

Please don't kill me, or eat me, or... well, I guess you could ignore this post. It probably will be, anyways.

peeup's reply to Fastblade5035's post

Nah not gonna ignore this post, but only because I am like hardcore in disagreement with the spirit of it. "He's retro, a Nintendo IP, and could use the ducks!" is not the half of it man. His game was one of the first I ever played, and even though I ain't seen it in at least a decade I remember it wicked clearly because of that damned sonova***** dog that wouldn't stop laughing at me. He's wicked iconic, even beyond the gaming universe. As far as gameplay goes, he could be an excellent character based on ranged attacks, as his game was the first (or at least the most popular) Nintendo game to represent the flash gun. That's a possibility nobody else could possibly have.

And you get behind Takamaru? I see no problems with Mach Rider, but... Takamaru would be bland as hell. Oh he'd be a quick swordsman? Sweet get in line behind Marth. Oh he'd throw ninja stars and be all samurai-like? Sweet go get a quick remodel of Sheik. He offers so little in terms of new or innovative gameplay. Duck Hunt Dog would be the first quadruped in Smash (barring Ivysaur, but they would be wicked different so it ain't important), and he has siiiick moveset potential (see; SSBC). I think very few characters are cooler than DHD.

KumaOso's reply to Fastblade5035's post

Well, why not look at the aspects of Duckhunt itself and think about the relationship between the light gun and the dog?

Let's see here. The light gun user and the dog are separate "characters". You control one and the other finishes your work for you. One thing we could go with here are the stone pigeons for skeet shooting. The dog could throw them out in some fixed path and pressing B would cause the "hunter" to shoot the stone pigeon while the dog continues to fight. Another thing is that the ducks could also be called on, but go in a zigzag pattern where pressing down B causes them to get shot and the fall straight down as a form of vertical zoning. The third special could be a pouncing command grab that triples as an anti-air and a suicide move. Finally his recovery move would a big jump like in the minigames and he could be shot at (but dodges) and hit the opponent next to him.

Habanero's post

I rarely do see desciption for how the dog from Duck Hunt would actually play like.

It's like people say "Yeah that dog from Duck Hunt is awesome!" and I say "Alright, so how would he play?"

...

"Yeah that dog from Duck Hunt is awesome!"

I could go on and on about praising a character is one thing, but actually being capable is another. Having good looks is not exactly the only thing you should harbor on, as regardless on whatever is said how a character plays can be a deal breaker.

Arcadenik's reply to Fastblade5035's post

I am sorry I could have sworn you were SmashChu's sockpuppet. My mistake... anyway, can you name another Nintendo character who could use ducks and the NES Zapper? You yourself said that this could be done for essentially any character instead of Duck Hunt Dog.

If the core of Duck Hunt Dog's support is about being a retro, being a Nintendo IP, and could use ducks is the reason why you cannot get behind Duck Hunt Dog? Both Takamaru and Mach Rider are retro Nintendo IPs just like Duck Hunt Dog. So the most logical conclusion is...? Oh, right... because a duck is an unconventional and unorthodox weapon of choice compared to a sword or a gun. You yourself used the words "awesome" and "cooler" which brings up the Rule of Cool.

According to you:
swords = cool
shurikens = cool
motorcycles = cool
guns = cool
ducks = not cool

There are characters who were initially perceived as "weak" or "boring" or "stupid" already in Smash and they proved otherwise... characters such as Jigglypuff, Mr. Game & Watch, and R.O.B. I think characters like Duck Hunt Dog, Tingle, Meowth, Starfy, and even Toad fall into this group.

This is where moveset potential and gameplay come to the picture. When observing that video of the fan-made game Super Smash Bros. Crusade with Duck Hunt Dog... I can see the potential of using ducks, clay pigeons, and the NES Zapper as long range weapons and projectiles... yes, even if it looks ridiculous... but Smash never takes itself too seriously anyway.

I see that Duck Hunt Dog could potentially be excellent at zoning when throwing clay pigeon and siccing ducks at opponents plus directing the hunter (with the NES Zapper) where to shoot from the fourth wall. Duck Hunt Dog is infamous for breaking the fourth wall to troll gamers so he obviously fills the joke character archetype as well.

Arcadenik's reply to KumaOso's post

The hunter and the dog are separate "characters". That is what I got in mind, correct. I control the dog but not the hunter. The hunter finishes the dog's work by shooting wherever the dog is pointing at. Correct, just how I had in mind.

The specials (except recovery move) you described pretty much match how I envisioned them. The recovery move I had in mind was the dog flying away with ducks... just like in that Crusade video. It's just too good.

I was thinking that the ducks could be somewhat like disjointed hitboxes? Like, when the dog uses a duck as a bludgeoning weapon... and if a character shoots a projectile at the dog... and if the dog uses a punch or a kick on the projectile, the dog gets hurt... but if the dog uses a duck, only the duck gets hurt.

I was also thinking about Snake's Smash Up move where Snake shoots a missile upward and it goes back down... this missile has its own disjointed hitbox. Now, picture this missile as a duck. If the dog's Smash Up move is releasing a duck... the duck flies upward, maybe in a zigzag pattern like you described, and the duck pecks anyone who is in the way till it flies offscreen (flying away just like in the NES game).

I also liked this move the dog did in Crusade... it looks like it might be Aerial Forward+A (Meteor Smash?)... anyway, what the dog does is he pulls out a duck, swings it like a bludgeoning weapon, and then releases it. The duck flies away upward... now it is a flying disjointed hitbox.

Welp! I think Duck Hunt Dog might be a tricky character to use with all these flying disjointed hitboxes ducks.

 

[Arcadenik]

Looking back into KumaOso's suggestion about keeping control of the dog after releasing a duck... I think he is onto something. Instead of having the dog wait till the duck gets shot before you can control the dog like I described in the OP... perhaps the duck functions like a homing missile? You know like the Hornet Chaser special weapon in Mega Man 9? I control the dog and I release a duck... the hunter finishes my work by shooting the duck while I do other things as the dog.

The idea is to make Duck Hunt Dog a zoning character with long range weapons (ducks) and projectiles (ducks, clay pigeons). So, ducks automatically fly to the closest opponent... if the duck doesn't get close enough to the opponent within 3 seconds, it flies away. If the duck manages to fly close to the opponent that they overlap, the hunter from the fourth wall automatically shoots the duck... and the opponent gets caught in the gunfire explosion. Maybe Duck Hunt Dog can have up to two ducks out at the same time (just like the NES game).

Also, if both Mega Man and Duck Hunt Dog get in SSB4, Mega Man could copy Duck Hunt Dog and get "Duck Chaser".

 

[peeup]

I think his Neutral Special should be a projectile (either a clay pigeon or a shot from a NES Zapper that the dog carries) that has knockback on the target opposite to the direction it travels. That was you could start up a combo from long distance by shooting the enemy, having them fly towards you, and beat the snot outta them.

I also see his Side Special as him releasing a slow flying duck that homes in on the nearest enemy. And when I say slow flying I mean slow... flying... duck. Like slow enough that it's extremely easy to avoid (well avoid is the wrong word. The way I see it the duck wouldn't have like a 3 second timer then he flies away, but instead he has like a 3% hurtbox and he'll die if he gets hit.) That way you could like make a wall of ducks if you have a lot of space, or if you don't you can just have one or two ducks and try to combo into them.

I'm trying to make Duck Hunt Dog a character that relies on making weird long distance combos. I feel like that would be hugely fun to play as.

 

[Metal Overlord]

i actually used to like the idea of duck hunt dog being playable

now however? meh

why try to flesh him out and give him a whole moveset when you could just make a duck hunt stage or make him an assist trophy character and he'd still be just as cool

the novelty of him being playable would probably wear off quick anyway, and he'd just be another annoying character a la phoenix wright in mvc3

 

[BluePikmin11]

I love this screenshot of Duck Hunt Dog so much:

 

[Arcadenik]

It is awesome!!! I love it, too!! I cannot believe that someone hacked Brawl and made Duck Hunt Dog with Ducks from Olimar and Pikmin. Is there a video?

 

[Hypercat-Z]

I love this screenshot of Duck Hunt Dog so much:

I like how the ducks look like they are doing the goose step XD

 

[Deleted member]

I like how the ducks look like they are doing the goose step XD

I don't know if pun was intentional or not, but it made me laugh just the same.

 

[volbound1700]

I won't lie, a big smile would come across my face if I found out he was in the game. The moveset potential presented here sounds fun as well. I need to try Smash Brothers Crusade.

 

[Mypantisgone]

That head sure looks amazingly modeled.

 

[HylianHeroBigBoss]

I definitely want this character to show up in some form for this game, even an AT would please me

Spoiler

 

[8-peacock-8]

 

[Curious Villager]

You know, when I used to play Duck Hunt back when I was just a little kid. I originally thought the dog was crying whenever I missed. Until much later on in the many years when I found out he was laughing at me all this time. That jerk.

I can imagine him getting the R.O.B./Mr. Game & Watch treatment. But he may be more suitable as an assist trophy or a stage element but I guess that's just me.

 

[Frostwraith]

He'd be ideal for a Duck Hunt stage cameo. I mean, who knows? Duck Hunt could receive the same treatment that Super Mario Bros., Mario Bros. and Donkey Kong got and have a 8-bit-like stage like the classic Mushroom Kingdom stages in SSB64 and Melee and the Mario Bros. and 75m stages in Brawl.

 

[8-peacock-8]

I think it should only be a stage. The Dog can be in the background taunting you and the hunter and the ducks could be hazards.

 

[volbound1700]

Something referencing Duck Hunt would be nice. I love DHD in Smash Bros Crusade.

 

[FalKoopa]

Downloaded SSB Crusade today, and still not really fond of DHD. The animations and attacks are awkward, and so is his moveset. I would have liked him better if he had a duck as a somewhat controllable projectile.

 

[volbound1700]

The blaster works good to me. Duck would be hard to animate for that team (remember the makers of Crusader are just average joes like us and not paid professionals).

 

[FalKoopa]

The blaster works good to me. Duck would be hard to animate for that team (remember the makers of Crusader are just average joes like us and not paid professionals).

But still, the animation isn't as good when you compare it to Lucario or Porky.

 

[Arcadenik]

Well, looks like Duck Hunt Dog could work in Smash after all... and it is all thanks to Villager and Wii Fit Trainer for proving that characters don't have to know how to fight to get in Smash. Duck Hunt Dog could fight by hunting ducks and getting shot by the hunter just like how Villager fights by cutting down trees and digging holes and Wii Fit Trainer fights by doing stretches and yoga poses.

 

[Yogibur]

Duck Hunt Dog for president
No but really im gonna go hack him into my game

 

[IntelliHeath1]

Well, looks like Duck Hunt Dog could work in Smash after all... and it is all thanks to Villager and Wii Fit Trainer for proving that characters don't have to know how to fight to get in Smash. Duck Hunt Dog could fight by hunting ducks and getting shot by the hunter just like how Villager fights by cutting down trees and digging holes and Wii Fit Trainer fights by doing stretches and yoga poses.

Trust me how much I would love to see him in the game. I have a bad feeling that he wouldn't be in. I don't think Sakurai would ever think of him. I don't think there is any duck hunt stuff in Brawl, but I'm aware of Melee's trophy.

 

[Arcadenik]

Oh, do trust me... I am NOT expecting him to be playable in SSB4 but at least people can no longer use excuses like "he has no name!", "he is generic!", "he can't fight!", etc. because these arguments can be applied to Viilager and Wii Fit Trainer. And we are left with one or two excuses, the real reason why people use those excuses... "I hate him!" or "there are other characters I would rather see in Smash before the dog"... and suddenly, all arguments against Duck Hunt Dog are subjective now. No more pretending to be objective with those debunked arguments.

 

[Yogibur]

He has a name A mans best friend

 

[8-peacock-8]

Bumping this.

Apparently the Duck Hunt Dog's laugh is used in the Pikmin 3 intro.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=if4Y57ubM8Q#t=94s

Listen to the audio when the ship explodes.

 

[Arcadenik]

Ahhh, I know what happened. Duck Hunt Dog's master, the unseen hunter from the fourth wall shot the ship with the NES Zapper... Duck Hunt Dog is laughing at their expense.

I would if Duck Hunt Dog turns out to be the final boss of Pikmin 3.

 

[Tree Gelbman]

It always amazes me that Duck Hunt hasn't really be in Smash Brothers outside of that one trophy in Melee.

It came with the NES for christ sakes.

I'd love for DHG to be a playable character/assist trophy. He'd be an excellent retro rep because of how many people have memories of him (probably more people would remember him than IC, Mr. Game & Watch, and R.O.B.)

 

[APC99]

Duck Hunt Dog? OF COURSE. Love the lil' guy and his cocky attitude. Never understood why people hated him. (NEVER PLAYED DUCK HUNT )

All silliness aside, he IS a pretty big landmark in Nintendo history. It's baffled me as to why they didn't include him in Wii Play's Duck Hunt knock-off as a cameo or something.

 

[Maffewt]

All I could think was 'Pffft, Duck Hunt DOg... They're really scraping the bottom of the barrel now.'

But like... wow. Awesome OP, and idea in general. I'm so down. The only thing holding me back is 1) I imagine the whole shooting ducks thing would be a problem and 2) I'd probably be disappointed by the actual moveset because it couldn't be as perfect as Arcadenik's.

 

[SmashBro99]

I'd prefer ****** Ridley...*shudders*

 

[Groose]

OK, you finally sold me. I'm definitely not expecting him in, but he would certainly be a great secret character.

 

[Maffewt]

It makes sense alongside ROB and WFT in terms of highlighting Nintendo's long history with peripherals. And the Zapper is at least as famous as the Balance board and ROB, if not more so.

also, vgchartz has sales for Duck Hunt listed up on 28 million or so. I know that's cuz of the North American NES bundle, but that doesn't really change that there's a serious amount of people who would have played Duck Hunt and recognise this character. the only major obstacle I see now is the emphasis on guns and hunting being a problem. But then again, Wii Play got away with it.

 

[Arcadenik]

An alleged leaker at GameFAQs claimed that "Dog & Hunter" is gonna be in SSB4... part of me wants to believe it... but part of me knows that it's too good to be true.

 

[Tetra's Tracker]

An alleged leaker at GameFAQs claimed that "Dog & Hunter" is gonna be in SSB4... part of me wants to believe it... but part of me knows that it's too good to be true.

Not that I believe it but his claim that "Dog & Hunter" works by you not actually seeing the hunter, instead he fires the zapper off-screen, is actually a really good idea.

 

[SpaceJell0]

I could see him in, a Final Smash where he jumps in some bushes and gives thumbs ups if you shoot a character would be cool!

 

[Yams]

I think the Dog has to be in, he makes the most sense out of any historical character, and I always keep him in my roster. I'm just hoping Sakurai thinks of him, Duck Hunt's had barely any representation in smash.

 

[Maffewt]

Dog & Hunter is the best name I've heard so far. Plus, I liek the implication that you
're somewhat playing the HUnter off screen, it's unique for smash.

 

[shinhed-echi]

So you control the dog, but certain attacks of him come from "off screen"? Is that what's being implied?

... Sounds kind of silly... In the good way of course. I think it might work.

Maybe Dog & Hunter will work kind of how I pictured Saki working.

You press "B", the dog sits still on standby (better yet if it's a hunting pose) then a crosshair appears on the screen which you move with the joystick. Then you press B again for the Hunter to fire up to 3 shots, when the special ends.

Would love if he works this way... But I bet that's more final smash material.