Duck Season

I had no idea what I was getting into with Duck Season, but man did this game leave one heck of an impression on me! One thing that is worth noting about this game is that there are two versions of it out there. The first version is a VR game, but the one I am looking at today is the more recent version that has been reworked for a monitor and has also had a few new things added in for good measure.

The 80s Are Cool Man!

The story of Duck Season and the lore around the game is what really grabbed me. Setting stuff in the 1980s is the cool thing to do these days. I think that this game does it better than most others that have tried. You play as a young kid called David who is desperate to play the latest video game cartridge, Duck Season. His mother rents it for him, but this is no normal cartridge.

The “game” of Duck Season is basically Duck Hunt for the NES, complete with the annoying dog, but the dog here is creepier and more sinister than Duck Hunt dog.

Strange, But True

The gameplay is that of a shooter, you need to shoot the ducks out of the sky. However, before long you things take a strange and sinister turn and things get very odd and creepy. I do not want to spoil things, but before long David is fighting for his life and trying to just survive this nightmare! The idea of this game is flat out awesome and while it is short there are multiple endings, mini-games and different things to find as you play.

The actual “duck shooting” aspect of the game I feel could have used a few more modifiers to keep it fresh. Thankfully it is not overused so it never becomes a problem. I liked how the relationship with the dog would differ on each playthrough depending on what you do. This aspect of the game has a kind of “Five Nights at Freddy’s” vibe to it.

The Charm Of The 80s

One thing that they managed to do very well with this game is the feel of the 80s. I love the 80s setting here and one of the ways that the game does this best is with the way it looks. It feels like your parents’ house from back in 1986 when you would sit on the rug playing Nintendo all day on a Saturday.

Another way they have captured the feel of the 80s is with these VHS tapes you can find. these are hilarious and there is some great FMV here that is sure to make you laugh.

Pros:

• I loved the story of the game
• That dog is freaking weird
• The game has some great twists and turns
• The shooting mechanics are way better than you would think
• Plenty of replay value

Cons:

• The game can be short
• You better be prepared to be creeped out!