Duck Hunt (character)

Duck Hunt (known as Duck Hunt Duo in the PAL localization, and individually referred to as Dog and Duck) is the name that refers to both the playable dog, duck and off-screen hunter in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U. True to their team name, all three characters hail from the NES video game Duck Hunt. In addition to their appearances in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U, the dog and variants of the duck have made other crossover guest appearances within the Mario franchise in other instances, mainly within the WarioWare series.

Super Mario Bros.
Though not appearing in the game itself, Super Mario Bros. was re-released multiple times, bundled with other games within the same cartridge. Two releases included a copy of Duck Hunt: 2-in-1 Super Mario Bros./Duck Hunt and 3-in-1 Super Mario Bros./Duck Hunt/World Class Track Meet.

WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgame$!
In WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgame$!, a microgame called Duck Hunt appears, and has overall the same gameplay as the original NES game, this time having the player uses the Game Boy Advance controller to shoot ducks.

WarioWare: Twisted!
A Duck Hunt microgame similar to the one from WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgame$! appears in WarioWare: Twisted!, this time using the Game Boy Advance cartridge's tilt sensor to aim.

WarioWare: Touched!
While the dog does not appear in WarioWare: Touched! at all, the original sprites of the ducks are occasionally released from the ball in the microgame Clawing for More after clearing it.

WarioWare: D.I.Y. Showcase
The Duck Hunt microgame returns in the WiiWare game WarioWare: D.I.Y. Showcase, and utilizes the Wii Remote's motion controls.

Tetris DS
Gameplay of Duck Hunt can be seen on the Nintendo DS' top screen in stage 19 of Standard Marathon mode in Tetris DS, where the dog and duck make a cameo. The dog also appears as a sprite on the touch screen during this stage.

Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U
Duck Hunt appear as unlockable playable characters in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U. Unlike the other team-oriented fighters in the games, Duck Hunt are a trio, as they consist of the dog, a duck and the off-screen hunter who wields the NES Zapper. Other quirks that Duck Hunt possess include the dog's ability to wall jump, the duck having its own hurtbox due to remaining alongside the dog at all times, and the off-screen hunter participating in some of their attacks. Their moveset largely consists of moves based around the Zapper and games that use it, particularly Hogan's Alley and Wild Gunman.

Duck Hunt's neutral special move is Trick Shot, in which the dog kicks a metal can from Hogan's Alley before the hunter is able to subsequently fire at the can to propel it. Their side special move is Clay Shooting, in which the dog throws out a clay pigeon from Duck Hunt's Game C that will then explode upon being fired at by the hunter. Their up special is Duck Jump, in which the duck flies upward while carrying the dog. Their down special is Wild Gunman, which spawns one of the five titular gunmen to attack. Lastly, their Final Smash is NES Zapper Posse, which consists of a flock of ducks from Duck Hunt ramming the opponent into a field before the gunmen from Wild Gunmen fire at them and the cutouts from Hogan's Alley.

In regard to character customization, Duck Hunt are the only fighters who can use the Collar and Feather equipment to boost their defense and speed, respectively. The duo can also use the Zapper equipment to boost their attack strength, which is another reference their home game.

A Duck Hunt-themed stage simply called Duck Hunt also appears in both games. In the stage, the sprite versions of the dog and the ducks appear, even if Duck Hunt themselves are fighting on the stage.

In addition, Duck Hunt are the only playable characters in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U to break the fourth wall in their trailer.

Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U Trophy information
Blue indicates exclusive to the Wii U version.

Palutena's Guidance

 * Pit: I don't want to fight that cute dog!
 * Palutena: Oh, you won't. You'll be fighting the dog AND the duck.
 * Pit: So...if I win...
 * Pit: is duck on the menu for dinner?!
 * Palutena: Let's take things one step at a time, Pit. These two may seem like a duo, but they're actually a trio! Together, they're known as "Duck Hunt."
 * Pit: So where's the third team member?
 * Palutena: Listen, just be careful. You could get shot out of nowhere.
 * Pit: A mysterious sharpshooter, eh? Well, that does make things more exciting!

amiibo

 * These two were the stars of the NES launch title Duck Hunt, way back in 1985. This goofy dog would chase down any ducks hit by the Zapper accessory, but wasn’t shy about laughing at missed shots. In Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and Nintendo 3DS, these two work as a team to fight. Quack! Bark? Both!

Trivia

 * The Duck Hunt microgame in WarioWare: Touched! bears the Duck Hunt title, but instead of featuring the dog and ducks, it uses clay pigeons from Duck Hunt's Game C.