SAEDNEWS: Pure Nostalgia! Remember the NES Zapper and Duck Hunt? Shooting ducks on your CRT TV and dodging that pesky dog—this video takes us back to the golden days of Nintendo.
According to the Science and Technology Desk of Saed News, the video you see here is more than just a simple game—it’s a portal to one of the sweetest eras of video gaming for many of us who grew up with the Nintendo (NES) console. Duck Hunt, famously known as the “duck hunting” game, was more than a game; it was a phenomenon that, with the introduction of the NES Zapper light gun, forever changed how we interacted with the screen.
The Light Gun Revolution: At a time when shooting games were mostly confined to arcades, the Zapper came into our homes. This gun featured a simple yet ingenious technology: the moment you pulled the trigger, the screen would briefly go black, leaving only white squares over the targets (the ducks). The light gun’s sensors aimed at these white spots on CRT televisions, and if successful, registered the shot. The thrill of shooting directly at the TV created an unmatched gaming experience.
The Dog Who Was Everything and Nothing: The game’s main character—or perhaps anti-hero—was the mischievous hunting dog. If you missed a shot, his mocking laughter would drive you crazy. The dog became a symbol of our nostalgic gaming failures; though we could never shoot him directly (except in special arcade versions), our sweet frustration toward that little dog remains alive in the hearts of fans to this day.
A Connection to Collective Memories: Duck Hunt was often included in the early NES bundles (usually alongside Super Mario Bros.) and quickly became a staple in millions of households. In Iran, the game, alongside consoles known locally as “Micro,” became an inseparable part of childhood memories. Seeing it again on an old CRT TV instantly revives the same excitement, joy, and energy.
Have you ever played this game? Can you still hear the gun’s click and the dog’s laughter in your memory?