Butt criticized Donald's controls in certain situations in the game, as well as the difficulty of some levels and puzzles. Buchanan also criticized the controls, calling them "float-y" and noted the difficulty in executing precision jumps, explaining that "far too easy to over- or under-shoot a narrow column and slip to your doom." Butt was also "dubious of the number of credits," stating that the game may seem easy with unlimited continues, but that the player will "still need considerable skill to reach the treasure island." Buchanan was disappointed with the lack of speech samples, explaining that it's "a bit of a drag with a character that is so defined by his voice." Ultimately, Butt said that "[younger players will instantly be enthralled by Donald's quest" and that ""QuackShot" is everything a cartoon game should be and more." Buchanan summed up the game as being a "good platformer tripped up by some questionable controls" and recommended the game as "a mildly enjoyable 16-bit platformer that would fit nicely in your Genesis collection."