PixlBit

The master of bass is the caster of class.

Oy, another fishing game. Do I have to play this one? Yeah yeah, I'm on a mission and all of that. Should've made a list of exceptions before I started... oh well, I guess it is too late now.

This one offers four different game modes. I jumped into an exhibition so I could learn the controls at my leisure, though not before quickly creating a character from a few preset clothes and face options. Why does every face look angry? I thought fishing was relaxing. Once on the boat, I cast the line by pulling back on the analogue stick and then releasing it. The A button reels in slowly and the B button reels fast, and moving the stick can wiggle the lure. I didn't see any fish there so I reeled it back and cast in another direction. Finally, after waiting maybe a minute, a fish charges out of nowhere and grabs the line. I was already holding a direction on the stick, so I forgot to "set" the hook by pulling back, and it ended up getting away. I cast into a narrow part of the lake, thinking there must be a fish hiding in there somewhere. After some more waiting, a fish comes and grabs the line. This one is pushing really hard, but I finally manage to reel it in. And! And.... it's a trout. The announcer says "You're supposed to be catching bass" in a somewhat jeering voice, and the fish is released. Wonderful.

Speed Fishing puts you on a specific spot of the lake with a whole bunch of fish swimming around. You start with three minutes, and the fish you catch will add one second per once to the clock. Your score is based on how long you can fish before you run out of time. The Casting Game is more fast-paced than the other modes. There's no real fishing here, all you have to do is cast the line into the targets on the water within the time limit. Once you get all of the starting targets, more will start to appear in random locations.

The graphics are much better than Bass Hunter 64. The camera goes underneath the water, so more than just the surface is visible. There are things like plants and rocks on the lake bed, so it isn't just a brown mass like it could have been. The animation is slightly choppy at times, but is still good enough to not detract from the looks. There is strangely an announcer in this game, which is kind of freaky when you consider there's somebody watching you from some unknown location talking to unspecified people. Don't worry, if you want solitude then you can turn the announcer off.

I'm still not sure who this game appeals to, but if a fishing game sounds like something you'd enjoy, this one won't disappoint.