We all love a bit of fishing in our video games, right? Well, you're in luck, because Bandai Namco Entertainment is about to launch Ace Angler: Fishing Spirits on Nintendo Switch, a game packed to the rim with sharks, frogs, turtles, octopi, and much more. In short, everything you could hope for if you like to just kick back and reel in a few fishies.
What we can't quite get over, however, is just how similar it looks to Animal Crossing, at least in terms of aesthetics. Just look at those characters! They look like they've been plucked straight out of a bunch of Animal Crossing villages and dropped into Ace Angler. It's not a bad thing, of course; the design choice arguably fits the tone of the game to a tee, and you can even explore a fully formed Aquarium, just like the museum in New Horizons.
The game will feature five distinct 'attractions' for you to enjoy. Here's some more information directly from the eShop page:
- Fishing Medal Game: Ace Angler +
This attraction allows you to play the famous arcade version of Ace Angler. Collect Medals to upgrade the machine, unlocking new seas and fish!- Story Mode: Legend of the Poisoned Seas
Save the seas from toxic pollution!
This story-based attraction involves clearing short missions in the quest to create sustainable oceans. Learn all about the seas and fish that appear in Ace Angler!- Online Ultimate Angler Competition
Do battle against anglers from around the world in online competition!
Claim victory to earn Stars and upgrade your Angler Level. Aim to become the greatest angler the world has ever seen!- Fishing Mini-Games: Ace Angler Party
This attraction features a collection of games that can be played with family and friends. Defeat the CPU in this attraction's single-player mode, Master Challenge, to earn rewards!
- Medal Pusher Game: Shark Fever
Knock down Shark Balls in this medal pusher game, to unlock a battle against a mighty shark. Land the shark to scoop a huge Medal haul!
In addition to the game itself, players fully invested in all the fishing fun might want to grab the rod accessory, which lets you insert one Joy-Con controller into the shell of a fishing rod, allowing you to fully immerse yourself into the world of Ace Angler. Unfortunately, however, it doesn't look like it'll be compatible with the previous rod accessory for 2019's Ace Angler.
Ace Angler: Fishing Spirits launches on Switch this Friday, October 28th.
Will you be picking this one up? What do you make of the similarities to Animal Crossing? Let us know!
Comments 18
That's fun and all, but can you also farm in this game?
I wondered if Bandai Namco approached Nintendo with their new suggested character design and asked if they where ok with it.
As far as I understand, Bandai and Nintendo have a pretty tight relationship, with Bandai Namco helping out on multiple Nintendo projects.
Well I like Animal Crossing, but I wouldn't say the human character designs in the recent games are very unique. It's pretty much just a variation of the normal cutesy chibi look.
So a rip off rather than a spin off then
Aww.... So cute ! 😃
But wait a minute, why does it rated Teen ? 😟
The electrocute violence on the fishes ?
@Anti-Matter The T could be a mistake or maybe we get to realistically skin fish.
Why does Bandai hate Europe so much?!
First we get Taiko late, then a no show for monster rancher and now this.
Shame cause I would have grabbed this day one, but nope they won't let me. I don't like region hopping either.
I have the first game and it´s so much fun. Pure arcade bliss, especially if you tried to arcade machine. And the motion control is great!
Nintendo has a damn good fishing game on the 3DS.
StreetPass Fishing!
And I normally abhor fishing games!
Imagine spinning off a game of nothing but AC fishing mechanics; I would drown myself. Hour 42 digging up clams to try to catch a golden trout.
@Anti-Matter If it is indeed rated T, I guess I shouldn't be surprised. I mean, this is the ESRB, what's so violent about the Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 editions of Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games and Wii Sports Club to have them give an E10+ rating to those game? Especially when past games in those series had E ratings.
I'm not complaining really, but why? That's like the Japanese CERO, who gave Banjo-Kazooie and Banjo-Tooie ratings of B (equal to an ESRB T).
You can always count on Bandai Namco to make wacky obscure gems.
Have the original 2019 game and it's kind of frustrating.
You miss way more than you pull in and it feels like you never can get a decent medal count.
Hoping the new one will be balanced a little better (and I think comparing it to Animal Crossing is doing it a massive disservice).
Looks like animal crossing because AC has the most generic character design
It’s heavily inspired, or they did it to draw in ac fans who, love to fish! I don’t really mind, because of how different it looks, but probably not gonna play it.
I would have purchased day one if you could use the pro controller.
@RamenNumerals I imagine the demo will drop when the game comes out, I just checked and mine hasn't given a download for the demo yet. I am certainly curious about this one, never heard of it before but I like a good arcade fishing game and this one seemed packed for $40.
Did this release in NA? Because it’s not on the UK eshop as of 29 Oct
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