Fishing has never promised to be a thrill-a-minute sport; there is no LeBron James of fishing, as well there shouldn’t be. There are those who take fishing as a very serious and technical endeavour, certainly, but others take a more laid-back approach: just get out there, fiddle with things and see what you can nab! Hooked on Bass Fishing seems to cater more toward this calmer side of the sport, which makes for a fine philosophy but perhaps not that enthralling of a video game.
Hooked on Bass Fishing keeps things simple. There’s a boy, a girl, two ponds and a small selection of equipment for hooking about 20 different kinds of fish. If you’re the type whose fishing experience includes heavy investment in sonar technology and an appreciation of the word “stinkbait” beyond schoolyard name-calling, this likely isn’t the game for you.
The majority of the game will be spent as the boy at his pond. There is no boat or travelling about; just tap a spot on the pond with the swimming silhouette of a fish or a spray of foam to enter the underwater lure view. Here you swipe back and forth against the touch screen to wiggle your lure enticingly at the silhouettes of fish, tapping on the screen to nab one that happens to bite. You’re then whisked back above water to reeling mode, where you flick the stylus in the directions of the line in a proper rhythm to bring the fish in, which can actually be somewhat challenging at times if the creature is a real fighter.
Maintain control and a meter will appear once it’s time to land the fish. Flick when the meter is full enough to fling the fish ceremoniously into the air, then swipe across the touch screen one last time at the right moment to catch it in your net.
As you may have noticed, the entire fishing experience is controlled through the touch screen and vast amounts of flicking. It feels relatively intuitive and is very accessible, but lacks in complexity or much sense of strategy. Once you get a fish to bite, your mission will always be the same.
The game adds some spice by awarding points for caught fish based on size and weight. These points can then be used in the tackle shop, run by the girl, to upgrade your equipment. Selections such as different levels of rods, lines, and reels will make it easier to keep fish from getting away or provide more opportunities if you fill the power meter. Oddly, you can only rent this equipment, giving you a set number of casts before you revert back to your default and have to spend your points anew. A few things are permanent, such as drinks that increase stats such as being able to identify fish underwater or spotting the spray that indicates larger fish. Lures are also permanent and selectable, but don’t seem to be for much more than aesthetics. You can also buy one-use helper buttons that will let you skip a troublesome reeling or netting section for a powerful fish, which can be nice.
If you choose to consistently spend your points renting equipment, Hooked on Bass Fishing at least offers a surprisingly large and motivational array of challenges to net more. These challenges are organized like tournaments (although you don’t actually compete against anyone) and charge casters with objectives such as catching above or below a certain combined weight of fish, catching a certain number of one fish only, or catching a certain number of fish without messing up reeling, all within a time limit. These can be fun, but there doesn’t seem to be much in the way of method when approaching certain challenges. Mostly, you just jump out to the pond and try to hook as much as possible.
A bit more strategy seems to be implemented when you switch to the girl and her natural pond. The fish caught here are transferred to the boy’s pond, plus certain catches seem to influence the weather and odds of catching rarer fish. Is she Calypso in disguise? Who knows. Still, it doesn’t feel like anything you do as the girl has much effect on the other side of the pond, so to speak.
The game also comes across with a light and bright presentation. The boy and girl are drawn for cuteness, and one will regularly see a tiny, chibi image of the girl (sometimes accompanied by other girls in bunny outfits?) cheering the boy on while he’s trying to reel one in. The images of the fish are more seriously rendered and look quite nice, making the thrill of catching a particularly giant one a bit more satisfying. Sound is also appealing, with lovely aquatic and nature sounds while waiting for a bite and an energizing 16-bit-sounding theme when you’re fighting a fish on the line.
Conclusion
Hooked on Bass Fishing has a certain charm to it, and it can be exciting to battle with and land a giant fish when it happens. But those flashes can ultimately carry a game so far when it doesn’t have much sense of an overarching goal, progress, or player direction. Heavy fishing fans will be turned away by the lack of options here; others may take the bait of its cute presentation and ease of play, but find themselves entertained only in small doses in the long run. This is one to think of throwing back in hope that it will grow.
Comments (12)
This looks SOOOOOO stupid.
I feel kind of bad for you Tim. At least it's not a 3 or lower, but this game looks no better than any of the other million fishing games out there for the 3DS. It is even less discouraging since it is 5 pounds... even more expensive than every single Virtual Console release on the 3DS. At least you could give it props for attempting to make it Multiplayer. Would you say that this is more entertaining than fishing in AC New Leaf? This is a shame from the same company who made Petit Computer.
The first one got a similar score, but I still loved every bit of it. It's my favorite fishing game. Very addictive and charming.
The first game also feels "void of direction or goal" at first, until you start to buy the hints from the shop. It's then when the actual goal of the game (catching the four "legendary fish") slowly shows up. I assume, it's the same with this one.
I really want to get this one, but I can't right now... I will, though. The first one was too good to skip this.
The Dsi is still getting games? This probably could have made more money on iOS or android.
If you want to get this game. I recommend downloading Fishing Resort. It's practically Identical to this game and half the price. I really enjoyed Fishing Resort and will pick this one up if it gets a price drop
@Windy I don't think any DSiWare has ever been discounted.
@Morpheel I do believe you are correct.
Wasn't this game already released like a year ago on DSiWare? Same characters, same fish, same graphics, etc. Or am I just delusional? lol Either way, it's garbage.
@grumblegrumble same series, same graphics, different games, different opinions, obviously.
@Morpheel This game has been pulled from the Eshop or has expired or Something. I went to buy it this weekend and its gone along with its predecessor Fishing Resort. im going to try and email Gamebridge and see if its just an error. If its been removed thats to bad as Fishing Resort and Hooked on Bass Fishing were a couple of top notch DSi software choices.
I anyone sees this Get over to GameBridges Facebook page and request them to reinstate Hooked on Bass Fishing. im waiting for a reply but if we can a bunch of people doing it maybe they would get it back up for download
I left a message on Gamebridges Facebook page as I couldnt find an Email. I hope they might reinstate this game. it really is a good fishing game. The way quests are setup and how gear gives you power. If I had a complaint it would mainly be that there are not enough locations to fish in. The rest is a top notch fishing experience. so please if you get a chance email Gamebridge or drop them a facebook message to get this cheapy game reinstated to the Eshop
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