Sega Bass Fishing

Sega Bass Fishing

The reason non-videogame players most often give for their decision to not play games is the complexity and alien nature of the game controller. While the games-literate instantly understand how a series of convoluted button presses will send Ronaldo springing down the pitch to score a 30-yard goal in a Pro Evo World Cup final, the common man stares down at this mass of buttons in bemusement.

By contrast Sega Bass Fishing is a game that everyone can understand immediately. Originally released in 1999 for the Sega Dreamcast with its own fishing rod controller, the actions for casting off and reeling in directly mimic those used in real life: hoist the controller back behind your shoulder, hurl it forwards and use the reel to bring the line in at a steady pace.

Now the game gets an update on the Wii where the system’s WiiMote and Nunchuck combination provides a perfect replacement for the original’s nifty peripheral. The control system suits the supremely popular arcade game well, ensuring that this remains the most enjoyable approximation of the sport available on any console.

You’ll take to a variety of different lake locations, be given the chance to select a lure before then exploring your surroundings to choose the optimum place to cast off from with a simple flick of the Wiimote. Cranking the Nunchuck reels the line in at a relative speed to your input and by waving the Remote in either horizontal or vertical directions you can tug at the line to entice the bass to bite.

When a bass finally bites you’ll need to snap the Wiimote upwards to hook the fish. Fail to respond soon enough and the bass will get away. Once hooked you’ll need to move the Wiimote to limit the strain on the line so it doesn’t snap), pointing it in the same direction as the fish to decrease tension before reeling in. The bigger this fish the more of a fight it will put up and there’s quite a learning curve to scale before you’ll make your first 6lb and upward catch.

There are four types of lure to choose between: Top Water, Shallow, Middle and Deep, each one attracting fish from different depths. It’s possible to change the colour of the lure to adapt to whether you’re fishing in darker or clearer waters. These touches add depth and interest to the game and enliven the arcade and tournament modes. You’ll need to take into account the time of day, water temperature and even sound effects to make the best catches.

Despite these complexities the game is more of an arcade blast that an outright fishing sim and so the action and reward structure is fast-flowing and fun. The game makes for excellent entertainment played both alone or shared with friends, absurd as that might sound for a game based on the decidedly un-sexy world of bass fishing.

4 out of 5