- All new Dreamcast exclusive game modes.
- Amazing AI = fish react realistically to changing conditions and lure types.
- 8 unique fishing locations rendered in gorgeous 3D graphics.
- 14 different lures - each with unique performance.
- Compatible with Dreamcast fishing controller (sold separately) for the most lifelike experience possible.
Product description
-------------------
Sega Bass Fishing is the most addictive simulation yet to come
to Dreamcast! With your fishing rod gripped firmly in your hand,
cast off with a flick of the wrist to enter the Sega Bass Fishing
Association Championship.
.com
----
For those willing to take the bait, Sega Bass Fishing has an
addictive gameplay hook that will reel in sporting enthusiasts
and even a few hardcore gamers. This realistic 3-D bass fishing
simulation shines with three distinct gaming modes, eight fishing
environments, and 13 different lures.
Let's be honest here. Fishing simulation games aren't for
everyone. Many hardcore gamers will likely bypass this title
because they believe the genre lacks the instant gratification of
fast-moving shooters. That's a shame. Though it might not be
everyone's can of worms, Sega Bass Fishing does offer a subtle,
highly addictive gaming experience that will challenge even the
most seasoned of game veterans.
This isn't Quake, to be sure. But you'll need similar gaming
smarts and strategies to succeed in this water-based sporting
environment. It takes a skilled and a steady hand to hook and
reel in the largest fish, which are surrounded by smaller, less
desirable catches. There's nothing worse than casting your lure
directly at a monster-sized bass only to have it intercepted by a
meddlesome minnow. We encountered more than our share of near
misses, which gives us virtual bragging rights to "the one that
got away."
While some gamers will prefer the subtlety of free-form fishing
sans time constraints, this game also features a fast-action
arcade mode that requires the player to meet a minimum quota of
catches before advancing to a new fishing environment. An
optional Dreamcast fishing controller (sold separately) makes the
task of catching these underwater critters all the easier. The
controller, which also adds a realistic rumble when you catch a
fish, is a highly recommended accessory for the ultimate home
fishing experience. --Brett Atwood
Pros:
* Near-perfect translation from the hit arcade game
* Eight realistic 3-D fishing environments
* Three different game modes to choose from
* Great control with optional fishing controller (sold
separately)
Cons:
* Game genre will not appeal to everyone
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Review
------
If you like the thought of fishing, but you don't like the act
of getting stinky in the process, then Sega Bass Fishing might be
right up your alley. Originally developed for the arcade, Sega
Bass Fishing does little to hide its roots while attempting to
offer the home consumer more in the process. For the armchair
fisherman, it doesn't get much better than this.
Not to put too fine a point on it, but the whole point of this
game is to catch fish. Big fish, little fish, small fish,
super-big fish, it doesn't matter. In arcade mode, you have a set
a of time to catch a predetermined weight requirement of
fish. Let's say you need to catch 5000 grams worth of fish.
Whether you catch five fish that weigh 1,000g each, or one fish
that weighs 5,370g is all up to your skill with the rod. Meet the
weight requirement in the level, then move on to the next. There
are four areas in all, three basic, and one secret. Fortunately
for the novice, you can continue as many times as you like, so
even if you run out of time, you'll never run out of continues.
When you continue, you pick up exactly where you left off, so you
don't have to restart each level. It keeps this game from being
too frustrating, unlike some other fishing games (Reel Fishing
comes to mind). Sadly, the arcade mode is what you would call
"easy." So easy, in fact, that you'll likely beat the game on
your first try.
For savvy fishermen there lies the consumer mode. In the consumer
mode you explore a much greater selection of areas during
different parts of the day, attempting to snag the biggest fish
you can find. Your success in various sites will earn you secret
lures, which will enable you to catch even bigger fish later on.
This mode is not nearly as easy to conquer as the arcade mode,
but you're not penalized either. You simply score lower on the
rankings chart until your skills improve enough to move up.
Interestingly enough, every lure in Sega Bass Fishing is exactly
that, a lure. There is no live bait used in Sega Bass Fishing,
which could have added to the experience. The downside with Sega
Bass Fishing is that there is no two-player mode. While a split
screen may not have helped matters, there could have been an
attempt to offer a turn-based fishing competition, but that may
be an idea for the sequel. Interestingly, the fishing game in The
Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, was more of an afterthought
than anything else, yet it featured fish that moved more
realistically than the fish in Sega Bass Fishing.
Catching fish in Sega Bass Fishing is a rapid-fire affair. Being
a port from an arcade game, this is certainly not the fishing
equivalent of Deer Hunter, so there's no sitting in a boat for
hours waiting for a bite. Instead, you'll be hooking fish after
fish, while attempting to manipulate fish, line tension and rod
height all at once. Line tension must be carefully monitored lest
the line snap, while the fish's direction must be righted to
decrease line tension. Of note, should you obtain the
rod-controller, specially made for this game, be warned that it
is definitely a mixed blessing. While the rod features
force-feedback vibration, to simulate the thing of the fish,
it does not offer any tactile-resistance in the reel, making the
whole point seem watered down. It would have been nice to feel
the tug and pull of the fish in the reel itself, rather than
simply having a shaking rod. Namco did it successfully with the
Ridge Racer Type 4 Jogcon, and it's a shame it didn't happen
here.
As an all-around title for the everyman who might own a
Dreamcast, Sega Bass Fishing is a non-threatening, lightly
challenging little game that should keep fishing fans more than
happy with its pl, lakeside offerings. For the hard-core
gamer this is nothing more than a rental, but if you jones for
the great outdoors on a more than regular basis, this may be the
gumdrop for your sweet tooth. --James Mielke
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in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written
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