Bass Fishing for Dreamcast

I'd like to start by saying I HATE FISHING.

With that out of the way, I'll tell you how much I love this game:

Bass Fishing is, without a doubt, one of the best games currently out for the Dreamcast. I know what you're saying, because I said it to, for a fair amount of time: "Who on earth would want to play THAT??"

Well, I'll tell you: Me, my brothers, my friends, their friends, the people at the store I bought it from, THEIR friends, ect, ect.

But what makes it so great? Surely if you don't enjoy fishing, you won't enjoy VIRTUAL fishing! Not true, my friends, not true at all. Plug in that reel-shaped controller and be prepared to be hooked -- ahem, no pun intended.

The physics of the game are impressive. While the graphics lack the luster of, say, Soul Caliber, the game makes up for it by sheer realism. The fish act as, at least, I ASSUME, REAL fish. The larger ones tend to sit around more, and are harder to impress, while the small ones attack your lure like its their last meal. Depending on the time of day the fish are in different places, and different "moods." You have no idea how obsessed you become as you attempt to catch that ONE LAST BIG FISH before the time runs out, or how frustrated you get when the other guy gets first in weight by a few ounces -- not until you play the game.

My only real problem with the game is the music, which not only gives us a cheese representation of every genre, but is depressingly repetitious. The audio, too, is sickeningly B-actorish. The guy telling you "WOW! That's an AVERAGE SIZE ONE!" REALLY starts to get to you after about five minutes.

I'll tell you, the only way to experience the game is with the reel controller, for which you'll have to shell out the extra bucks, I'm afraid. It's a shame, but I really believe it's worth it. I know you're thinking: "What ELSE am I going to use that controller for??"

...I don't know. I honestly don't know. Maybe a sequel?

Final thought: Most gamers will find that this is one of the most enjoyable games available. A must have.