Bass Hunter for Nintendo 64

In-Fisherman Bass Hunter 64

There are a lot of fishing games out there. Some are quite addictive. Unfortunately, Bass Hunter 64 is not one of them. Structurally, the game has potential: there are tournament and "just for fun" fishing modes, a wide selection of lures and tackle, different lakes and weather conditions to contend with, and the ability to drive your boat and use your fish-finder to locate the bass. Experienced fishermen will recognize the effort that went into the way the fish act: The bass tend to hug the structure, and move up and down in depth according to temperature and water conditions. Different lures work well for different situations, much as you'd expect from real bass. The problem lies with the gameplay and the act of fishing itself. An essential accessory for any fishing game is the rumble pack. It's that feeling of having a strike and fighting the fish that makes the pulse quicken in any fishing game. And it is here that Take 2 Interactive has fallen short. Hooking and landing a fish is a very ho-hum affair in this game. The rumble pack is used too sparingly, and the vibrations one feels seem to have no relation to the onscreen action. In the end, this is a game that quickly becomes boring. In Bass Hunter 64, even when the fish are biting, the thrills are the ones that got away. --Jeanne Uy Pros: Wide choice of lures, including some popular name brands Fish respond realistically to changing conditions Cons: Onscreen help is riddled with errors: help screens for "Win tournaments," "Buy equipment," and "Trolling motor" bring up instructions on how to display the toolbar Controls are limiting: Not enough ways to impart action on the lure The fishing mini-game in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is more fun In this game, the act of catching a fish is just not exciting