9 out of 9 people found this review helpful.
A Surprisingly Fun Catch!
Date of Review: Aug 20, 2000
"Give a man a fish and he'll eat for a day... Teach a man to fish and he'll sit in a boat and drink beer all day!"
I have no idea what that quote has to do with Sega Bass Fishing, but I saw it on a t-shirt somewhere and it stuck with me (I only forget the important stuff, like my anniversary and my wife's birthday, go figure).
The first time I saw this game I thought it would be a totally boring waste of time (kinda the way I feel about Seaman now), but to my surprise Sega Bass Fishing turns out to be quite entertaining and strategically challenging. By the title I'm sure you are aware that the object of the game is to catch fish, so I don't think I need to spend a lot of time on an introduction. With this said, let's go fishing:
Control: The control set-up of this game is rather easy to learn and it fits the Dreamcast controller comfortably. You basically use the analog stick to move your fishing pole from side to side, jig your lure, set the hook, and add slack/tighten your line. The right and left triggers are used to reel in your catch, and the a button casts your line. I haven't used the fishing rod controller, but it seems like a novel idea.
Graphics: The above water graphics are well suited for the game, but nothing spectacular. You'll see your typical fishing sites, stuff like river banks, docks, and fishing lodges. Some of them Georgia Boys I grew up with will feel right at home with this game! The game shines graphically once you sink your lure, sunken logs, under water plants, and the fish themselves look great. The fish really look life-like and act in a realistic manner, this really adds some fun to the game.
Game Play: The game play consists of 3 modes: Arcade mode - you have a set time limit in which to pull in the biggest bass you can find, Original mode - a fishing tournament that lets you compete against other (computer controlled) fishermen, the bigger the bass you catch the higher your ranking, Practice mode - lets you hone your skills in various weather conditions, at different times of the day.
This game really seems easy at first, but in order to catch the really big ones you have to consider several things, this is where the strategy comes in to play. You have to choose a lure that is right for the time of day you are fishing, you have to entice the fish to bite by jigging your lure, and once you hook a fish it's up to you to get it in the boat. These bad boys can really put up a fight so be careful or he'll snap your line! As for me I'll be telling the story of the one that got away! "He was this big....really!"
All in all this is an entertaining game, it's something you'd put in from time to time to show your friends. As far as replay value, with me, it's a little short, but it would be a nice addition to any fishing aficionado's game collection. Even if you aren't the biggest fishing fan Sega Bass Fishing wouldn't be a bad catch at the right price!
