Sega Bass Fishing

The sun is almost up, so it's about time to take out the tackle!

Yes, it's a fishing game, and not just any fishing game, but Sega’s Bass Fishing! Surprisingly for some and totally normal for others, Sega's Bass Fishing is now a part of the Dreamcast collection, launched in late February, on the Xbox 360.

The first thing that popped into my mind was: fishing with a controller, won't that be weird (knowing that the original was released with a fishing rod peripheral)?

Well maybe at first, but once you get acquainted with the device and its vibration feedback mechanism, it will be a piece of cake. In my opinion, the game would be a lot more boring without the controller.

Another thing you'll notice about this remake is that it's old. But that’s why it's called a remake! The graphics have been remastered to support high resolutions, while the gameplay remains almost unchanged.

The story of the game is a very complex one (not). In fact, because it’s a fishing game, it totally lacks a story (although we all heard some fishing tales we wouldn’t believe our ears). Just choose the bait, cast and hope to catch the big one!

Gameplay

The game is very easy to play and intuitive, but if you want to catch the “big one” you'll have to master each of the 14 lures and get to know the habits of the bass depending on the weather.

It has three different game modes, but once you've finished the Original mode, the game loses its appeal. So, the replay value isn't very high.

The Practice mode works as a training method, teaching you everything from choosing the right lure to reeling the rod once you've got a bite. Make sure you play it and learn the ways of a fisherman before trying on the other challenges.

The Original mode is exclusive to Dreamcast. Here you'll have to compete in a series of tournaments where you constantly have to improve your skills, as you climb higher in ranking.

After choosing a character and a name, you'll start out in the Amateur Tournament Series, consisting of five stages. All points from each stage will be added to determine the player's tournament ranking.

Points will be given based on the total weight of the bass caught. The total points added from all five stages will decide the players' tournament ranking.

In the event of a tie, the total weight of the bass caught will serve as a tie breaker. Only the top ten players on this tournament can earn a place in the next one. You'll find it pretty easy, even for beginners, to catch an opening in the rankings.

The next one on the list is the Challenge Tournament Series. Here things start to get a little more difficult: in the morning of the first stage I've only managed to reel in a single decent fish.

This episode has only two stages and a bass weighing less than 3lbs will not be counted. Also, only the top five players in this tournament can earn a place in the Professional Tournament Series. This competition has five events and only the top three players earn a spot at the Masters Classic Tournament Series (the hardest one). I found it quite difficult to reel in the “huge” ones.

One thing that brings realism to the game, and makes up for the old video engine is the weather. This element plays a big part in a player's ability to catch anything except for a cold.

Bass will swim up to shallow water during the morning hours and when the surface gets warm, they'll swim down into the depths of the lake requiring the use of a deep-water lure. Players will want to accommodate for these settings in addition to rainy, chilly, and foggy weather conditions.

Audio and Video

The sounds are very early 90's: repetitive and annoying after the first five minutes. Still, I found the voice interventions quite useful, when advised to move the rod right or left.

The music makes you feel like you’re in a retro disco, ruining the outdoor experience, where peace and relaxation should be the only things on your mind. But look at the bright side: you won't be able to fall asleep.

Compared to the original Dreamcast, the game is a lot more vibrant, with its crisp textures, although compared to nowadays fishing simulators it really lacks the cool water effects that we've all been used to. I admit it; you'll be spending most of your time underwater, searching for bass.

The outdated graphics also come with lots of annoying bugs: the lure can pass through rocks, wood and even fish, while the line never gets tangled, even if the bass circles around an obstacle.

The Good

The Bad

Conclusion