Sega Bass Fishing

"Fishing in real life was never this fun!"

Oh no. I'm playing a fishing game. I thought I was a real gamer. RPGs, strategy games, fighting games, puzzle games, racers, and the occasional Parappa. But no, I wouldn't be caught dead playing a fishing game on a "next-generation" system! I could be playing House of the Dead 2, Marvel vs. Capcom, Sonic Adventure, but no, I'm fishing with Get Bass. Why? But more importantly, why am I loving it?

I used to go out fishing with my father almost every weekend. Guess what? It bored the heck out of me. We wouldn't catch a single fish, get sunburned beyond recognition, and have arguments that would damper our relationship for the rest of the weekend. Now, believe or not I miss this experience! This is one reason I'm attracted to this game. But the main reason I got this game is because it looks and plays so darn good! Oh God, I feel the redneck blood coursing through my veins!

If you have seen Get Bass (aka SEGA Bass Fishing) in the arcades, you know what to expect. The controls are exactly the same (if you were fortunate enough to buy the optional fishing controller). Catching the fish is somewhat difficult. Although not as frustrating as real life fishing, it still presents a challenge to catch that prized "Super Big" fish. Somedays the fish just don't want to bite, and it's especially hard to catch them in the middle of the afternoon. The fishing controller is pretty much essential with this game; it adds loads of fun and realism when playing. The controller gives feedback (similar to the Playstation's Dual Shock) which actually helps you figure out how big of a fish you have hooked.

The graphics are by far the best seen in a fishing game to date. Lighting effects projected from the water surface onto the floor of the lake are spectacular. The scenery is excellent. And probably the best part of the game visually is the animation. All of the creatures in the game move extremely realistically. If your lure happens to pass by a turtle resting on the floor, it quickly hides in it's shell then slowly comes out. If you attract a fish near a passing crawfish, it quickly turns and swims to safety. The way the fish move make you feel like you're fishing, not playing a videogame. I don't know how many times I've gotten mad at a particular fish for not taking the bait.

Now for the bad news. While being an excellent port from the Model 3 original, it's not perfect. The framerate is the most obvious. It reminds me of the SEGA Rally 2 port in a way, but definitely not as bad. It drops considerably when large amounts of Bass are on the screen, and sometimes it drops for no reason at all. Also, the collision detection is not at all perfect. It's kinda funny seeing a fish swim through another fish or your lure pass through a rock. Most of the time it doesn't happen though, but just be aware that it will. Another strange thing I noticed at the arcade that wasn't in the game was ripple effects given to certain objects like posts holding up a dock. Great game and translation, but it was definitely rushed (like other Model 3 ports to the Dreamcast).

Even if you consider yourself a hardcore gamer that wouldn't be caught dead playing a fishing game, you owe it to yourself to experience this game at least once (preferably with fishing controller in hand). Overall an excellent purchase.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 11/01/99, Updated 11/01/99