ESPN Great Outdoor Games Bass 2002

"I've played Fishing Mini-Games that were better!"

The holidays. When good mean relatives decide to get you a game, and just buy whatever one they think will do you good. You'll be lucky if they can get the system right.

Ok, so along with the 1 or 2 games you've been nagging and nagging your parents about (even put giant circles around in the Future shop flyers), you get 3 or 4 games you have never heard of from Aunts and uncles and Grand-something's.

There's a reason why there's a $40 tag by Metroid Fussion and a $15 by this crap-load. It's that people want to play Metroid.

Getting to the game, it plays just like, but slightly worse, then the fishing mini-game on Zelda:OOT. Except for Zelda it was not the whole game, and you could find Zelda for the same price and get a lot more, and Zelda was AMAZING.

First, you select from two basic play modes (Tourney and quick game), and then set out in your ship. Don't think you get to steer it, because you don't. Instead you pick from 3 different places in the same area.

When you get there you can aim the rod an incredible 90 degrees (I'm not sure if that's the exact range, the game lack a compass), and you cast your line. Distance is decided by a power bar (hold down the button and release at full for max distance).

Then you get to control the lure in the water, trying to get the fish. If one hooks, then you have to reel it in. Now a tension meter appears, and you have to reel it in fast without having the string break. Succeed, and you got a fish. Now repeat as needed.

Why repeat, the game has 9 different fish you have to catch, and the game keeps track of you biggest catch for each breed. Now before you decide you want this game, think for a second:

Would you enjoy playing for hours, over and over again, trying to add another ounce to your Rainbow bass weight record, or spend the same amount of time playing Metroid, or Mario, or some other game...

Graphics: 7/10

The fish look nice, and everything on the screen is visible. Nothing to complain about here.

Sounds: 5/10

Barely any music (remember, you don't want to scare the fish away!) and the sounds the items make when used is hardly entertaining. Still, you don't expect a fishing rod to sound like a bazooka...

Gameplay: 1/10

Go to one of several predetermined locations. Cast, find fish, reel fish in. Repeat.

Sounds like doing laundry, or washing your hair. Think about that, you paying $15 for gameplay that has routine comparable to laundry. Would you pay $15 to do the Laundry...

Don't get me wrong though. I know nearly nothing about fishing, and I hardly have the patience for it. I'm sure if you a fishing nut who goes mad during the off season, then maybe you should get this to fill that void, or something to play while your waiting for the real fish to hook.

But from a gamer perspective, it's nothing compared to all the other games out there.

Depth: 3

Maybe if I got to drive the ship, maybe if I got to pick between more modes (a 2-player game, maybe), maybe if it has some story, or info on some big bass fishers, maybe if there was more rewards to lower your record weights. Lets face it, when you find all 9 fish, it's over!

The final say:2

You know, you could get this game, but why?. Most RPGs have equal, or better fishing mini-games than this, and for added depth, they have a whole other game inside as well.

Reviewer's Score: 2/10, Originally Posted: 01/05/03, Updated 01/05/03