Fishing At Its Best On The Dreamcast - Review By GamingNoise-Chip - Page 1/2
When one thinks of the joy of videogaming, many images come to mind -- the first time you
saw Mario 64, knowing that you truly were in the next generation of gaming... Your first
"frag" in Quake II, learning what multiplayer was all about... reeling in the big 10 pounder
to win the Sega Bass tournament and going on to fisherman glory. Ok, so the last one may not
rank up there in the top gaming experiences of my life, but I must admit, it was much more
fun than I ever thought it would be. Let's face it, out of all the things in our world that
can and should be translated to video games, fishing quite frankly shouldn't be top on
anyone's list. But alas, just like Crystal Pepsi or Banana Quik, someone had the bright idea
to give it a shot - yet unlike their beverage counterparts, once the folks at Sega got
involved, the genre would never be the same again.
I remember a recent jaunt to our local Jillians (an adult drink, eat food and play really
expensive $1.00 videogame type a joint) and the game that most of the drunk youth were
standing around was Get Bass Fishing. Get Bass was an amazing game with a rod/reel type
controller contraption, sweet graphics, and a killer audio system. And if you happen to be
into collecting video game cabinets, Get Bass has one of the sweetest cabs of all time, with
a big mounted bass inside of the glass marquee - simply amazing. I wasn't surprised as Sega
has a habit of making good out of truly unique ideas - Jambo Safari, Monkey Ball, Typing of
the Dead, to name a few. Sega Bass Fishing, the arcade translation of Get Bass for the Sega
Dreamcast was a brilliant port, but the game did leave room for improvement. Rikiya
Nakagawa and the developers at WOW Entertainment continue to demonstrate their penchant for
the obscure, picking up right where Sega's team left off.
Sega's first party line of fishing titles is the big catch compared to the carp that are
titles like Fisherman's Bait or Black Bass. Following in the traditions of the successful
Sega Bass Fishing and Marine Fishing, SBF2 brings a polish to fishing games that is
unmatched on the home console. The interface screams Sega quality, with solid navigation and
modern tones. The game itself is traditional fishing fare -- yet Sega, not resting on their
laurels from the previous release, worked hard to add elements that were missing from the
original game, making SBF2 that much more enjoyable.
The Good
There are two modes to get you started in your fishing experience. The "Free Fish" is like
the exhibition mode of angling. In Sega Bass Fishing 2, you are allowed control over
several key aspects of your environment - specifically you can dictate the time, season, and
weather conditions you will fish in. Not only do these choices impact the graphical setting
in which you "drop your pole" (sorry, I just had to), but they will also determine the
quantity and type of fish you will be able to reel in. Once you hit the waters, the actual
fishing engine is carried over successfully from the original, with most of the mechanics
remaining unchanged. To add a bit more skill to pulling in your catch, you now must line up
to a path marker with your rod in order to successfully grab the fish.
There are two important additions to your boat, which make for a more interactive
experience. A digital depth meter allows you to gauge the distance between the bottom of
the lake and the top of your boat, helpful for finding the perfect areas to make the big
score. Yet the feature that makes this game different from its predecessor deals with
movement - now you can kick your boat into high gear in search of that ideal location to
cast from. The change in scenery is more than just aesthetic - your location directly
impacts the type and quantity of fish you are able to catch at that particular area.
SBF2 also adds more than 100 different lures that can be earned during tournament modes or
found at the bottom of lakes. The effectiveness of lures is minimal without movement -
setting up perfectly for the Dreamcast fishing controller. Whether you are a plastic worm
man or prefer just getting "jiggy" with it, there will definitely be a lure for your taste
and style.
Adding to the customization present in the title, you can now not only choose between
different fishermen but customize their looks as well. The ability to pick your particular
fisher-"person" is a real plus, each complete with unique statistics to consider including
casting distance, which does show itself during gameplay. With the help your trusty depth
gauge, you should be able to spot areas where fish like to congregate and thus select the
right fisherman for the job.
Graphically, this game literally is one of the best the Dreamcast has to offer. I know it's
hard to believe, but believe it baby! The fish are something that need to be seen to be
believed. They have a look and movement to them that is so realistic, seamless with the
environment that they are living in. The scenery has changed from an arcade type to more of
a realistic atmosphere. The docks, pillars, trees and bridges all are well-rendered, and
are used directly in the game for fish to hide under or near. Are the graphics perfect? No,
but they are pretty close. There are some times where fish clip through elements in the
water, or your fisherman will reach through the fish. But for the most part things are
really crisp and clean, and move at a good clip. The interface received an upgrade as well
-the top of the screen tells you the fish you have caught, and a glance at the current
weather conditions, date and time. It has a great feel to it and makes for an excellent
presentation of the game.
Next: The Bad, and The Final Word
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