BassMasters 2000

In the eyes of most people, fishing simulations probably rank high up there with golf games for being notoriously dull and about as exciting as watching paint dry. A word of warning, then – Bassmasters 2000 may be a fishing game, but don't make the mistake of falling for the stereotype. Sure, this game may be without shooting lasers and in-depth (no pun intended) storylines, but as any great hunter will tell you, the chase is often ten times more exciting than the kill! Like any fishing game, there is a certain amount of sitting around, with signs of action often only coming in drips, but the tension this creates is immense. When you spot your target, all the infuriating waiting is worth it as you play a battle of wits with a fish trying to avoid becoming your dinner.

Alas, this is where the game first falls down. The fish are often too easy to capture once you have learnt the correct techniques of judging the tension on the line. This is relatively easy, thanks to a meter at the side of the screen which begins to go red when too much pressure is threatening a line break. On the plus side, however, where Bassmasters really jumps out the water is in the amount of detail with which you can plan your attack.

Hook, Line And Sinker

There are loads of options in this game, allowing you to select everything from the kind of boat you drive around the lakes in and the motors they have, to every possible imaginable lure, rod and line. These options are by no means unlimited, but there is enough here to make the game a challenge without becoming too complicated. Pick a noisy engine for your boat, for example, and you might scare off the fish. Thankfully, for the uninitiated there are loads of tips courtesy of 'famous' fishermen to help you choose the right lure for different weather conditions and different areas of the lake. If, on the other hand, you do know your Copper Spoons from your Red Lizards then you'll be pleased to hear that the game features three real lakes from the pro circuits.

Unless you're a fishing master who knows the ropes already, when you first start playing this game the initial reaction will probably be a feeling that you've been cheated. There's no denying that it will take you a while to find your first fish and get used to all the ins and outs of the game. The next problem, of course, is actually catching one of the scaly little devils! Equip the wrong lure and the fish could swim past your hook without a care in the world. The tips do help here, but it can be frustrating to start with. What is even more frustrating is the fact that you cannot catch anything other than variations of bass. Catch a catfish or a trout, for example, and your character will automatically throw the fish back into the lake. This may be Bassmaster 2000, but it would have been nice to get a little credit for catching other fish as well, especially when another fish beats a bass to the bait! This is the best fishing game on the console to date, and although it may only be a fishing game with barely above-average graphics it still warrants a good look. There are even some sub-games and two-player modes to add a little variety and, for all you Deliverance fans, some funky banjo-plucking line dancing-style music while you fish. Squeal, little piggy!

THQ's Bassmasters 2000 busts out the fishing genre with purdy 3D lakes, lure cams and commentary from big-shot angler Shaw Grigsby.

If that weren't enough, Create-an-Angler puts you in the boat seat (so to speak) on a series of TV-style fishing tournaments. Another hot-shot fisherman, Roland Martin offers quick tips for anyone who'll listen. This Rumble Pak and two-player compatible game is a winter '99 release.