Fishing Off The Hook Review

Anannya Sen’s Review

Fishing which is off the hook.

There are a few fishing games out there and it's fairly easy to get the idea. Throw out the line and then reel them in. It sounds simple and it is. But it's also horribly addictive.

In true Digital Chocolate fashion, they have crafted a very slick fishing game. It doesn't have the best graphics (a cartoony look about them and definitely 2D) or the most features (tournament mode and quick game) but it's horribly horribly addictive.

The fishing part is really straightforwards. Press and hold 5 or the main button to cast your line. The longer you hold it, the further you can cast it, and if you press it just right, you can get a perfect throw. Once the hook is in the water, the bait should attract a fish. Press 5 to reel it in.

There are quite a few fish varieties in the game which you can check out in the gallery once you've caught them. You also get a little blurb about their real life characteristics. The thing is, the heavier fish will struggle. And the further you progress the heavier the fishies available. But you can upgrade your attributes (line strength, distance and bait) if you win rounds in the tournament mode. You can upgrade these stats up to 5 levels each.

Even when you upgrade the really big fishes will still be tough. So you have to reel them in a certain amount and then let the line go a bit. It takes some practice but you can tell how the line is doing as it turns red first then a red star builds up. If it gets too big, the line will break and the fish will head back in the water.

That's really all there is in terms of describing the game, but it's a whole lot of fun to play. There are three levels in tournament mode, and in the last one it gets really tough. You end up competing for the same fish as your opponent, otherwise it's quite difficult to win. But this just makes the game more addictive. The quick play mode isn't a waste of space either, as when you play, if you get over 65lbs, you will get a very special visitor! And I've hooked her, but haven't quite managed to reel her in yet!

The presentation, sound, graphics and simple gameplay make this game really enjoyable. You'll find yourself thinking of having just one more quick go so see what new fishes you can catch or if you can progress further in the tournament. Then it becomes about completing the fish gallery and then about catching that last big one.

As fishing games go, it's not the most complex or graphically impressive, but it's certainly the most fun.