I’m not overly fond of fishing in a conventional setting. I’m more interested in the exciting, contact sports. I just can’t get into lounging around, catching fish, and occasionally fighting a big one. That’s just not my style. I wasn’t sure what to expect when “Fishing Master” arrived at my house for review. The game was released in mid-September. I had the chance to explore the game for over a month before writing this review. Let me tell you, this game is much more fun than I could have imagined!
I was a little worried about how “Fishing Master” would work on the Wii remote. With the ability to allow players to be more physical when using the Wii remote, I wasn’t sure how well I’d be able to handle it if the game was Wii remote intensive. As someone in a wheelchair with limited muscle strength in my hands and arms I have found the Wii to be incredibly therapeutic. However, some games are quite intensive and getting down the motion isn’t always the easiest thing to do.
Ashtyn and I played this one together since she is able-bodied and I am not. While she only had a little bit of trouble figuring out how to cast a line and reel in the fish (that’s the hardest part as the fish can sometimes escape by breaking the line or getting away) I had a little bit more trouble getting down the motions. Of course, once I figured them out, there was no stopping me! This is one way for those with limited mobility to fish, even if it is just pretend fishing!
I should mention that “Fishing Master” does not have any violence, bad language, or anything else you wouldn’t want your kids to see. Since this is a review for LI Kids, I will point out that while two adults enjoyed this game, it is easy to see why kids would love this even more than adults would. It’s fun, cartoonish, and it involves swinging around the Wii remote. What more could any child want in a video game?
Story:
The story starts when you put in your name and choose an avatar for your character. You have a choice of six different characters, all of whom look incredibly cartoons-y. You are also able to name your dog and choose from two different puppy avatars. Grandpa is your fishing mentor in this story. He seems to have a bad memory so you will need to remind him who you are. Grandpa is a fishing master and he wants to teach you to be one, as well. After you tell Grandpa your name and your dog’s name you have the chance to learn how to fish. Grandpa gives you a tutorial which includes how to cast a line, how to change bait, how to reel fish in, what to avoid when reeling, and other general information about the game.
You will learn that you are at your home and once you stop talking to Grandpa, you are presented with a home menu. You can do things like save you game, review your tutorials, and eventually head out to go fishing when you are accessing this home menu. You will want to get fishing. Your job is primarily to catch as many fish as possible. You will want to try for different varieties of fish and eventually unlock new levels and new fishing locations. As the seasons change, various types of fish will flocks to a range of locations. You have the chance to catch over 100 different kinds of fish. You also might catch a tin can or old boot, which isn’t worth anything.
In “Fishing Master”, you start out in a location known as the Kanto Province. There are eight regions you can travel to and each region has four fishing spots you can unlock. Each region also has your house, where your home menu is located, the place where the regional tournament is held, and a shop where you can purchase different kinds of bait and other fishing supplies. You can compete in the tournament. If you win, then you move one step closer to becoming the Fishing Master!
Enjoyment/Fun Factor: 
Controls:
The controls are a little tricky when playing “Fishing Master”. You have to get the combination down right or casting the line might be the first problem you face. You have to use the B button (on the underside of the Wii remote) and press it in to activate casting mode. To cast, you move the Wii remote up and down in a casting motion. As you end the flicking motion on the remote, you have to press the B button (trigger) again and release it quickly. The goal is to execute the timing of the release of the button with the casting motion just right or you might be trying to cast more than once. This is actually where I had the most trouble though Ash seemed to get it immediately.
You will see various shapes moving throughout the water. When you feel a nibble you will feel it through the Wii remote. This is where things get exciting. You have to simultaneously reel the fish in while trying to keep the fish from tugging off your line. You do this by using the down arrow (or the side controls nunchuk). The nunchuk control also has two buttons you can use to make the speed of the reel go faster or slower. You need to familiarize yourself with these buttons because it can make reeling much easier! You also need to become familiar with the meter at the top of the screen as this will let you know exactly which way you need to flick the remote (left or right) to keep the fish from breaking the line. Once the fish is reeled in, you can jerk the remote upward and the fish is caught!
Getting these motions down is imperative to playing the game. While you can use the arrows or nunchuk to move yourself around the fishing location (though you can’t move too far) once you are out of casting mode, these controls are pretty mindless compared to the art of fishing. While it may take a little bit of practice to get the fishing controls down properly, once you do fishing is easy. The hardest part for Ash was fighting the fish during the reeling process. She had a lot of trouble keeping the fish on the line. It can be confusing because when the prompt on the screen is displaying left pointing arrows you must wave the remote to the right and right pointing arrows mean you wave the remote to the left. Getting that down can be difficult as it is only natural to want to wave the remote in the direction the arrows are pointing.
“Fishing Master” makes good use of the capabilities of the Wii remote. This is a physical game so it is recommended, as with all games, you keep the Wii remote securely strapped to your wrist and you stop playing if you begin to feel fatigued or have pain in your arm from too much fishing at one time.
Ease of Use: 
Visual Quality:
This is the area where I have heard the most complaints about “Fishing Master”. With games that have become so realistic it is nice to see a game that focuses on the cartoonish aspect of design. This makes the game much more fun. This kind of characterization reminds me of what you will find when you play Wii Sports or Wii Play. It isn’t primitive, but it isn’t so breathtakingly realistic that you feel you are actually on the boat/docks, having good times fishing. I actually prefer the visual quality of “Fishing Master” as opposed to something that is so realistic. This just adds to the fun factor of the game.
While the animation of “Fishing Master” may seem a bit two-dimensional and flat at times each of the locations where you fish looks distinctly different. This isn’t just the same fishing location over and over. It is obvious the animators took the time to design each and every environment in their own specific way. Different locations attract different fish. You will find that each fish has a different and distinct look. There are hundreds of fish to catch, all of which are entered into your fishing encyclopedia the instant you catch a new type of fish. You also can purchase various types of bait and various fishing rods. Each has their own distinct look and purpose. Overall, the animation was good and I may be in the minority, when it comes to reviews of the game, but I enjoyed the visual quality of “Fishing Master”. It wasn’t the same old drawing techniques you find in the vast majority of video games available for Wii.
Visual: 
Audio Quality:
The audio quality for “Fishing Master” was pretty good. We didn’t have to turn it off, which is typical for those video games that happen to have annoying music. The sound wasn’t too loud and it wasn’t overly annoying either. In fact, it sort of reminded me of a funky game show. I know if I had no complaints about the music, had it been annoying Ashtyn, who is much more picky and intolerant with stupid music on games, would certainly have muted the television. Since neither of us took the time to mute anything the music was enjoyable enough for us. Ultimately, you will have to decide if the music is good enough for you, as well.
Audio:
Artificial Intelligence:
Since the game sort of guides you along in nearly everything you do, I would say the AI for “Fishing Master” is high. You do have to follow a repetitious sort of pattern when playing the game but at every turn, there are instructions so you don’t get lost when trying to figure out what to do next. You also have the ability to revisit all of previous instructions you were given. Even when you start to fish, there are prompts on the screen, guiding you with what you should be doing to play this game successfully.
Artificial Intelligence:
Replayability:
When I think about what makes a game re-playable I take into account how much fun I had while playing the game. This isn’t a game you can play all day merely because your arm is going to get tired from all that casting and reeling. However, the addictive nature of the game is apparent. From one day to the next I do enjoy the anticipation I’ve felt when waiting to experience a quiet day of fishing before heading into the local fishing tournament for each region. The quest to become the Fishing Master may not seem as important as other games where you spend the entire time fighting to attain higher levels of power, but the purpose of the game is still pleasurable.
In “Fishing Master”, you can take your time and still enjoy yourself. While this game cannot compare to the addictive nature of popular Nintendo Wii games such as those involving Mario or those in the Legend of Zelda series, for a sports and leisure oriented game it certainly holds its own!
Replayability:
Bottom Line:
The repetitious nature of the gameplay for “Fishing Master” is part of what makes the game so addicting. While this will not be a game for everyone, the ease of use when it comes to controlling the game and learning to play make this a favorite of both adults and children. Rated E for Everyone, “Fishing Master” is a fun game that can be played by the whole family. With both single player and multiplayer modes, which pit up to four different players against one another in the quest to become the ultimate Fishing Master, this is one you can add to any game night. “Fishing Master” is sure to make a big splash with the entire family whether they truly enjoy fishing or not. This game is highly recommended!
Overall Rating:
Written by Dominick Evans – Visit Website
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Dominick is in his late 20s. He lives in Michigan with his life partner, Ashtyn, their 14 year old son Robert, and their Shih-Tzu, Oliver. Dominick is a writer and the head editor for both LI Kids and Literary Illusions. He enjoys composing music and is an aspiring director/screenwriter. In his free time he enjoys spending time with his family, playing and watching sports, playing video games, watching movies, and singing.
