Big Game Fishing is a reasonably self-explanatory title, which is a simulation of sport fishing for large fish species. The game was produced and published by Simulmondo, seeing its market release in the early nineties. It competes nicely with many other fishing titles, mostly geared toward the inland water fishing of breeds such as bass and muskellunge.
Big Game Fishing actually features a plot above and beyond putting the user in a tournament sponsored by Rapala or some other brand of fishing tackle.
Big Game Fishing is a reasonably self-explanatory title, which is a simulation of sport fishing for large fish species. The game was produced and published by Simulmondo, seeing its market release in the early nineties. It competes nicely with many other fishing titles, mostly geared toward the inland water fishing of breeds such as bass and muskellunge.
Big Game Fishing actually features a plot above and beyond putting the user in a tournament sponsored by Rapala or some other brand of fishing tackle. The user plays the part of a big businessman who is on the brink of absolute financial ruin. He takes a relaxing fishing vacation to a remote island. Unfortunately, his finances will not allow him to stay for
more than a day unless he is able to fish well, and provide enough fish to pay for his boat rental, guide services, gas, lures and so forth. As the businessman catches trophy fish, he is able to return to the harbor and sell them for profit. As it would stand to reason, he receives more money for bigger, better, and more rare fish breeds.
Upon returning to the harbor to sell the daily catches, the businessman/gamer is also able to use the money to purchase more than just boat rentals and the like. His equipment can be upgraded, enabling him to catch bigger and better breeds of fish, and preventing fish loss. Upgrades will also allow the user to fish in deeper and rougher waters. Still, the most important thing a gamer can purchase and must purchase is fuel, and the boat rental. It is entirely possible to run out of fuel while out to sea, forcing the user to send up an SOS. If the user does not have enough money to rent a boat, he cannot fish, and the vacation comes to a screeching halt.
There is a lot for the user to balance in Big Game Fishing. The gamer must plot his courses, ration gas, use fishing sonar to locate schools, pay attention to the way sea gulls act in order to find fish, and keep the weather conditions in mind. He must understand fish breeds and appropriate baits. He must weigh odds, such as the gas it requires to reach the deeps where the biggest and most lucrative fish reside. Finally, he must have some degree of physical skill in order to appropriately cast the line and reel in the big one once it hits.
In total, this game is no masterpiece, but it is certainly very playable. It adds an exciting element to the game play by forcing the user to perform well in order to continue the vacation. The idea of a real plot in a fishing simulation is refreshing, and the play itself is entertaining. Give it a whirl and keep yourself on vacation for as long as possible.
