The Black Bass is a very simple game, the entire idea is to catch as many black bass as possible within the process of an in-game day. Sounds easy enough, right? Well, it is and it isn't. Players begin their game by selecting either being a ranked player, or a beginner. Although, most time players will be selecting beginner since being a ranked player requires a lengthy password from a previous game. I don't know about you, but I never could be bothered with those ridiculously long passwords no matter what the game was. Anyway, after starting their game players are free to boat around different locations in hopes of hunting down that elusive black bass. Location is key being bass like certain conditions, failing to hit the right spot will result in you reeling in a rainbow trout, or some other undesired fish . Selecting the right lure is also key for your location, and there is a good selection and colors to choose from. Some combinations are obviously better than others, and it is up to each player to figure out how to use each lure to attract a fish. These elements work well while adding a bit of realism to the game, and being The Black Bass is on the NES, that's impressive within itself.

     Once you've found your perfect location, selected your lure, its time to get your big hat angler doing his thing. Players will use the A button to power up their cast, and by hitting A once again at the precise moment the cast meter becomes full will send the fishing line as far as possible. Casting to far to either the left or right will cause you to lose your lure. You might also get your line stuck on a rock, or weeds depending on your location, but by hitting A and B together will automatically reel the line back in. After the line is set in the water, players will have to actively attract a fish if there is any chance of catching a fish. Simply pressing A will reel in the line, which will be a complete waste of time. Instead, by using the D pad you can manipulate the lure. For example, if you are using a Red Frog lure, you can give it a more life like movement in a swampy area to attract a fish. Consistency and pace are key to entice the fish to bite, but once their hooked the fight is on. You'll have to reel in the line by using A, and guiding the fish around obstacles with the D pad. This can be a very frustrating task, being the line can break if you fatigue it too much. You are alerted to this by a frantic beeping, and you must back off reeling in for a short while allowing your line to recover. Sometimes, it seems no matter how long you wait every time you try to reel in that frantic beeping continues, and shortly after the line is snapped. Also, while you wait the fish may start to dive deeper into the water. As this happens, the fish may break the line and get away with the lure. A lot can go wrong, but having a fish hooked is exciting while the threat of losing it looms in the back of your mind. Actually reeling it in all the way is accompanied with a genuine feeling of success. Catch enough Black Bass between sun up and sun down, and you'll move onto a different location. There the process continues, and the fishing gets even harder, that's right harder. I guess that's why they call it fishing and not catching, am I right? Eh...

     The Black Bass's overall presentation is pretty bland, and that is due to in part by the graphical limitations of the NES consol. Level design is often just getting a glimpse of the fisherman, a small lure, and a blue body of water. While some areas have a bit more detail, there really isn't a whole lot to see in this game. An approaching fish is just a black fish shaped blur in the water, and once its hooked that black fish shaped blur becomes a colored fish shaped blur so players can identify what kind of fish they have on the line. To put it bluntly, its ugly to look at. There are a few musical themes in the Black Bass and they repeat constantly. Although they aren't necessarily bad, and at first are even enjoyable, they can start to grate on your nerves after awhile. But that is common in NES games, and one player's opinion of the themes may vary from another.

     Fishing on the NES was an ambitious move to do something different. It is apparent that an attempt to make a good game went into the Black Bass, but for the age bracket the NES attracted, fishing wasn't something many kids would sit and play for hours on end. Game play and poor presentation can cause plenty of frustration, but finally reeling in the big one is truly rewarding. This game isn't for everyone, and as a whole doesn't really stand the test of time. But if vintage fishing games interests you, well the Black Bass is right up your alley. For the rest of us, I'd recommend actually going outside for fishing.

Written by RB

Over and Out

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