If Animal Crossing: City Folk has whetted your appetite for motion-based fishing, Hudson would like to remind you that they have, like, a whole game coming out about just that. A second one, in fact! Fishing Master: World Tour has a bit more in-depth fishing, as you would expect, and interesting backdrops to stare at while you're failing to catch anything.
There's a longer trailer over at the official website, as well as video footage featuring each of the game's fishing venues. Keep practicing catching sea bass in Animal Crossing (or the first Fishing Master, we guess), and maybe you'll be able to hit the leaderboards when World Tour.
This week, Hudson Soft announced two new games for North American Wiis, both with distinctly aquatic themes, though viewed from fairly different perspectives. The Fishing Master sequel, Mezase!! Tsuri Master Sekai ni Challenge!, is coming out this winter in Q1 2009 under the title Fishing Master World Tour. The controls have been made a bit more representative than in the previous title (there's less holding of buttons and more just motion), and the backdrops now include exotic locations around the world. Like one might see on a tour of the world. It's also got boss battles and leaderboards. I played it briefly at E3 and found it pretty easy to operate (but really hard to successfully entice a fish in).
The other nautical game takes place underwater, and in much smaller bodies of water. The WiiWare aquarium thing Blue Oasis will be released at an undetermined time under the title My Aquarium. The official North American website launched this week.
[Update: the release date for Fishing Master was apparently in error.]
For the second time in three weeks, those rapscallions at Nintendo have decided to forgo releasing old, lovable Virtual Console games and have instead opted for WiiWare. Grr. Still, at least it means that Europe and Australia get Arkanoid-style puzzler Block Breaker Deluxe, which we deemed to be rather good, despite its cast of grinning, lifestyle pillocks. At the other end of the quality pool bobs the questionable floating object that is Cocoto Fishing Master, which we wouldn't buy for our worst enemies.
Is Mercury Meltdown Revolution a part of your Wii collection? If not, it absolutely should be, for Ignition's addictive puzzler must be one of the most criminally overlooked gems on the platform. And now Costco has it for $10.99, along with a bunch of other titles that range from pretty damn good to shovelware (oh, hai Pool Party). Angelina Jolie favoriteGhost Squad is also on sale, giving you a chance to knock terrorists from their speeding, swan-shaped jet skis, and save money in the process. If a better offer has come along this century, we've yet to see it.
Below are the six titles that most stood out to us (the full list is past the jump); we expect at least two of these to be in your house by June 22nd, when the sale ends:
Proving that software based on fishing sells, Activision is publishing yet another title in the genre, set to hit the Wii (as well as the 360 and PS3) this summer. Called Rapala Fishing Frenzy, it sounds, uh ... exactly like that other Rapala game for the Wii.
Fish fans might look forward to this iteration, though, which captures "the adrenaline-pumping intensity of sport fishing." If that statement just sent thrills throughout your body, you should also know that Fishing Frenzy lets you catch twenty-five of the world's most sought after fish. So ... woot?
Just a few short days ago, we "predicted" (by reading Hudson's web site) that a sequel to Fishing Master would be on the way soon. It turns out we're totally psychic (that's what it is when you can predict the present, right?), as the first screens of Fishing Master: World Challenge have been revealed.
World Challenge takes players on a boat tour around the world. You'll get to see some of the most beautiful and distinctive landmarks of the world -- in the distance, as you sit by a nearby body of water and fish! There will be over 200 varieties of fish, although most of them will fit into the category of "fish you almost caught."
A new listing on Hudson's website reveals a planned Japanese release of Mezase!! Tsuri Master Sekai ni Challenge!, which translates to Fishing Master World Challenge. This could mean that the sequel to Fishing Master challenges the player to hook the entire globe with his fishing line, reeling it in impossibly (and dunking himself in the process), or it could mean that you fish in a bunch of different locations.
According to the page, Fishing Master 2 will be released in Japan in July. No U.S. release has been announced yet. The first Fishing Master game got middling reviews, but did come out at $30 in the U.S., to its credit.
Fishing titles aren't our most coveted games, but if you like the thought of motion-controlled fishing with the Wiimote, this is a good week for you. We assume that if most of you were to pick up such games, though, they would have to be ones that were on sale (at least, that's how we roll). So, here are your two choices:
First off, Amazon's "Deal of the Day" is the Dreamcast port Sega Bass Fishing for $19.99. Keep in mind that the deal only lasts until 3am EDT, so you don't have too long to mull it over. The other fishing software on the menu is Rapala Tournament Fishing for $23.99 at GameQuest Direct (use coupon code CAG1SHIP for free shipping). This sale will last until Wednesday.
Like we said before, we're no experts when it comes to this genre, so if you have any insight for potential buyers, go ahead and share it in the comments.
It's a WiiWare smorgasbord today! Only, this is closer to the part when you can't stop yourself from puking because you ate too much.
That's not to say Cocoto Fishing Master will be bad, though. In fact, for what it is (a Cocoto game), it looks kind of neat. The premise is pretty simple -- you catch fish and sell them. There's also a story mode that involves collecting fragments of an idol, but we're not sure how that works. Since it's a Cocoto title, it will involve minigames as well; yet, fortunately, those seem to be restricted to multiplayer mode.
Check after the break to see a few more screens of this fishing game.
In our mind, only Sega could take a traditionally pedestrian, low-pressure sport such as fishing and infuse it with buckets of fun and energy.
In this latest Sega Bass Fishing video, we're treated to a brief look at the Inlet area, before being whisked off to Fish!! to a rock soundtrack. Only an average catch this time, unlike the BIG ONE! we saw caught last month, but who cares? You'll have caught another one thirty seconds later. Our inner Dreamcast fanboy is looking forward to this one immensely -- let's hope Sega nails the Wiimote and Nunchuk controls.
A few new screens from the upcoming Sega Bass Fishinghave surfaced, showcasing this idyllic location, as well as something a little more important to gameplay: fish! Frankly, this whole thing has us hankering for a vacation. A picnic on that lawn, a little fishing, some leisurely walks around the grounds ... anyone else feeling it? You can sign on for this virtual vacation late next month.
We're often anti-port, but it's hard to dislike a port that offers loads of extra content (by way of several new locales), enhanced gameplay, and good, plain fun ... all of which it looks like we're going to get with Sega Bass Fishing. In case you're unconvinced, we've got some freshly scaled screens for you in our gallery below, and a heavy dose of nostalgia we're happy to share. We may not have the Dreamcast's fishing controller, but we have the memories.
Even if you hate fishing games, Sega Bass Fishing will probably provide the special kind of simple joy that seems to come only from Sega arcade games. There is something about the goofiness of the whole thing, and the English that is only slightly awkward, that we always associate with having a good time in video games. Yes, it's another port, but it's pretty hard to be upset at Sega. How can you not love a game whose Japanese title is Get Bass? It's an imperative!
In any case, the Wii needs a good fishing game, and that's precisely what Sega Bass Fishing is. According to IGN's preview, the latest version includes not only improved graphics, but brand new locations in which to fish. If the Wiimote and Nunchuk can adequately replace the superb Dreamcast fishing controller, then there will be no reason not to Get Game.
The next in a line ofworthless Wii peripherals is this Fishing Rod Advance from Dragon Electronics, to use for games such as Fishing Master and Rapala Tournament Fishing... oh, and we guess there's also that short fishing bit in The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess. Yet, as our own JC Fletcher suggested, you'd probably just be better off using this to make your cat go insane. Sure, this will only set you back $9.95, but we bet you could probably spend those ten dollars better somewhere else.
We have to wonder -- do they keep making these ridiculous peripherals because people keep on buying them? Here's a chance to cleanse your soul and fess up, folks!
Before TGS, we learned that D3 Publisher would be expanding their Simple series to the Wii, with the first two titles being Everybody's Kart Raceand Everybody's Bass Fishing Tournament. But after the first two entries in the series, D3's already got four more titles lined up, not including Oneechanbara R, which comes from a series that used to be in the Simple category.
The next four games are, in order of Simple series number, THE Party Casino, THE Shooting Action, THE Block Kuzushi, and THE Wai Wai Combat. A Block Kuzushi game actually came out in the U.S. for the DS, under the name Break 'em All, so there may be a possibility of a similar release on the Wii.
If Data Design Interactive can get away with PS2 shovelware on the Wii, then we don't see why D3 can't make some original budget software and market it worldwide. We've always wanted to see the Simple brand in the U.S. There's something refreshingly honest about making the "budget-ness" of a game apparent right away.
