Bassin's Black Bass with Hank Parker

GRAB THE GAMING NET, THIS IS A REAL WHOPPER!

If you're a fan of Hot-B's first fishing title, Super Black Bass, then you're going to want to add this game to your tackle box.

It's the best fishing game I've played to date. Being from the best fishing area in the world (up around Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada), I know my fishing hot spots. While getting this article ready, I naturally out-fished the Iceman. He was disappointed that there was no Ice Fishing Option in this game. He also used rubber worms for bait. We both had a lot of fun finding and reeling in the big catches of the day.

As you progress in the game, you can enter up to four different tournaments. Placing in the top three will get you into the next event.

Start off in Stage One at the Local Amateur Tournament.

Your goal is to out fish the other 50 anglers in the tournament. It's a blast.

Your boat is equipped with a fish finder and a feature called Icons (X).

When you find a fishing spot, go to the X icon, then press the X button to move around the icon to where the fish are. Cast in the direction of the fish with the directional pad to get your line to where the fish are. The controls are very easy to master. Read through the instruction manual and contact the fisherman in your family to find out what lures to use and you'll be catching big!

FISH HIDE IN MANY DIFFERENT PLACES IN THIS DAME

If this game were a fish, I would have to say it would be a world-record 85-pound Lake Trout.

Before you put this one in your gaming net, there are a few things I would like to tell you.

The tournaments have rules that have to be followed to the letter.

The tournament day starts at 7 a.m. and runs to 4:30 p.m. Only Black Bass can be counted at the weigh-in.

DIFFERENT FISH SPECIES

There are eight different species of fish you can catch in this game: Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Spotted Bass, Bluegill, Crappie, Walleye (Pickerel), Northern Pike, (some real monsters can be caught in this game), as well as those whiskered wonders, Catfish.

When you catch a whopper, keep the line taunt and use the down arrow to keep the tension on your prize catch.

If you don't, you'll be left holding your rod with your fish long gone.

Getting the fish to bite is an art in itself. Iceman couldn't keep a fish on his line. I had to hook him up and let him reel a fish in that turned out to be a world record.

It takes a little practice to land the bigger fish. If you find one, it's best to cast your lure beyond it and reel in the line. Repeat this process several times, and be patient. If he doesn't bite on the first or second try, he might not want to chow down on the lure you're offering. Change your lure and presentation.

Move the bait in front of him back and forth using the control pad. Reel slow, then fast. If your lure is in a current, reel fast then let the lure float back toward the fish. If he bites, it's important to set the hook--just like in real fishing.

When the fish sinks his teeth into the lure, swing the rod left or right by pressing left or right and then up or back on the control pad.

This will set the hook and make sure the big ones you hook won't get away.

If you lose all of your lures while fishing, you'll be forced back to the weigh in area. The same holds true if your boat gets damaged. All of the catastrophes that can happen in a real tournament can happen to you in this game.

This is the most fun you can ever have in a fishing game without getting bitten by black flies or mosquitoes. BBB is one addictive game that will last through many weekends. The Video Cowboy brought some big ones home and forced me to look at the photo shots of his fish. I guess I'll be going back to this game to catch up to his poundage and get some photos for myself.

Excellent graphics and sound effects make this game almost like a fishing trip. Of course, you have to bring your own beer, but that's no problem. Smooth gameplay and controls ensure a pleasant, relaxing fishing experience.

Rise and shine, all you anglers. Starting at 7 a.m. you've got nine-and-a-half hours to comb Green Valley Lake and haul in the best selection of five bass, if the combined weight of your stringer ranks in the top three after the weigh-in, then you're off to the next fishing tournament.

There are a total of four fishing tourneys, each at different venues, culminating with the Bassin' World Championship. Each body of water is full of obstacles and vegetation which fish just love to gather around. The trick is to use the right lure and right technique to draw the bass out and convince them to bite. A fishing background is helpful, but a trusty backwoods guide offers to accompany you and show you the ropes, as well as the hot spots.

The graphics and sound come much closer to simulating the fishing experience than you might expect. Bird, frog, and water sound effects add to the atmosphere but it's the overhead view of the well-animated lake that allows you to see the fish and underbrush that lie beneath the surface. Fish range from dim shadows to detailed outlines depending on how deep they are. Meters for the fisherman and a hooked fish help determine when to be aggressive when reeling one in and when to let it run to avoid snapping the line. There are even realistically frustrating periods where there's hardly a nibble, but that's why you take a cold six pack of beer with you. I wouldn't say it's as enjoyable as fishing itself, but it's as close as you can get without a boat or hip waders.

Fishermen, grab your rods! Bassin's Black Bass is the latest fishing simulation, and it hits the water with enough competition for anglers of all ages to enjoy.

Reel Entertainment

Bassin's four tournaments will teach you just about everything you need to know about fishing. Finish in the top three in the Amateur tournaments, and you'll earn a spot at the Pro Bass Championship. Prove yourself there, and you'll get a chance at Bassin's Ultra World Championship. Win that, and you're king of the bass-kickin' world!

Strategic decisions make the game intriguing. You choose from 16 lures to catch any of the eight types of fish, but watch what you haul in, because only bass count at the weigh-in.

Bassin's controls are okay, but you might have problems controlling your line length and depth. Also, losing time when your line snaps is a major pain.

Back in Black

As for graphics, Bassin's realistic lakes and rapidly moving fish will lure you in. Changing weather and clear backgrounds make you feel as if you're actually on the boat.

Since fish can't talk, the sounds are dull. No voices are included, and you only hear music during the weigh-in and when getting results.

Bassin's BB will show you what it takes to be a pro. If you're looking for that true fishing experience, sink your hooks into this game.

Bassin's Black Bass with Hank Parker was a tournament fishing video game, in which player attempts to rise up from an amateur tournament to the bass fishing championship and beat Hank Parker for the Championship.

Despite being somewhat of a niche game, it is still viewed fairly positively by gamers and professional critics.