It has been quite a while since I sat back and tried a fishing title, but in years past I had spent plenty of time with games that ranged from almost tactical in the nature of their simulations, to almost arcade-like in their simplicity. What makes Big Bass Arcade: No Limits work, is that it actually straddles a pretty fine line between the two, offering elements of both worlds and doing so quite well.
You will want to kick things off by playing the tutorial after creating your profile. The game’s mechanics are not terribly hard in and of themselves, but if you do not know what you are doing, you will wind up wasting valuable time or perhaps even growing frustrated with the game when you should be enjoying it. So pay attention to the tutorial, OK?
Most of the strategy comes in before you cast into the water as you try to figure out what combinations of lure to use with the location where you are fishing. What really makes this title work well though, is the part of the game where you start to reel in your fish. This is where it is somewhat more of an arcade experience, because you have to balance the tension of the line carefully to real them in without snapping the wire. As you would expect, the smaller fish are fairly easy to pull in, but the big guys will definitely give you more of a challenge.
The graphics and sound are quite pleasant. The visuals will not wow you with their details or technical accomplishments, but the colors are well-chosen and the 3D effect actually quite easy on the eyes and conveys a nice sense of depth.
There is also a good amount to do here, from several types of fish, to more than three dozen challenges, ten lakes, a tournament mode and more – all while keeping track of your achievements and statistics. If you are looking for a fun, relaxing fishing game for your 3DS, I think your search can start and end right here.
But of course this review with the disclaimer: if you’re not a fan of fishing on at least some level, you’re probably not going to get much out of this game.
