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Stage 1: Impressions

Stage 2: Analysis

Stage 3: Evaluation

SEGA Bass Fishing is a sort of lost classic. Countless quarters were pumped into the arcade machines, and the sales on the Dreamcast version were enough to warrant a PC edition and a secondary release as a SEGA All Star title. A port to the Wii, then, should come as no surprise; the Wii Remote and Nunchuk should make a perfect rod and reel. But does SEGA think that a 10-year-old game might be actually be worth a purchase, even at $29.99?

They should when it's this much fun!

Unquestionably old-school, SEGA Bass Fishing doesn't require an instructional booklet. The game is intuitive in the best way possible, and anything that players need to learn they will find on the screen. With the Wii Remote as the rod and the Nunchuk as the reel, select your favorite watering hole - ranging from under a bridge, near a dam or against a waterfall - and get fishing!

Once on the boat, the player decides where to cast - a task made easier by the surrounding shadows of giant bass - and pulls back the controller, using a real casting motion to send the lure flying. The gameplay is faithful to the original versions, but for those too young or too hung up on other consoles to play this one before, it's simple: catch as many fish as possible in a short period of time. This title doesn't even pretend to be realistic, especially in arcade mode where the goal is to catch as many fish as possible in a minute - less time to bait a hook in the real world! The other modes available, Nature Walk and Tournament, have varied versions of the same gameplay, and give the player longer periods of time to experience the game.

The lures are diverse and well explained. They are used for various depths of water, and each has a unique method of control. Some are to be pulled in steadily without stopping, while others are designed to skip across the bottom or surface. No matter which of the variety of lures or baits the players choose, the game will tell them on-screen if they are doing a good job or not. Sooner rather than later they will have hooked a fish.

Now the fun starts: using the Nunchuk to reel frantically (or the A/B button on the Wii Remote for those without a Nunchuk), the player must be careful not to pull the controller back too far, or to either side. Otherwise, the on-screen tension meter will raise and, without remedying this situation immediately, the line will break. If it does, no bother, as players can cast out immediately to try again; and if it doesn't break, then they have caught a bass, which is instantly weighed before casting out again.

Once the player has gathered a certain amount of weight, they can move on to the next section of their trip and start the process all over again. While this seems to be a recipe for repetition, various fish will only respond to certain lures, which keeps some variety in the mix. Strategy also comes into play when selecting the depth of water to cast in.

The fast style of gameplay, reminiscent of SEGA's other lost classic Crazy Taxi, leaves the player wanting more, and an instant "continue" after failing a task means never being short on quarters. Stay tuned for Stage 2 to see if the other aspects of SEGA Bass Fishing can turn this budget title into a whopper!