Russian Fishing

Russian Fishing – It’s like fishing anywhere else, just Russian!

Having played quite a few different fishing games in my time and actually fished in streams and the sea before now, I was intrigued to look at Russian Fishing and work out just how this particular game differs from the real thing and compares to the other similar titles on the market. I’m pleased to say that on both counts it’s just about as real as you could ask for.

There are lots of prettier titles to play with which offer more pleasing or cuter graphics, but these tend to favour the less patient gamer who’s used to putting a bit of bait on a line and reeling in a catch of the day with relative ease. This game behaves much more realistically than any other I’ve played with.

Yes, of course you have the option to sell your catch for money which you get to purchase better equipment with and unlock more features of the game. Where this game really wins though is in its realistic quality.

Waiting for a nibble is nearly an epic game in itself, depending on where you go to fish, you have locations up and down different coastlines. Casting the line is easy, simply tapping the OK button does this automatically, as is the option to reel the line back in, is either done by tapping the left soft-key or OK button again. As mentioned, getting a bite is never assured and usually takes quite a while. Should you be lucky enough to get a fish hooked, it’s a battle of wills to land the catch on your boat.

Tapping 8 on the keypad or down on the joystick will lift the rod up and help snare the fish, but then you must relax the tension on the line or you will end up snapping the line and letting the fish get away. To loosen the line, pressing 2 on the keypad or up on the joystick will lower the rod down again. The whole time you’re mastering the rod movement (up, down and side to side) you have to try to reel the line and fish back in.

Overall, as your skills improve and your equipment is upgraded, the chance to land each fish also improves. However, you mustn’t get too complacent as there’s bound to be the one that got away, so keep your wits about you.

Rating 80%

Positives

Very realistic

Quite a tactical game to play

Challenging

Negatives

It won’t satisfy the less patient players

Very repetitive

Graphics are pretty basic