Bass Pro Shops - The Strike

Bass Pro Shops: The Strike on Wii attempts a fuller angling loop: choose tackle, move a boat around several lakes, locate fish, cast and reel in a catch. The variety of species, rods, reels and boats gives the pursuit some room to develop, and underwater objects can snag a lure. Early guidance is weaker. In the direct Wii review, fish were hard to locate until the player approached marked buoys, and catches remained difficult even in arcade mode. Skipping the tutorial could leave the casting sequence confusing. The platform-specific accessory is the larger obstacle. Its rod housing puts the Wii Remote on top and the Nunchuk in the reel; the reviewer struggled to steer the boat with that arrangement and could navigate only after removing the controllers. The multiple lake settings and underwater hazards give the search a sense of place, but the reported audio is quiet and offers little encouragement. This is best for players willing to learn a demanding fishing game and accept accessory friction. Xbox 360 rod impressions, including those in another contemporary review, have not been used as evidence for Wii controls or graphics.

Who it is for: Patient players seeking demanding angling.

Play notes: Wii-tested evidence only; Xbox 360 controls excluded.