Game Review: The Strike

The Charleston Gazette

When it comes to crafting a virtual representation of a sport, fishing has to be one of the most difficult to pull off. Let's face it, the relaxing, laid-back nature of fishing doesn't exactly lend itself to the fast-paced world of video gaming.

In the past, developers have tried to merge the two worlds by creating fishing titles that disregard realism for the sake of making the sport more accessible to the gaming crowd. As someone who enjoys wetting a line as much as firing up the Xbox 360, I despised those games. Unfortunately, developers didn't seem to be lining up to create a fishing game that remains faithful to the sport.

Then at this year's E3, Pysclone unveiled "Bass Pro Shops: The Strike," a game that promised a realistic take on angling with a snazzy motion-sensing fishing rod controller. To say I was intrigued would be an understatement. After all, the last fishing game I actually enjoyed was "Trophy Bass 3" on the PC more than a decade ago -- late Gazette outdoors writer Andy Hansroth and I spent many a slow summer night in the office catching our limit of largemouth bass and northern pike.

Having spent the past week putting "The Strike" through its paces, I'm thrilled to report that this is the fishing game I've been waiting for. Simply put, this is the closest to real fishing I've come without actually hitting the water.

Helping to achieve this is the special fishing rod controller, which ranks as one of the most amazing peripherals I've used. Much more than a cheap gimmick, the motion-sensing controller is sturdy, heavy and feels like something you'd take along in the boat. Beyond making casting a blast, the controller's motion-sensing capabilities allow you to work a lure just like you'd do with a real pole. And the actual process of landing a fish, from pulling back on the controller to set the hook to feeling the fight on the other end of the line, is among the most satisfying gaming experiences I've had, especially when you set into a real lunker. The first time I wrestled a 20-pound striper into my boat after a 5-minute tug-of-war had me pumping my fist in joy.

Of course, not every cast ends with a trophy in the live well. A fish finder helps you locate the fish, but that's only the beginning. Just like real fishing, I would spend plenty of time casting and retrieving my lure until I found the right setup to induce a strike. You can stop by the virtual Bass Pro Shop to stock up on your gear, all of which are officially licensed products. And be sure to pick up more than one of each lure you purchase because if your line breaks or you get hung, whatever lure you were using is gone.

"The Strike" features a variety of game fish ranging from bass and trout to catfish and walleye. Knowing what lures attract certain types of fish is key to advancing through the game's career mode. The career mode is based around a series of tournaments on each of the game's 10 lakes, which are faithful recreations of their real-world counterparts. Before you can compete in a tournament, you need to raise your reputation by catching fish, which also allows you to get a feel for the lake and where the fish are located. Tournaments are timed events that pit you against three AI opponents in a race to land the most fish. Finishing in the top two of a tournament unlocks a new lake and the process repeats from there. Each lake also contains one legendary fish, though I have yet to successfully land one . I've come close a couple of times, but that only adds to legend, I suppose. "The Strike" also includes boat racing and casting accuracy contests for those looking for to take a break from the actual fishing.

Visually, it's a fishing game. The graphics certainly don't push the limits of the Xbox 360, but they are perfectly fine for a game like this and they certainly don't detract from the overall experience. I'll take game play over graphics every day. The night-day cycles and water reflections are well done, as are the lures and fish models.

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