PlayStation 2

Rapala Pro Fishing

Rapala Pro Fishing is easily the best fishing game I have played in a long, long time, and instantly climbs to the top of my list of all-time fishing titles. It's that good.

It’s been a long time since a fishing game has really lived up to my standards. The last time I can remember a really satisfying fishing game coming downstream was around seven years ago, at least, with a little game called Trophy Bass, published by Sierra, which offered enough variety in terms of number of lakes, lures and fish species to really be a satisfying sim. It was a Windows 95-era PC title and a lot of fishing titles have come and gone since then on many platforms, but no other has come close to Trophy Bass.

released Pro Fishing Challenge, for example, provided a more technical approach to the genre, while several other swimmy simulators have been hitting all of our favorite systems for years. For this time around, Activision has put its two cents in with the Sand Grain Studios-developed Rapala's Pro Fishing. And from the offset, this latest entry has more of an arcade feel, with a simplistic layout perfect for beginning fisherman. The game features fully licensed Rapala fishing gear and tips from its "pro-staff" as well.

I enjoyed Rapala's sloshing water sound effects, but there's a steady beeping sound that really got on my nerves. The game records you catches (along with a nice picture), and the challenging tournament mode could keep you occupied for weeks as you unlock new lures and locations. Rapala Pro Fishing may appeal to some desperate fishermen, but it seems tame compared to old favorites like Sega's Bass Fishing (Dreamcast, 2000).