Sega Bass Fishing
Publisher: Sega
Platforms: Wii
Rated: E — Everyone
Game type: Sports
Rating: **** (out of five)
What’s the premise?
You may be suffering through the cold and snow of February, but that doesn’t mean you can’t get in a little time on the lake looking to land the big one. Sega Bass Fishing offers the chance to use your Wii-mote and nunchuk accessory to cast out and reel in several different species of bass using 20 different types of lures on 15 scenic levels.
This game is most similar to…?
The fishing portion of The Legend Of Zelda: Twilight Princess.
Is it suitable for younger gamers?
My two- and four-year-old sons and I took this game out for a spin for a little male bonding time (yes, there was lots of scratching and burping) and while they enjoyed the simplicity of the casting and reeling process, they had a tough time with the nuance of hooking and landing fish. I guess we’ll have to do more of the real thing this summer at the cottage for them to get better at the game.
One player or more?
Unfortunately it is only a one-player game. The boys and I took turns passing the “rod” around, though, and that worked fine.
What’s missing?
The graphics are good, but not great.
The (not-so) secret to success is…?
Be more a-luring. Contrary to the opinion of many non-anglers, it really does make a difference which lure you choose. Don’t be afraid to try a variety in any given weather and water situation to get best results.
And in the end?
Sega Bass Fishing is a natural wonder on the Wii.
Go Diego Go! Safari Rescue
Publisher: 2K Play
Platforms: Wii, PlayStation 2, Nintendo DS, PC, Mac
Reviewed on: Wii
Rated: E — Everyone
Game type: Action
Rating: *** 1/2 (out of five)
What’s the premise?
It’s an epic journey right out of one of the Go Diego Go! Episodes your kids have made you watch over and over and over again as the young adventurer (and his friend, Baby Jaguar) try to stop an evil magician from zapping a herd of African elephants.
This game is most similar to…?
Dora Saves The Mermaids.
Is it suitable for younger gamers?
With simple to achieve challenges and loads of easy to act out Wii-mote actions, this game is probably only for younger gamers.
One player or more?
The Safari Racer mode consists of two-player races (in a boat, a jeep, a hang glider, etc.) where you collect coins (but don’t keep score because apparently we don’t teach kids to do that anymore).
What’s missing?
Please, sir, I want some more. My four-year-old breezed through this game in less that two hours and then looked at me and said “Now what?” When I suggested he could always start again from the beginning next time he played, he looked at me like my head was on sideways.
The (not-so) secret to success is…?
It’s really not rocket science. Follow the on-screen instructions. Even really little kids can do that.
And in the end?
Other than being a little too brief, Go Diego Go! Safari Rescue for Wii is lots of fun for pre-school or Kindergarten-aged kids.
Jonathan P. Kuehlein/Metro Toronto
jonathan.kuehlein@metronews.ca
