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I have never been that impressed with console fishing titles. Part of the reason is that the sport of fishing is much more fun to actually do than play on a TV screen. Another reason is that PC fishing titles offer better graphics and superior selection of lakes and rivers. There has been an upsurge in the availability of console fishing games in the past couple years. Not one of these titles has managed to present an above average simulation of fishing. No matter how many actual lakes, tackle inventories, or rod-type controllers have been included, the sheer thrill of landing "the big one" has been absent. THQ has released yet another fishing game. Bassmasters 2000 is the latest fishing title for the Nintendo 64. While it may be a satisfactory arcade fishing game for folks desiring a quick trip out on the lake, it joins the large stack of console fishing titles in my collection that are gathering dust.

An interesting angle that Bassmasters 2000 takes is that it takes on the presentation of a television broadcast. In fact, it has a license from the B.A.S.S. Masters television show, featuring Shaw Grigsby, Jr. and Roland Martin. Unfortunately, the graphics in this game are below average. The water of the lakes has a very simple appearance. The lake surface looks crude, without even displaying waves. Below the surface, things improve a little. The background scenery is ugly and the vegetation appears jagged and overly pixelated. On top of all of this, there is constant fog in the background, even on sunny days. A large part of enjoying the sport of fishing is the ambience created by the environment. The ambience in Bassmasters 2000 is sorely lacking.

Some gamers may be able to stomach the less-than-stellar graphics of Bassmasters 2000, but there is little chance that the vast majority of people will be able to enjoy the sound. Shaw Grigsby, Jr. offers commentary throughout the game. Fortunately, his repetitive drivel can be turned off. I am surprised that the developer decided to even go with the commentary considering how few lines Grigsby offers. I thought I was in a redneck nightmare set on "repeat" after the 100th time I heard Grigsby say, "Yer not havin' any luck with that lure." On another note, the environmental effects are decent. The music is not bad either. Of course, I am ready to compliment any sounds in the game after listening to Grigsby.

Let's hit the lake! Bassmasters 2000 offers gamers a nice selection of boats and tackle. Actual company names such as Mercury and Ranger are used in the game. The game has a fair selection of lures and options. The career mode adds some depth to the game. Stats are kept regarding tournament money won, largest fish caught, etc. It is nice that the game offers some good options and stats, but the gameplay is so boring that the options do not make an ounce of difference in the end.

The actual fishing in Bassmasters 2000 is not very enjoyable. For starters, there is little flexibility in reeling in the line. The speed of the reel-in is about the only controllable action. It is possible to jerk the rod, but there is hardly any variance between a soft and hard jerk. The lure responds pretty much the same each time. This controller is analog, therefore it is hard to understand why there is such a small variation in the ability to control the line. The actual fishing basically boils down to finding the fish in the lake and casting in the direction of the fish. The preceding statement sounds obvious, but Bassmasters 2000 oversimplifies the process of fishing. Even on the hardest level the catching of fish seems a bit on the easy side. On the "Pro" level I was reeling in some nice specimens within a very short period of time. The main challenge is not in luring the fish to the bait, but finding where the fish are located. I gave this game ample opportunity to impress me, but in the end I was bored with the gameplay in a short period of time.

Overall, it is hard to recommend Bassmasters 2000. THQ has recently released the stellar WWF Wrestlemania 2000 and the fun Brunswick Circuit Pro Bowling. I was a bit surprised at the low quality of Bassmasters 2000. Below average graphics, annoying sound, and boring gameplay pretty well sum up this title. If you MUST have a console fishing game, then I recommend taking a look at Bass Landing and Fisherman's Bait 2 for the PlayStation, or Bass Hunter 64 for the Nintendo 64. All three of the aforementioned titles are a better catch than Bassmasters 2000.