Fishing Star World Tour

While there are more than a few fishing games available on the Nintendo Switch, not many have managed to reel in the interests of casual fans. Fishing Star World Tour looks to change all that, "angling" for a much more casual and fun fishing experience. The game's presentation is colorful with a distinctly cartoonish look. That isn't a bad thing by any means though, as it makes the game much more approachable to a more all ages audience. After all, where else can someone use a horned beetle themed fantasy rod to catch a clownfish? The game's also relatively easy to pick up and play, though using the Joy-Con's motion controls can take some getting used to. Using one controller as a rod and the other as the reel seems more natural on the surface, but can end up with the player flailing wildly out of control during some of the more exciting moments of catching a particularly energetic fish. As an added bonus for those that might have it, the game does feature a mini-game compatible with the Nintendo Labo fishing rod set.

Although Fishing Star World Tour is inviting to gamers of all ages and skill levels, much like actual fishing, it still requires a certain level of patience. In order to progress through the game's locations, players have specific fish they're required to catch. Unfortunately, some of these are rare fish that have a lower chance of showing up. And if by some chance they don't land it on the first go-round, it leaves players stuck in a repetitious cycle of catching many of the same fish over and over again just waiting for that one special gem of a fish to literally take the bait once again. One other oddball quirk involves the localization of the game. There are a few spots in the game where the text doesn't seem to make much sense, likely the result of an awkward translation from the original Japanese source. Still, that's just a mild distraction from an otherwise enjoyable virtual fishing trip.