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The Black Bass

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The objective is for the player to catch as many black bass as possible from sunrise to sunset. The player may select a beginner's game or ranking game. A ranking game requires a password. From here, a player may select a location on the lake to start at and begin fishing. Simply tossing a lure o...

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Developer
Another

Released on
1987

Size
1 Player

Version
NES

Requirements
Nintendo Entertainment System

Downloads
Sports

ESRB Rating
Not Rated

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Description

The objective is for the player to catch as many black bass as possible from sunrise to sunset. The player may select a beginner’s game or ranking game. A ranking game requires a password. From here, a player may select a location on the lake to start at and begin fishing. Simply tossing a lure out with the desired power will start the process. A fish can be lured in by moving the lure around and if it bites, then the player can try reeling it in. Too much constant reeling leads to the line breaking and the loss of both the fish and the lure.

Between casting rounds, the player can make certain selections. Among the selections available is the option to change the type and or color of lure being used.

The Black Bass

Overview & History

Released by Hot-B for the Nintendo Entertainment System in North America in 1989, The Black Bass is a pioneering fishing simulation that traded arcade action for patient, strategic outdoor sport. Originally spawned from a Japanese PC and Famicom lineage, this early console port challenged gamers not with vanquishing bosses, but with conquering moody freshwater predators across varied aquatic environments like Lake Hawthorn and Blue Lake. Eschewing flashy graphics for meditative realism, the title captured the authentic highs of tournament angling and the agonizing lows of snapping a 10-pound line, cementing its cult status among niche retro enthusiasts.

Gameplay Features & Mechanics

Unlike typical action games, The Black Bass unfolds across distinct phases: scouting a lake from a top-down motorized boat, positioning your craft, casting your line, and finally reeling in your catch via a side-scrolling underwater perspective. Players must meticulously select lures—such as topwaters, crankbaits, or plastic worms—based on weather conditions, water depth, and time of day. Once a fish bites, a delicate tug-of-war begins. You must balance tension meters to prevent the line from snapping while pumping the rod to tire out feisty largemouth and smallmouth bass. Success yields cash prizes and entry into more prestigious, time-limited fishing tournaments.

Keyboard Controls

Arrow Keys / D-Pad: Steer the boat, navigate menus, and angle your fishing rod.
Action Keys: Cast your line, hook the fish, and reel inward.
Enter: Start / Pause