While its premise might suggest a serene experience, the multiplayer fishing simulator How to Fish offers a chaotic blend of surprisingly robust fishing mechanics, brutal combat, and unexpected boss encounters. The game, which supports up to four players, tasks participants with learning the art of fishing, but this quickly escalates into a struggle for survival against mutated sea creatures.
Players begin by acquiring a basic fishing rod. The core gameplay loop involves catching fish and crustaceans, which can then be dispatched with bare knuckles, brass knuckles, or knives. The harvested resources serve a dual purpose: they can be consumed to restore health and hunger, or offered to a solitary fisherman on the dock in exchange for coins. These coins are then used to purchase better equipment, such as knives, or bait items like hotdogs or empty beer cans.
Embracing the Chaos
The seemingly simple fishing loop is elevated by the introduction of cooperative play and friendly fire. In groups of four, the experience transforms from a potentially mundane task into an unpredictable and often violent affair. Early on, players might find themselves cooperating to accumulate wealth and resources for their first boss fight. The game incorporates health management, making these fights a necessity.
A significant challenge arises when using certain bait items, such as an empty beer can, which can attract monstrous spider crabs. These encounters trigger a change in music and present players with a boss health bar, requiring a concerted effort to defeat the creature to progress.
One early encounter with a spider crab proved overwhelming, leading to the swift defeat of the player group, with one unfortunate player even being carried off by a seagull. The subsequent attempt saw a more strategic approach, with one player adopting a supportive role, reviving fallen teammates while they engaged the crab. Despite managing to significantly deplete the boss's health, the team ultimately failed, succumbing once again to the formidable creature.
Although the session was cut short, the experience has fueled anticipation for future playthroughs. The potential to acquire more advanced weaponry, including firearms like a sniper rifle, promises a more direct approach to dealing with the game's challenging aquatic adversaries.