Wii Fanboy Review: Cocoto Fishing Master

Neko's Cocoto Fishing Master released on WiiWare yesterday and, like the responsible bloggers we try to be, we've gone ahead and whipped up a review for you. We do our usual thing and try to cover the title as best as we can.

So, if that sounds like something you'd be down for, then head past our break for our review of the WiiWare offering Cocoto Fishing Master!
Cocoto Fishing Master starts off with a brief cinema that lays out the plot for you. Well, the plot really doesn't have any relevance, because once you get into the game enough to be comfortable with the controls and how to fish, you'll probably be ready to turn the game off. In all honesty, it's just not that good.

The first problem I encountered was at the very beginning of the game. You're just thrown into a boat out on the water, and told about some turtle dude who knows secrets. That's all well and good, but how do I navigate my ship? What are the controls?

Once I figured it out (it wasn't that hard, admittedly, but it's frustrating to start a game and not know what is going on), I was told by the turtle with all the secret knowledge that he wouldn't give anything up until I delivered him a special fish. Okay, great. I was wondering when we were going to get to the fishing anyway.

After a brief conversation with my fairy friend (the game's resident hand-holder and person in charge of bestowing knowledge), I was given a crash course on how to fish. It's much like fishing in the real world, in that you spend a lot of time sitting around in a boat and waiting for the fish to bite. Except, in the game, you can't drink to make the waiting less painful.

Casting in Cocoto Fishing Master has to be one of the biggest frustrations I've come across in recent memory. Maybe I'm just an idiot (highly likely), but pulling back the Wiimote while holding the A button, then flinging it forward whilst letting go of the A button was incredibly difficult. I spent a lot of time watching screen transitions, because I would pull back the Wiimote to start the casting screen, only to mess up the actual cast and go back to the main screen where you navigate your boat. You can see that, and laugh at my attempts, in the video below.


One of the things I did like about Cocoto Fishing Master was its visual presentation. The game uses a cel-shaded style to bring the cartoonish characters to life, which makes it feel a bit, if only visually, like Wind Waker. But, unlike Wind Waker, this game isn't very good. Also, you don't get the great visual effects that you did in Wind Waker, such as the roaming storms and beautiful, incredibly picturesque dawns and sunsets.

Neko definitely had a good idea when coming up with Cocoto Fishing Master. It's a wonderful premise for a casual title that fits the WiiWare service like a glove. However, due to its clumsy controls and inability to actually get me invested in the game at all, I suggest you throw this one back.

Final score: 4/10