Nice Day for Fishing (Nintendo Switch)
Nice Day for Fishing puts the player in the role of Baelin, a humble NPC fisherman from the town of Honeywood. When the town is suddenly threatened by disaster, and all of the main characters disappear, Baelin has to take on the role of hero.
Unlike most NPCs, by some miracle, Baelin can now take on quests, rebuild the village, and face monstrous foes. Like a true protagonist! As far as the story goes, it doesn’t get too in-depth. Baelin’s journey follows a light, humorous plot supported by witty dialogue. While it sets a fun tone, it doesn’t offer much in terms of character.
Nice Day for Fishing is a fishing-based RPG. You cast a line with specific bait, hook fish or treasure, and enter a tug of war battle where you alternate reeling to deal damage. The difference is that this time you will also be blocking or releasing to defend against attacks, and weaving in spells such as healing or buffs. Boss battles are a bit more elevated. Turning into multi-phase encounters that demand the right timing, strategic spell use, and resource management. The gameplay is surprisingly addictive and builds a rhythmic loop that feels rewarding as you progress.
The gameplay also introduces environmental elements like currents that guide your hook into hidden areas, and a magnet accessory that pulls up treasure chests. These mechanics add variety, but certain actions, like recasting lines for slight repositioning, can feel off. Most quests involve fetching items by fishing, a pattern that remains consistent throughout. Town upgrades, exploration, and secret areas help add some depth, but the repetitive actions and quests are a noticeable part of the experience.
Visually, the game uses a 16-bit pixel art style. The environment ranges from serene forest ponds to shadowy caves and underwater zones. Details like lighting changes and weather help build the game’s atmosphere. Performance on the Nintendo Switch is great in both docked and handheld mode, with short loading times, which is always a plus. The soundtrack complements the game’s tone with mellow, medieval-sounding melodies. Background noises, like water splashes and birds singing, are a nice subtle addition. Dialogue is mostly text-based with occasional voice lines from the ‘Viva La Dirt League’ cast. These lines add some humor and personality. Though Baelin’s repeated phrases might wear a little thin over time for some players.
A typical playthrough runs between 10-15 hours, depending on how much side content you explore. Completing the main quests, rebuilding the village, and finding hidden areas adds some replay value. The game would probably be better enjoyed in shorter sessions. Since its repetitive quest design can lead to burnout if played for too long. But for the price, I thought it had a good amount of fun content, repetitive or not.
Nice Day for Fishing is a fun RPG that turns fishing into a surprisingly satisfying experience, compared to my real-life fishing experiences, at least. The graphics and music create a cozy environment, and the boss fights add some challenge and excitement. Think ‘Golf Story’ but fishing, and more elevated gameplay. You don’t have to like fishing to enjoy it. So if you’re hankerin’ for a good catch to get you through the summer heat, Nice Day for Fishing is definitely worth checking out if you’re a fan of 16-bit RPGs.
