The first game I had the chance to preview at this year’s PAX West was The Big Catch – a platformer and somewhat of a collect-a-thon with a snazzy late PS1 to early PS2 aesthetic. I had no clue what to expect from it before playing, but I was impressed with its creativity and cool ideas.
This version that I played was called The Big Catch: Tacklebox, where I played as the titular Tackle. After learning the basics of the controls from a large character with a very cool voice, I was essentially free to explore a little sandbox at my leisure. I could fish, run around, or do the best thing in the demo – ride around using sandworm creatures.
Credit: Marvelous
Maybe it’s the remaining Dune hype influencing me, but attaching your fishing rod to a serpent that then drags you around the desert as though you were waterskiing is just about as cool and exciting as a game mechanic gets. It even brings The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker to mind, as you cross big distances and battle the occasional monster sticking out of the dunes.
“The visual style is immensely charming, bringing to mind titles like Spyro the Dragon and The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask“
Of course, that fishing rod isn’t just for sand skiing – fishing is unsurprisingly an important part of The Big Catch. After snaring bait with your nifty rod, you can yank fish out of patches of water around the area. Once they’re up and stunned, you smack them and toss them in your bag – a very satisfying process. You earn rewards for bringing these fish to the other character, giving a nice little boost of accomplishment to each of your slimy catches.
Credit: Marvelous
The rod in The Big Catch can also be used to swing around on hooks, opening up new opportunities and platforming challenges. I enjoyed having so much freedom to do as I wanted in the little world that I was placed in, as I got to try all of these things and get a good feel for the game.
I will say that the movement takes some adjusting to. Tackle isn’t too quick and can’t jump too high, and you have to hold the jump button to really get any height. It makes for a fun challenge that’s unlike my usual platforming experiences, though it can be tough to get a handle on at first.
Credit: Marvelous
The visual style is immensely charming, bringing to mind titles like Spyro the Dragon and The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask, as the colorful and somewhat strange world makes quite an impression.
I’ll definitely check out The Big Catch once it drops, as the challenging but intriguing platforming piqued my interest alongside the creative mechanics like sand-skiing. The Big Catch: Tacklebox is currently available on Steam for anyone who wants to try the game for themselves, and I certainly recommend you do.
