Finny the Fish and the Seven Waters Review (PS2)

Here's a unique game that you don't really see anymore- a fishing game that has absolutely nothing to do with putting a fishing reel in your hands. Well, OK, in a sense, it's really more like a platforming adventure that's underwater than a fishing game, but it does involve a fish, so there you go. The game is Finny the Fish & the Seven Waters, brought to us by the good folks at Natsume- the same team that brought us the countless Harvest Moon games. Of course, you know what this means- with the purchase of this game, you get a cute plush toy that becomes a collector's item for both happy kids and giddy gamers.

But enough about the toy- is the game any good? Well, for the younger set, it's perfect, but older gamers may not find themselves so enthralled by the adventures of a fish. The game involves a lot of exploratory elements that will keep Finny rather busy, including the occasional battle with bigger enemies and even some struggles with fishermen who think he's a rather engaging catch of the day. Finny must also fufill the other side of his "circle of life" and eat up smaller critters in order to keep his own energy level at bay.

The game looks fine, with simple but still refreshing environments both in the water and jumping over hills (a nice touch). It also features decent if slightly annoying voice acting and sound effects, fitting right in with the nature of the game. But it's the gameplay that's the real deciding factor here. Young kids will enjoy Finny's adventures and play back and forth, completing different tasks as Finny looks to find his peace. However, those gamers that are teenagers and up may find themselves a bit bored with going back and forth so many times to complete tasks. It does become a bit frustrating, considering all you want to do is check out what you haven't seen before.

But the game still warrants a decent recommendation for two main reasons. First, it's got the kind of presentation that's geared for all ages, even if its difficulty isn't. And second, it's an inventive process, really taking steps where a game development hasn't before as you control a fish making his way through the Seven Waters. Finny the Fish is worth checking out to see how it pleases the kids, but older ones may want to check around upstream.

Our Final ScoreOK

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