Rapala
Trophies (Activision) PSP Game
Specifications |
Type |
Fishing Game |
Platform |
Sony
PSP |
Genre |
Sports-Fishing |
Publisher |
Activision |
Release Date |
9/2006 |
ESRB
Content Rating |
(E)
Everyone |
Players |
1 |
MSRP |
$29.99 |
Impressions:
I don't think many anglers
would argue that there is no substitute for actually getting up at the crack of
dawn and going fishing, but there are times when you can't go fishing, and there
are many people that have some budding interest in the sport but haven't crossed
over to the actual pastime itself. In these cases a video game like Rapala
Trophies starts looking a whole lot more attractive. Anglers will want a game
that closely mimics the sport, and provides as close a semblance as possible to
the actual act of fishing. Gamers that are not serious anglers on the other hand
are likely to be more attracted to a exciting and entertaining game in which
to simply immerse themselves in.

Rapala Trophies for the PSP, a
fishing game branded by Rapala and published by Activision
Rapala Trophies features
over 500,000 acres of virtual land, all of which is patterned after real
locations. The game also sports a large variety of fish that are programmed to
act as life-like and real as possible. Trout, bass, pike, salmon, catfish, and
more swim through rivers, lakes, and ponds, and will react to various baits you
throw at them. In advertisements the publisher, Activision, also touts the
addition of "Rapala's top-notch staff of fishing experts." This refers to the
angler's guide that rides around with you as you fish and gives players hints
and tips on how to catch different fish. They go on to say that the "tips
dispensed by the staff are all tried and true, well-researched methods that
fishermen have been relying on for years."
In essence implying that you can learn actual
fishing techniques from playing the game itself. If you think about it the game
is a fishing simulator of sorts, and because it is made for the Sony PSP whether
you are a gamer, a hard core angler, or both, you will be able to get your
fishing fix just about anywhere.

Acting as your virtual fishing
reel is the Sony PSP (when your not playing the fishing simulator you can surf
the internet, though it really would be easier with a touch screen)
Hardware
& Software: To play this game you will need a Sony PSP (PlayStation®
Portable)
which retails for $169.99 for the latest version. For our tests we used the
classic version which offers the same graphical performance but with a slightly
larger form factor and heavier overall weight.
The latest PSP handheld system is 19% thinner and
33% lighter than the previous model, with twice the memory, now 64MB, which is
designed to improve load times. For our tech savvy readers the unit's
specifications include a dedicated PSP CPU running at up to 333MHz, and the 4.3"
LCD screen sports a 16:9 widescreen aspect ratio, 480 x 272 pixel resolution,
and 16.7 million colors for graphics.

The game comes with the UMD
(Universal Media Disc) and detailed instructions
The game itself comes on a small proprietary disc which Sony calls a UMD
(Universal Media Disc). Place this in the back of your PSP and your just about
ready to go. The game does require you to save your game on Sony's proprietary
Memory Stick Pro Duo, but odds are if you own a PSP you already have a card in
your unit. Enough tech speak, let's get to playing!

Load the game in the back of the
PSP and your ready to get to fishing
Game Overview:
The premise behind Rapala Trophies is to catch fish in a variety of different
modes. These are Free Fishing, Tournament, Arcade, and Time Trial modes. Let's
explore each one briefly...
Free Fishing:
Fish in any location and try out the gear that you have unlocked in
tournament mode. Here is where you will practice your casting and get to know
what gear is best for the various fish you will encounter throughout Tournament
Mode.
Tournament:
The real meat of the game rests here. You start out as a novice angler who is
just starting your tackle collection. You advance through various tournaments by
achieving both tournament goals and qualifiers. As you work your way up through
competition to pro status you also unlock and build up your arsenal of Rapala
branded lures.

The first thing you see is the
game selection...
Arcade:
Just have a few minutes to play? Arcade mode provides short bursts of game time
in which you can jump into any moment of fishing. You are presented with a given
challenge in a certain location within a fishing area, and are forced to
complete that challenge to earn points. Completing these short challenges also
unlocks tackle equipment that can be used in other modes.
Time Trial:
Time Trial requires you to prove your skill, knowledge of fish, and
fishing techniques within a given amount of time. The real challenge here is to
use the right lure and find the right spot to catch a specified number of
specific fish to catch to complete the trial. Completing these challenges also
unlocks tackle equipment to be used throughout the game.

Load up and you are welcomed with
a cool intro movie