If you know anything about the hit indie rogue-lite, Hades, it’s probably two things:
- These gods are insanely attractive.
- This game’s pacing is incredible.
You’re pushed from one room to the next dashing around, putting the hurt on the denizens of the underworld with a wild mix of abilities and items. And after each room-full of enemies is taken care of, you’re treated with another upgrade and usually a choice of upgrades that you can earn in the next room.
But every once in a while when you finish a room you’ll hear resounding “ding”.
The sound of a fishing spot.
It seems like in 2021, every video game asks you to stop your momentum to indulge in a quick fishing diversion. No matter what genre you’re playing. Even dating sims like Dream Daddy ask you to do some sort of fishing.
That made me wonder…
What is the video game industry’s obsession with fishing?
In theory, fishing is supposed to give the player a calming break from the action of the main game. A chance to take in the environment around them. And maybe even give them some extra rewards along the way. But after a while a lot of these fishing sections start to feel… familiar. The formula usually comes down to this:
Find fishing point. Cast your rod. Wait. Wait some more. Eventually, you get to press a button. And your reward is a salmon, guppy, or cod.
I’m not saying fishing needs to be a breakneck fight to the death against every carp you come across. But something more engaging might be nice every once in a while.
