Deadliest Catch: The Game is a simulation game that puts you in the shoes of a crab fisherman in the Bering Sea. You'll need to manage your ship, crew, and equipment in order to catch as many crabs as possible. The game is realistic in its depiction of crab fishing, and it offers a challenging and rewarding experience for fans of the show and newcomers alike. Originally released in 2020 on PC, the game has now made its way to consoles thanks to publisher Ultimate Games! For those that don't know, Deadliest Catch is an American reality television series that has been out since 2005. The show is about crab fishermen in the Bering Sea during the Alaskan king crab and snow crab fishing seasons. I have never watched it myself, but with over 300 episodes and counting there are obviously alot out there that do. Apparently the show's title is derived from the inherent high risk of injury or death associated with the line of work.
The story of Deadliest Catch: The Game is relatively simple. You play as a crab fisherman who is trying to make a living in the Bering Sea. You'll need to manage your ship, crew, and equipment in order to catch as many crabs as possible. The game is set during the two main crab fishing seasons in the Bering Sea, the king crab season and the opilio crab season.
The story is not the main focus of the game, but it does provide some context for your actions. You'll meet other fishermen, learn about the history of crab fishing, and experience the challenges of life on the Bering Sea. The story is not particularly well-written, but it does a good job of setting the scene for the gameplay. If you're a fan of the Deadliest Catch TV show, you'll probably enjoy the story. If you're not familiar with the show, the story may not be as interesting.
Gameplay in Deadliest Catch: The Game is divided into two main phases: preparation and fishing after you choose your ship and crew.
Preparation
During the preparation phase, you'll need to manage your ship, crew, and equipment. You'll need to decide where to go fishing, what bait to use, and how many traps to set. You'll also need to assign tasks to your crew members. The preparation phase is important because it will determine your success in the fishing phase. If you don't do your research and prepare properly, you're likely to fail.
Fishing
The fishing phase is where you'll actually catch the crabs. During this phase, you'll need to monitor your traps, haul them in, and sort the crabs. You'll also need to deal with the challenges of the Bering Sea, such as storms, ice, and other fishermen. The fishing phase is challenging but if you're successful, you'll be able to catch a lot of crabs and make a lot of money. However, if you're not careful, you could lose your ship, your crew, or even your life.
I liked that there was variety of different things I had to carry out whilst playing the game. At first it felt abit overwhelming, especially for someone who had no idea of the show and what it entailed, but with some trail and error I eventually managed to get much better at everything the game wanted me to carry out.
Trap management: You'll need to set traps, monitor them, and haul them in.
Crab sorting: You'll need to sort the crabs by species and size.
Crew management: You'll need to assign tasks to your crew members.
Weather management: You'll need to monitor the weather and take precautions against storms, ice, and other hazards.
Pros:
Realistic depiction of crab fishing
Challenging gameplay
Attention to detail
Good sound effects
Cons:
AI crewmembers are not very intelligent
Can be repetitive
Graphics are not the best
Overall, Deadliest Catch: The Game is a good game for fans of the show or anyone who is interested in learning more about crab fishing. It's not perfect, but it's a solid simulation game that offers a challenging experience. It's not the prettiest game out there, and the gameplay loop does get repetitive as you play but it seems to be a decent representation of crab fishing on consoles! TOTAL SCORE: 6/10
Deadliest Catch: The Game was released onto the Xbox store on the 28th June 2023. The game is playable on Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S consoles. The game is priced at £20.99 and can be purchased HERE.
A copy of the game was provided for this review. A big thanks for that.
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