Nice Day for Fishing Review - Fishing RPG at its finest

XPN Network
Jul 27
4 min read

Updated: Aug 2

Nice Day for Fishing takes the beloved Viva La Dirt League web series and transforms it into a rich, standalone RPG on PlayStation 5. You step into the pixelated boots of Baelin, an NPC fisherman whose life is upended when the game’s adventurers vanish after a server crash. Stripped of his routine dialogue and forced to learn proper RPG mechanics, Baelin uses nothing but a trusty fishing rod and elementary spells to forge his own destiny. This review dives deep into each layer of the experience, from core mechanics and narrative threads to technical performance and replay value.

The narrative unfolds in quaint Honeywood, a sleepy lakeside town defined by its colourful residents and comedic rhythms. Baelin begins with a single line “Nice day for fishing!” and gradually unlocks dialogue options, unveiling hidden depths to characters such as Greg the Garlic Farmer and Baradun the Sorcerer. Side characters receive surprisingly robust arcs: the shy blacksmith overcomes imposter syndrome, while the town mayor wrestles with post-crash existential dread. A mid-game twist reveals a shadowy force tampering with server code, elevating the plot from light-hearted antics before it.

At its heart, Nice Day for Fishing reimagines fishing as an interactive combat system. Casting requires timing precision where your hold and release prompts register tension meters that influence the hooked fish's behaviour. Once on the line, enemies thrash, snap, and charge in call-and-response patterns that demand well-timed reels, blocks, and directional tugs. As Baelin levels up, he acquires elemental spells like ice which slows furious bass, lightning that zaps at armoured catfish, these spells add a layer of strategy to boss encounters such as the eight-limbed Kraken Trout.

Reconstructing Honeywood serves as a second gameplay pillar, weaving resource gathering into the larger loop. Materials harvested from fishing battles, including scales, fins, and barbs, become crafting ingredients for new buildings and skill shrines. Upgraded facilities grant passive perks: a remodeled dock increases casting range, while a renovated alchemy shop unlocks advanced spell crafting. Town expansions also unlock hidden fishing locales, creating a satisfying feedback loop between exploration, combat, and communal growth. Watching villagers bust out fresh storefronts and functional lampposts rewards every scrap of effort you invest

Beyond mandatory storyline quests, Nice Day for Fishing brims with NPC commissions that range from whimsical errands to mini-adventures. Tasks such as retrieving a runaway shrimp from under a bridge or winning a fish-tossing carnival game break up routine fetch quests. Hidden maps and secret alcoves encourage thorough exploration along winding riverbanks and underwater caverns. Occasional puzzle chambers reward creative fishing uses—using a heavy lead lure to break debris or casting a luminescent bobber to reveal invisible ink. Although some errands loop back to familiar docks, the sheer variety of micro-events offsets potential repetition issues.

Pixel art in Nice Day for Fishing blossoms with vibrant palettes and meticulous detail. Honeywood’s cobblestone streets, thatched-roof cottages, and glimmering water surfaces evoke a cozy fantasy postcard. Underwater vistas shift from serene kelp forests to bioluminescent grottoes, each teeming with unique fish sprites. Accompanying this is a medieval-influenced soundtrack that swells during epic boss fights and softens to gentle lute tunes along quiet shores. Voice snippets remain sparing, retaining the series’ iconic catchphrases but will leave you wanting more.

On PlayStation 5, the title delivers rock-solid performance, maintaining 60 frames per second even during intensive particle and spell effects. Loading times between towns and fishing zones hover around one to two seconds, thanks to SSD optimizations. No crashes or major bugs appeared during a 20-hour playthrough, though minor navigation hiccups arise when multiple NPCs congregate in tight spaces.

After the main campaign concludes, two additional modes extend longevity. “Endless Lake” pits you against procedurally spawned fish waves, escalating in difficulty as you chain high-score combos. “Builder’s Rush” challenges you to reconstruct Honeywood under strict time and resource constraints. Collectible journals scattered throughout the world unlock lore entries and developer commentary, offering meta insights into the Viva La Dirt League creative process. For completionists, hidden rod variants and rare fish specimens beckon from every corner of the map.

Compared to traditional fishing RPGs like Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask’s fishing mini-game or arcade-style titles such as Sega Bass Fishing, Nice Day for Fishing stands apart by weaving fight mechanics directly into the core catch experience. Its dual focus on town building places it closer to titles like Stardew Valley, though the emphasis on combat-oriented fishing remains unique. Fans of story-driven indie hits such as Undertale will appreciate the narrative wit and self-aware humour, even as the pixel style and bite-sized quests lean into modern indie design tropes.

Pros

Deep fishing-combat system with elemental spells and boss battles
Engaging town reconstruction that enhances gameplay loops
Crisp pixel art and atmospheric soundtrack
Smooth performance with DualSense integration
Robust accessibility options and adjustable difficulty

Cons

Repetitive fetch tasks can stall pacing in the mid-game
Limited full voice acting leaves some limbs of the story muted
Occasional backtracking to familiar areas
Meta humour may not resonate with all audiences

Check out friend of XPN - GRIMREAPERSAGE's Gameplay

Nice Day for Fishing stands as a vibrant, inventive indie RPG that breathes fresh life into virtual angling. Its core novelty, melding fishing and combat creates dynamic challenges that evolve over an engaging 20ish hour campaign. Town building injects further incentive, rewarding careful resource management and exploration with tangible upgrades. While occasional quest repetition and sparse voice work temper the shine, this title remains a stellar showcase of how clever mechanics and warm-hearted worldbuilding can redefine a niche genre. Whether you’re a fan of the original skits or simply craving an offbeat RPG twist, Baelin’s journey is well worth casting your line for!

XPN Rating: 4 out of 5 (Gold)