The Big Catch Tackle Box Review: A Challenging Platformer

Dive into a world of challenging platforming with The Big Catch Tackle Box, a game that reimagines the genre with its unique fishing mechanic. Forget simple jumps and collectibles; here, you're tasked with catching fish—fish with legs that run! This innovative twist demands quick reflexes and strategic thinking, creating a compelling and surprisingly complex gameplay experience. Prepare for a steep learning curve; this isn't a casual stroll through a whimsical world. Mastering the controls and navigating the treacherous environments will test your patience and persistence, rewarding dedicated players with a profound sense of accomplishment.Explore a vibrant and colorful open world filled with diverse environments, hidden collectibles, and a satisfying sense of progression. The Big Catch Tackle Box offers a rewarding journey of discovery, with each new area presenting unique challenges and platforming puzzles. While the demanding difficulty and the crucial, albeit sometimes frustrating, coin-collection endgame might not be for everyone, the game's overall design, immersive world, and dedicated developers make it a truly unforgettable experience. Best of all? It's free!

Pros And Cons

Big Catch Tackle Box
  • Super fun
  • Exceedingly well-designed platforming
  • Open world
  • Feels like traversing through Wind Waker
  • Good music
  • Well-made controls (after getting used to them)
  • Sense of controlling a beast
  • Fun platforming challenges in different zones (trampolining, fireball-throwing tree, spiraling nature zone, temple)
  • Save points
  • Good progression
  • Well-put-together open world
  • Dev team is responsive to community feedback and actively fixing issues.
  • Incredibly difficult
  • High skill gap
  • A lot of falling
  • Strict amount of coins needed to beat the game
  • Few and far between enemies
  • Enemies only drop coins once (unless you don't pick them up).

Read more: 5 Best Small Fishing Tackle Boxes for Anglers

Unique Gameplay: Fishing with Legs

The Big Catch Tackle Box isn't your average platformer. Instead of simply jumping and collecting items, you're tasked with catching fish—fish with legs that can run! This unusual mechanic adds a layer of complexity to the gameplay, requiring quick reflexes and strategic thinking.

Gameplay footage showing a fish with legs running away.
Gameplay footage showing a fish with legs running away.

The core gameplay loop involves traversing diverse environments, hunting down these nimble fish, and collecting coins. The world is vibrant and colorful, adding a playful aesthetic to the otherwise challenging experience.

The player character collecting a fish.
The player character collecting a fish.

This isn't just about catching the fish; you also need to collect them and bring them back to a mentor character, adding another layer of puzzle and objective-based gameplay to the experience.

Challenging Platforming and Skill Gap

Prepare for a challenge! The platforming in The Big Catch Tackle Box is notoriously difficult, demanding precision timing and skillful execution. Falls are frequent, especially in the early stages, but the satisfying feeling of overcoming a challenging section makes it worthwhile.

Gameplay showcasing a fall.
Gameplay showcasing a fall.

The game features a steep learning curve, with a significant skill gap between beginners and experienced players. While this may frustrate some, it also rewards dedicated players with a sense of accomplishment.

The controls are well-designed, though mastering them takes time and practice. It's a game that tests patience and persistence—if you're looking for a relaxing game, look elsewhere. However, for those who enjoy a true challenge, this is a great experience

Open World Exploration and Progression

The Big Catch Tackle Box offers an open world to explore, filled with various structures, artifacts, and hidden collectibles. The sense of discovery is palpable, making exploration feel rewarding and immersive.

Screenshot showcasing the open world environment.
Screenshot showcasing the open world environment.

The game features a satisfying sense of progression. As you collect items and master new platforming techniques, you unlock new areas and challenges. This makes the journey enjoyable and rewarding. The game gives you plenty to discover and collect.

Gameplay in a trampoline zone.
Gameplay in a trampoline zone.

Each new zone presents unique challenges, keeping the gameplay fresh and engaging. From massive trampoline zones to spiraling towers, the variety keeps things interesting.

Coin Collection and Endgame

A significant aspect of the game is the coin collection. These coins play a crucial role in progressing the story and unlocking the ending. The specific number of coins required adds another layer of challenge and mystery.

Screenshot of the coin-collecting mechanic.
Screenshot of the coin-collecting mechanic.

One of the game's main gripes is the relatively small number of enemies, which drop coins. This can make the final coin hunt tedious, particularly when the player needs to backtrack across previously explored areas. While there is a new feature to help with this, it's still a point of contention for some players.

Screenshot showing the large amount of coins that needs to be collected.
Screenshot showing the large amount of coins that needs to be collected.

The final challenge involves collecting all the coins, creating a rewarding yet potentially frustrating endgame experience. The game requires you to be attentive during your exploration and to meticulously backtrack to collect every coin, otherwise you won't be able to progress

Overall Impression and Conclusion

The Big Catch Tackle Box is a challenging but ultimately rewarding platformer. It stands out with its unique fishing gameplay mechanic and high skill ceiling. The game is not for everyone, but for players who enjoy difficult and engaging platformers, The Big Catch Tackle Box is a must-try.

While the difficulty and the coin-collection endgame might deter some, the game's overall design, vibrant world, and satisfying sense of progression make it a unique and unforgettable experience. It's also free!

The developers' responsiveness to community feedback shows their dedication to improving the game, further enhancing its overall value and demonstrating commitment to the players.