The Black Bass (NES) Playthrough - NintendoComplete

A playthrough of Hot-B's 1989 fishing game for the NES, The Black Bass.
This video shows a day of the tournament played and won at each of the game's four lakes:
0:35 Lake Amada, Class C
32:45 Lake Japan, Class B
1:25:03 Lake More, Class A
2:09:54 San Lake, Class A
Even though the tournament lasts for twelve days, winning each class always nets the same exact cutscene, and there is nothing at the end of the tournament besides a black screen that says the tournament is over, regardless of if you won or lost. I didn't really think that showing all of that was necessary after winning each of the classes.
But yeah, The Blass Bass - this is one of the strangest of my childhood favorites right here. I've always hated fishing. It's boring, it smells awful, I get hideously sea sick, and I feel bad for the fish. It's not an activity that has ever appealed much to me.
But one of my friends in middle school had this cart. Apparently his dad was a fishing nut - I mean who else bought The Black Bass? Anyways, after trading games enough times and going through most of his library, I finally gave this one a shot. I had beaten most of his other games at that point, so it at least was something new and novel to me.
It took me about three seconds to become hopelessly addicted. It was so odd - it was the slowest, most drawn-out "action" I'd seen in an NES cart - but something about it was so compelling.
I'm pretty sure it wasn't the barely functional graphics or the endless drone of a couple catchy musical loops playing in the background, either.
I'm not sure if it was figuring out the color and weight of the lures that did it, or if it was figuring out how to make the bait dance effectively to get the huge fish. It was damned fun, though. I spent forever combing each lake searching for the key message ("HERE IS NICE BASS POINT"), and far, far longer seeking out the elusive whale-sized bass in the A-class lakes, even when it meant that after 20 minutes of fighting and having the fish nearly in the boat, it would jump and somehow manage to unhook itself. I didn't catch any Moby Dicks here, but I did receive the hilariously awkward (yet understated) message, "IT'S BIG!!" a few times. I believe my biggest catch in this video was somewhere around 18-19 lbs. The fish looks like Jurassic Park: The Bass when you're fighting it. Maybe an adjective less generic than "big", or at least one that was somewhat less filled with innuendo, would've better served there. It makes me laugh so hard every time. It just doesn't get old.
The Black Bass is not a casual-friendly quick-play, but it is a fair representation of its sport. But as much as I hate real fishing, I really find The Black Bass to be super-engaging, even now. Most fishing games I won't touch, but like Sega Bass Fishing, with The Black Bass, once I get into it, several hours disappear in a blink.
Maybe it's better not to try to rationalize some things. If you want a novel NES experience, put your reservations on hold and just try it. You might love it. It's well worth the $5 it'll cost you at any flea market or thrift shop. If you hate it, well, it was only $5, right? No worse than if someone at Starbucks screwed up your coffee!
But then again, if when you reach the bottom of the cup you read the words "HERE IS NICE BASS POINT"...
Random question: did anyone else think that the box looked striking similar to Bases Loaded's? Both had a white box, giant red lettering in very similar fonts, and paintings instead of photos?
_
No cheats were used during the recording of this video.
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[@Phantasiafan87]

I almost cried watching this. This was a game I had as a child and one of the last games my parents used to play. Haven’t heard those sounds/songs and seen the graphics in probably over 20 years. Thanks man

[@michaelwiley678]

I hear ya man. It tends to be the music and sounds of these games that tug at my heart strings more than the actual game itself. I was 8 or 9 when these games came out and would give anything to go back and not face the hell of being an adult

[@Guiltless765]

Buy an NES and buy the game.Not all that difficult.

[@Phantasiafan87]

@@Guiltless765 already have both in my house somewhere. Try again?

[@aronkaspar6369]

The black ass lives on

[@cockmcballsss]

I played this game for HUNDREDS of hours. . .and I totally felt the same, an intense nostalgia, and I felt emotional. Really weird and unexpected. . .but its a testament to how much fun we all had playing this game. Its STILL my favorite bass fishing game of all time. And I fish professional bass tourneys now.

[@NintendoComplete]

The Black Bass is one of the NES games I most fondly remember from my childhood. I still don't quite understand why, but it's an awesome game regardless.

[@Invidente7]

Why do you felt bad for the fish?

[@NintendoComplete]

@@Invidente7 I don't like hurting things is all. Especially not just for sport and entertainment.

[@nikitawineberger8973]

@@NintendoComplete Damn, fishes are too delicious to never hurt them. You sound like a total vegan.

[@NintendoComplete]

@@nikitawineberger8973 Well now, food doesn't really count as sporting and entertainment, does it?

[@nikitawineberger8973]

@@NintendoComplete but it never was. Why did you ask this?

[@hgbugalou]

I use to play this game with my dad. It seems so simplistic and crude, but boy was it fun. I remember jumping up and down when my dad was fighting a big bass and was only inches from the net because they can and would jump off and you would lose it being so close. It was thrilling for a boy. Easily one of my favorite NES titles. The fight and trophy music are so memorable I hum them to myself sometimes to this day. I think the game's simplicity combined with the music and the thrill of the fight and waiting to see the results is why so many people like this.

[@exorphitus]

"The Fish Goes Away!" Pretty much sums up my experience with this game as a child.

[@oaw972]

Lol

[@aronkaspar6369]

"the fish goes away" sums up my life

[@oncesanora]

A lot of us here with similar stories huh? I used to watch my dad play this game in awe. For the longest time I thought I imagined it. All I could remember was the dying fish icon.

[@joncooper1145]

This was so great. As a child I got so excited when the shadows would show up and man.... the memories! Thanks for the content!

[@LadyAmdis]

I was 3 when this game came out, and my dad got it for himself. I remember the music best while watching him play it.

[@anthonygerling6365]

Looked up this game up just for the music alone, it's so memorable and well done. Didn't play it much or at least I tried to. It was too difficult for my 7-year-old brain and just went back to mega Man 2 most of the time.

[@nameless646]

This helped me "untangle" some random thoughts that had been "fused" together. I remember playing this and wearing some teal overalls that had fish on them in 1990/1991. I'd previously remembered the first lake map having a Doppler radar image plastered over it in my head, playing Mario, and disco music commercials haha. I'd always fish with the "blue umbrella".

[@justreallybored6014]

This is a game I would play till 4am at a friends house during sleepovers in middle school, or rent for myself on a weekend. Its terribly frustrating due to the random jumps that will throw your lure after fighting a fish for 20 minutes. The SNES version cleared a lot of the issues up, and though it was still flawed, was a tremendous game itself.

[@BUILDTHATWALLL]

I hope they put this one on the throwback collection for the switch. This and Zelda were my games from the late 80s

[@joshuariddensdale2126]

What most people don't know (even I only found this out from Wikipedia), is that this is actually The Black Bass 2. The first game was exclusive to Japan. Which is why this game is titled The Black Blass USA.

[@YoutubeKiller]

Yes and they had a Japan sequel as well. Been nice we got both the Japan original and the second one. By time it would reach us they had already went to snes and super black bass

[@joshuariddensdale2126]

@@KZbinKiller I never had a SNES as a kid, only Sega Genesis. So my next fishing games were Bassmaster Classic Pro Edition and TNN Fishing '96.

[@YoutubeKiller]

@@joshuariddensdale2126 it was improved tons. But they made the battles more easier. But added where the fish can try to roll off the hook and head coming out the water. For Sega did you ever try king salmon it is a really good one

[@azalago]

I'm pretty sure this game has consumed a bit of my soul. I was 6 when this came out and I was addicted.

[@NintendoComplete]

I feel you.

[@Rushyesgenesis]

I love the random bearded guy on the invitation

[@PhatBoyFresh]

I could listen to that menu music for hours. It reminds me of home, but good God that sound of reeling in a fish is as dimensional-tearing as I remember.

[@bigduke5902]

When I was a kid, and this might sound ridiculous, I always found it very posh that this game was called The Black Bass, not simply Black Bass. That's class.

[@SuperToombs]

my favorite fishing game of all time.

[@phoebev1]

this music just broke my heart for some reason 🥹

[@SpokenBroke]

I loved this game so much as a kid. I had no idea I'd end up with an old yellow pickup truck and an aluminum boat, doing the real thing :)

[@Plombo_5]

Watching that last fight was something else. I loved this game. Wait STILL love this game.

[@prkchpsnaplsaws2322]

One of the GOAT soundtracks in all of gaming

[@Magnet977]

The game title "The Black Bass" makes it sound like you're hunting some kind of evil intergalactic mutant bass that's trying to destroy the world.

[@NintendoComplete]

I'd like to play that version.

[@jayflash9051]

Soundtrack is straight 8 -bit 🔥

[@Wheels8504]

Didn't know about this growing up. My family had The Blue Marlin.

[@Wheels8504]

@@amishsattelitedish8615 Yes it was

[@5150Swordfish]

Does anyone know how/why the lure comes back at 19:07? I remember that just happening randomly, but I also didn't know you could pull the hook when you had a fish on.

[@NintendoComplete]

I dunno, I think maybe it's just at the top of the screen so its arcing downward and it just looks like it's coming back?

[@YoutubeKiller]

Limitations of the nes . Pretty much to keep a soft Lock the game moved the lure to closer coding. I had one soft Lock in the tree level in San lake

[@5150Swordfish]

@@KZbinKiller makes since

[@bk-lx6cb]

I'm proud to say I beat this game as a young kid ..... pure nostalgia

[@joshuariddensdale2126]

I played this game to death as a kid, though I never could get past the final lake.

[@justinlaboy6837]

woah so much nostalgia with this one. Its been a while since i heard these sounds

[@NintendoComplete]

Right? That music is an instant jolt to way back

[@Dirty_Farmer_1977]

I was thinking thete was a bigger bass...you finally got it in the end..nice job..i dont think i ever landed that one when i was a kid

[@SuperBoomshack]

Good game to play when its raining outside but you want to fish

[@davidlarsen-tj4tn]

Remember playing this with a buddy while we hammered beers. Woke up the next day to the screen frozen with a fish that got away.

[@Dirty_Farmer_1977]

Loved playing this game

[@MrSuperspeedsonic]

You reminded me that I want to buy the Konami's fishing game for PS2. I think this sort of games are just like the golf and soccer games, they are fun for burn the time.

[@Unstoppabull]

the Red Pencil Bait is the Golden Gun form GoldenEye.

[@Mjolonir12]

Last game I remember I could get the whole family to play as a kid.

[@BearsDenOneinVain]

I miss this game! I been playing on acradspot, but they do not have this black bass game...

[@mrpalmer3978]

This is the kind of game you got stuck with when you were at your grandmas house and there was nothing good to rent at the video store

[@robertanderson2898]

It's MUCH easier when you do a half cast or less, then you don't have to reel the fish in forever. That last fish though! WOW........

[@YoutubeKiller]

tab b button to slow down monsters. along with great timing you can land over 20 everytime . This game was more about patterns than actual fishing. In super black bass they made it more about the battles than the patterns

[@CrystalFox311]

classic! played when I was so young !

[@eyeln9ne696]

Holy Schnikeys! Thank you, you beautiful bastard!

[@NintendoComplete]

Hahahaha! You're quite welcome, I'm so glad someone else shares my enthusiasm for this game!

[@eyeln9ne696]

@@NintendoComplete I have the upmost respect for you and your channel. I'm 38 years old, so I was lucky enough to experience and to grow up with every generation of console, starting with the 2600. So everyday after work I get my nostalgia high taken care because of you. Keep up the amazing work, and once again, thank you.

[@NintendoComplete]

@@eyeln9ne696 Thanks, that's really cool of you to say, and much appreciated :) I know what you mean. I'm 37. My first system was a 2600, and then the NES, and I've had something from every generation since. It's amazing what huge difference 20 or 30 years makes, isn't it? Kinda hard to actually conceive of the differences there are so many at this point, but these old ones are still great.

[@Rushyesgenesis]

My grandma bought an NES and I’m pretty sure she got this game for my grandpa. I never got past the first level when I played this though 😂😂

[@volvoguy804]

You should do a playthrough of Super Black Bass on the SNES. I always find myself going back to it.

[@hanchiman]

You going to try the SNES version too?

[@NintendoComplete]

Maybe? I know nothing about that one. Never played it before.

[@YoutubeKiller]

@@NintendoComplete super black bass

[@YoutubeKiller]

not to self promote i did the first two lakes and a bit of the third before my video card messed up on super black bass on my channel

[@luciebureau6815]

I didn’t know there were fishing games in the NES ! Nice discovery. It looks more entertaining than the fishing parts in Sonic Adventure(i played the DX version). PS : yesterday, i watched an AVGN video about a game called Plumbers Don’t Wear Ties. It was one of weirdest games i’ve ever seen ! If i can call that a game... Well done walkthrough anyway, NC.

[@NintendoComplete]

I have Plumbers Don't Wear Ties! It's like playing a PowerPoint presentation It's so bad! Hahahaha

[@luciebureau6815]

NintendoComplete i know. I watched your walkthrough. You put it on your FMV section, but i think you should put it on a new playlist : the unclassifiable.

[@NintendoComplete]

@@luciebureau6815 You're probably right. Black Bass is much better :D

[@cartwrightworm1317]

I probably haven’t see this in at least 30 years. So simple yet frustrating. I never got very far.

[@sprinter82]

3:01:00 **gives you golden scale**

[@michaelshepard9824]

I have a friend that claims that your character can die in this game. He said he can't recall all of the details but remembers seeing a gravestone and being kicked out to the main menu. 😂😂😂

[@foxmulder4318]

I prefer Breath of Fire 3's fishing mini game, lol.

[@Des_Zee]

You should try reel fishing: the great outdoors for PSP. I'd rather play a fishing video game than a golf one anytime.

[@NESDwayne]

There was no 32 bit psp at the time of the release of the black bass. You're missing the point. This game has allot of nostalgic value.

[@bradleycopeland4393]

i used to put on reel fishing and take naps just listening to the water and background sounds.

[@LarryCoffer]

many hours played on this game

[@xenofett7008]

Oh! Black Bass by Hot Beef, oops I meant Hot Bee.

[@robertanderson2898]

I thought it would only show bass being caught, the other fish are just a waste of time. I will probably watch this entire thing. I still have a password somewhere to the final lake, the biggest fish are HUGE!!!

[@robertanderson2898]

Well, lol the 2nd fish you took it off the hook when it wasn't a bass either, Disregard my opening statement. 😁

[@bradhedgehog12]

Hmmm you seem good at this. The I rated gamer had trouble with that game while reviewing Jaws the game.

[@deividbx]

For best results watch this at 2x

[@johnthomas-km2bf]

yeah, blue marlin was the more fun of the two, but i played this one some too

[@RagingRowen]

I tried this one along with Blue Marlin, It's annoying that in this game, you have to use the password everytime you want to continue because it basically quits the game after each day, it may have been ok back in the "noting down passwords" age but it's annoying in the age of emulators with savestates. I honestly prefer Blue Marlin because it has better sounds and music and it's easier to connect with fish because of the lack of the "THE FISH GOES AWAY" as long as you know what you're doing.

[@krystalfan]

its ok but it will never beat ocarina of time and twilight princess' fishing holes

[@shanegglacelle2422]

Am I the only one that was frightened of this game as a child?

[@lucky43113]

yes

[@firestar4407]

Hot-B? Was this made by the creators of that crappy rpg Stargazer?

[@brettjaniec3933]

I want to win the lotto, so I will write to you…

[@PynkNoir]

that’s my name too (: