One thing that Dovetail Games has always been very good at with its fishing titles in the past, is the amount of extra content that gets released on a regular basis. For each of the three last titles – some of the finest fishing games available in Euro Fishing, Fishing Sim World and The Catch: Carp & Coarse – the content packs have been pretty extensive, adding in new lakes, new boss fish and even whole new species to have a crack at. So, with the release of the first expansion pack for Bassmaster Fishing 2022, that of the Predator Equipment Pack, rising from the depths, what can we expect to find when we open the package?
The Predator Equipment Pack, is the first bit of new DLC for Bassmaster Fishing 2022, promising to expand our fishing experience. Unfortunately it does not do so in any meaningful way. You see, this pack, while welcome, seems somewhat slight when compared to the additions from other games in the Dovetail range of fishing titles. There are no new lakes, no new species and not even any new achievements tied to this DLC, and as such I can’t help but feel a little short changed. But enough about what isn’t there, how about we try and be positive and see what is there instead…
So, first off, we get to buy, using in-game currency, some new rods and reels to help with our fishy pursuits. There are a total of four new rods, I assume from a company called Favorite, which I have never heard of this side of the pond. These feature such dynamic names as the “Jackhammer” spinning rod, and to complement them, there are also four new reels to try out, again from Favorite, and again featuring dynamic names like the “Fire Stick” casting reel, or the mighty “Jackhammer” spinning reel. Honestly, in Bassmaster Fishing 2022 it is difficult to tell the difference between the rods and it certainly doesn’t make much of a difference to the rate at which you catch fish, anyway!
In addition to the new rods and reels, new lures have been introduced to try and winkle those “big ol’ toes” out of their watery lairs. There are ten of these new lures to try out, and they come from well known companies such as Bagley and 13 Fishing. With names like the “Flatty Daddy”, these new lures certainly look the part. However, I haven’t noticed a significant rise in the numbers or quality of the fish taken by these lures, and to be honest, I tend to just fall back on my old faithful Fire Tiger pattern plug as it seems to work well. Still, more choice is never a bad thing I guess.
The rest of the content of the Predator Equipment Pack is purely cosmetic, and if there’s one thing I care less about than catching Bass, it’s looking trendy when I am catching virtual Bass. Now, the cosmetic stuff starts with your trusty speed boat, as there are four new wraps available to make you look groovy. One of these, the Predator wrap, is actually pretty cool, making the boat look like an old WWII warplane with a big shark mouth on the front. The others are less enticing, although you’d think the Camo wrap would help you not stick out like a sore thumb on the lake, wouldn’t you? Still, after you’ve roared about the lake at about a million miles an hour, you’d think looking inconspicuous might be a bit like bolting the stable door after the horse has already run away…
You can also coordinate your look with your boat, should you wish, as there are ten new items of clothing to purchase and wear, at least if that’s your bag. A camo jacket, an official Bagley hoodie, or an inferno snood – you will be the belle of the ball.
In conclusion and I can’t help but feel somewhat let down by Bassmaster Fishing 2022’s Predator Equipment Pack. The new rods, reels and lures are forgettable, the way the boat and the character you control look is meaningless to many, and all in all it just feels less than substantial. No new fish, lakes, or even any achievements in an expansion is a change from the usual Dovetail policy, and I’m not overly keen on it. If you have to have a “Favorite” rod or a Bagley lure, then more power to your elbow, but this feels like a wasted opportunity.
You can pick up the Predator Equipment Pack from the Xbox Store
