Legend of the River King

by Gameboy Color (GBC)

Product Features

• Gameoby Color Game
• Fun for All Ages

Product Details

• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B00001ZWQ0
• Media: Game Cartridge
• Release Date: November 23, 1999
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #21,390 in Video Games (See Top 100 in Video Games)

Product Description

Editorial Review

Most fishing games provide a detailed fishing simulation and nothing else, but Legend of the River King adds some role-playing elements to the mix that considerably freshen the gameplay. Apparently, you are searching for a legendary fish that can cure your sister's illness. But this weak storyline really just provides an excuse to roam the world trying to catch every species of fish in the game.

Catching fish may not be as exciting as rounding up hundreds of different types of Pokémon, but it is surprisingly satisfying. As the game progresses, players gain access to different fishing poles, various types of bait, and other fishing accessories that let them land the bigger and more exotic catches. The role-playing elements are fairly lightweight, so hardcore RPG fans will likely be more amused than challenged. Still, these elements do help break up the monotony of the fishing tasks. There's even an entertaining virtual pet game that lets you hatch a fish and raise it. It thrives or dies depending on the amount and type of attention it gets, and even mutates into new species depending on the environment you establish for it. Legend of the River King is more relaxing than exciting, just as a good fishing game should be. --T. Byrl Baker

Pros:

• Nice graphics
• Role-playing elements are unique
• Relaxing gameplay

Cons:

• Requires more patience than skill

Product Description

One of the oddest titles to come out for the Game Boy Color is Legend of the River King, which combines the structure of a role-playing game with the mechanics of a fishing game. Sound strange? It is.

This game contains numerous fishing locales to explore and conquer. In each area you can collect new fishing rods, lures, and other items used to catch up to 40 different fish. As you snatch up more fish, you can trade your catches for cash at the local fish markets. Your fishing journey will also be complicated by encounters with hungry animals anxious to fight for your fish. Perhaps taking a cue from Tamagotchi, this sleeper title also contains a virtual pet function. Begin with an empty aquarium that must be filled with the proper amount of water and other essentials. Before long, your baby fish will bloom into a full grown adult--unless, of course, you neglect to care for it.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Game, January 9, 2000

By A Customer

= Durability:5.0 out of 5 stars  = Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars  = Educational:5.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Legend of the River King (Game Cartridge)

This game is really fun. You have to catch fish and sell them to buy better fishing supplies, while looking for a magic fish. You can even take care of a pet fish. I played for 5 hrs. last night and now my daughter is playing. The more I played the game the more I liked it!

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Patience, I don't have., January 8, 2001

By 

Altso Nonaz (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Legend of the River King (Game Cartridge)

I thought this game would be cool...like Zelda but with an angler angle. I expected it to be like fishing at the lake with Zelda in Ocarina (N64). OH, I was wrong; this game is not so cool at all.

There are two modes to this game: Raise and Fish. The raise portion is interesting because you get to set up a fish tank, feed and care for your fish and watch him/her grow. As the fish grows it morphs into different types of fish. If you take good care of your fishy you get to watch it change and grow. Yippie (read: boring).

The "fish" mode is your typical adventure game; you have to catch certain types of fish and give them to chattering people who stand around the water's edge. Fishing is HARD...but the booklet has some pointers (and a map that shows where the different kinds of fish hang out). When a fish circles around your line and you hear a sustained beep, then it's time to reel him in. Push the A button and you'll see an underwater view. Wait until the fish stops swimming away--he'll tire pretty quickly--once he stops, push and hold A to reel him in. If he pulls back, then let go of A and let him run away for a little while. Once he tires again, repeat the reeling process. Eventually you'll catch one. If the fish steals the bait, then try a different size hook or a different type of rod. It took me ages to figure out how to catch the darn cutthroat trout!

You can also catch random fish and sell them in the shop to get gold. Then you can take your gold to the shop and buy supplies, bait & equipment. You'll eventually get a raft so you can float and fish at the same time. Don't bother paddling your raft because you'll collapse and be sent to the hotel with only 1 health point remaining.

Doesn't that sound fun??

This game is a little too much like real fishing (without the beer and sunshine). You cast your line and wait...and wait...and wait. ARGH! Your patience will be drained quickly.

I like video games because my attention span is short and I need all the quick-action/reaction stuff. This game makes me YAWN (a cure for insomnia?). There are action-packed moments when you have to fight spiders, monkeys, bears, snakes and other foes; those fights are incredibly dull. The fight works like this: a little fist image floats around your foe and if you hit the A button when the fist is on the animal, you get a hit (a hit to the head defeats most foes quickly). You'll get experience points by defeating foes, but I still haven't figured out what experience points do for you.

If you like real fishing and you have reserves of patience, then you'd probably like this game. I don't *hate* it, I just wish it was more exciting; maybe that's why I don't ever go fishing.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A really cool game, October 23, 2001

By 

"cbudd21" (UK) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Legend of the River King (Game Cartridge)

This game is quite hard to start with. At the beginning you have a small amount of money and you have to learn how to fish properly pretty fast. It took me a while to figure out how to catch the fish and I got a bit annoyed with it after half an hour of playing and still not catching any fish. The booklet helps you a bit but it doesn't give you detailed instructions on how to fish properly. After you've learned how to fish, the game is very enjoyable and it isn't that hard to follow. I really enjoyed playing this, and even if you don't really like fishing in real life, you should still give this game a try.