The starting signal is launched. Yesterday Friday, October 16, sea fishing enthusiasts were finally able to take charge of the successor of Fishing Barents Sea. Still developed by MiscGames, but self-published, North Atlantic takes us across the ocean to Nova Scotia on a 200 × 300 km sea.
The principle of the game has not changed one iota. You have to go to sea, in all weathers and all types of weather to bring fish back to the various ports for sale. The game interface allows you to get started right away, and the getting started tutorial is quick and intuitive. Unlike its predecessor, Fishing North Atlantic gets you started with a brand new boat, not an old wooden tub, which you can always improve in the shop. Engine, fishing quota, equipment, crew, all the ingredients that had allowed progress in Barents Sea are present. The big difference is therefore to be found elsewhere.
Unreal Engine 4 works wonders on the water
The first observation that the player, new or old, will make is the quality of the rendering of the water. Graphically, the MiscGames team has completely revised the physics and appearance of the ocean. So much so that, on a portion of the sea, it would be almost impossible to tell the difference between a photo and the game. Even the foam is generated and pushes the realism even further into detail.
And graphics enthusiasts will be happy to hear that the optimization is excellent. Where it was once difficult to get the Ultra settings without stopping the FPS counter, Fishing North Atlantique offers an "Epic" mode that does not weaken the 1070 Ti which supports my aging Intel Core i7 8700. We appreciate the work. made by developers.
Simulation mode activated
In short, Fishing North Atlantic places the cursor on the simulation side rather than the arcade. In “Mission” mode, it is impossible to make a “fast trip”, and it takes several hours to get from point A to point B, with the ocean as the only backdrop. You will need to properly manage your fuel, your fatigue, that of your crew, and the condition of your equipment before each outing. It is professional fishing and not the small leisure outing. Fortunately, to pass the time, the excellent "Simulator Radio" will keep you company, in dry or rainy weather.
The fishing techniques of the previous opus are all reinstated here: cod, haddock, mackerel, saithe, redfish, silver hake, but also, more sporty, swordfish or tuna fishing, as well as lobster or crab pots of snow. For the ships, I personally haven't unlocked everything yet, but the range goes from the 9m “small boat” to the big trawler.
If it were possible to spend several hundred hours of playing on the Barents Sea, there is no doubt that we will spend even more time on the Canadian coast. The game is available on PC Steam for now, and on PS4 and Xbox One in early 2021.