Hooked Inc: Fishing Games
- September 24, 2018
- Lion Studios
- 3h median play time
Hooked Inc: Fishing Games is a Simulation game that offers an interesting plot and good gameplay, accompanied by outstanding graphics and a marvelous soundtrack. However, players should be prepared for a lot of grinding, frequent ads, and some bugs. The game is also filled with humor and emotion, and it describes itself as an "Idle Tycoon Boat Simulator," providing a unique and engaging experience.
Reviews
- Fun and addictive gameplay with a unique swiping mechanic.
- Minimal intrusive ads; players can choose to watch ads for rewards.
- Visually appealing graphics and a relaxing atmosphere.
- Frequent forced ads even when opting out of watching for rewards.
- Progress often resets, causing frustration and loss of upgrades.
- High costs for upgrades and crew members lead to a grindy experience.
- monetization3,381 mentions
- 5 % positive mentions
- 2 % neutral mentions
- 94 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game has received overwhelmingly negative feedback from users, primarily due to the excessive number of ads, including forced ads that appear even when players opt out of watching them for rewards. Many players express frustration over the misleading nature of in-app purchases that claim to remove ads but often do not eliminate all advertising, leading to a perception of the game as a cash grab. While some users appreciate the option to watch ads for bonuses, the overall sentiment indicates that the ad frequency significantly detracts from the gameplay experience.
“Good balance, easy to understand and manageable when it comes to microtransactions.”
“No ads unless you specifically click to watch an ad for a spin or extra perks for a minute.”
“No ads, which is a pleasure, and it's a nice game to play when tired, requires little to no thinking, and is calming in its own way.”
“Not a too bad idle game but certainly not the best, and it has so many ads compared to other games it's ridiculous.”
“However for a game that relies so heavily on ads, it is very annoying when the ads do not work half of the time and just cause the screen to blackout and needing the game to be closed and reopened.”
“This game went from a super fun (5 stars previously) idle game to a cash grab for the devs. They started putting forced ads without the option to skip them (some as long as a minute in length).”
- graphics438 mentions
- 73 % positive mentions
- 24 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received overwhelmingly positive feedback, with many users praising their quality, smoothness, and aesthetic appeal. Players appreciate the vibrant colors and cute art style, which contribute to a relaxing gaming experience. However, some reviews mention that while the graphics are generally good, there is room for improvement, particularly in areas like water effects and character design.
“The graphics are amazing and the gameplay is fun and a great time killer.”
“The graphics are really nice and the game is fun and a great time killer.”
“The graphics are stunning, this game is exactly the quality that I hoped for!”
“The graphics aren't polished enough to make me think the game offers much when I get demotivated to play.”
“I absolutely hate this game, the graphics are terrible, the idea is lame and boring, it resets every second and it asks you to buy in-game currency which is annoying.”
“The graphics are very cartoonish and high quality, but the gameplay is monotonous due to the nature of the game (fish, upgrade, repeat).”
- gameplay381 mentions
- 52 % positive mentions
- 43 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game is generally described as simple, addictive, and enjoyable, with a satisfying swiping mechanic for catching fish. However, many users express frustration over the excessive number of ads that interrupt gameplay, making it difficult to progress without spending money. While the graphics and overall mechanics receive praise, the reliance on ads and occasional bugs detract from the overall experience, leading to mixed feelings about long-term engagement.
“The gameplay is fun enough, but it's nearly impossible to enjoy the game for all the ads and pop-ups.”
“Gameplay is smooth, graphics are fun.”
“The gameplay is simple and nice, but can't overshadow the big negative.”
“The gameplay is frustrating and requires you to watch buckets of ads to get anywhere.”
“Far too many ads interrupting the gameplay.”
“Gameplay slows to a crawl the more you progress, and it takes forever to actually advance.”
- stability172 mentions
- 3 % positive mentions
- 4 % neutral mentions
- 92 % negative mentions
The game's stability has been a significant concern among users, with many reporting frequent freezes, crashes, and glitches, particularly during ad interactions and loading screens. While some players have experienced smooth gameplay, the overwhelming feedback highlights a persistent issue with the game failing to save progress and often becoming unresponsive. Overall, the game's stability issues detract from the enjoyment, leading to frustration and potential abandonment by players.
“I love it so far; no ads, no glitches, no bugs. Runs smoothly and it's pretty fun to pass the time or just play it. I recommend it to other mobile players.”
“Absolutely addicted to this game! It's the most relaxing game I've played. Can't really complain about anything (no ads, no glitches) just a perfect game for me. Really worth the download.”
“I really love this game; the music is relaxing and there aren't any glitches or lag. I wasn't sure if I'd like the game, but I do.”
“Glitches happen, but not being able to even launch into the game after 6 tries is a critical failure.”
“The game constantly freezes and won't save my progress after watching ads.”
“Every time I watch an ad or something else that sort of pops me out of the game for a moment, the game crashes upon finishing the ad, everything on my phone goes black and freezes for 15 seconds or so, and I sometimes don't get my reward.”
- music120 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally described as calming and soothing, enhancing the relaxing atmosphere while playing. However, many users express a desire for more variety in the soundtrack, suggesting that the repetitive nature of the current music can become tedious over time. Overall, while the music contributes positively to the gaming experience, players would appreciate options for customization and additional tracks to keep the experience fresh.
“A nice relaxing game with soothing music and basic yet effective visuals.”
“The music is soothing but there could be improvements.”
“The music is really relaxing too.”
“The soundtrack is repetitive, so turn off the music for the game and play music off your phone or in about 10 minutes into playing with the music on you will want to rip your eardrums out.”
“I wish there were more music tracks in the game, something like one or more music tracks for each biome you progress to, perhaps?”
“The only things that I would say need improvement is the soundtrack; this game looks great but it's lacking some good music.”
- story118 mentions
- 31 % positive mentions
- 65 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The game's story is generally well-received, with many players appreciating its engaging plot and lore that encourages extended play. However, some users express frustration with repetitive missions and a lack of clarity in quest requirements, which can hinder progression. Overall, while the narrative adds depth to the gameplay, improvements in quest design and clarity are suggested to enhance the experience.
“I love this game! The story is amazing!”
“Incredible! The plot is amazing and I find it really fun!”
“Awesome game! Great graphics and gameplay, also a good story behind how it's like you're on a journey to defeat your rival in a fishing war. I love it! Highly recommended in my opinion.”
“The missions are repetitive and some of the rare fish consist of '???' with no indication on how to catch them.”
“There is no real story; unless you pay to win, you can't even make it to the end.”
“The game doesn't keep track of what I have done, like upgrades and missions.”
- grinding99 mentions
- 2 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 98 % negative mentions
The reviews indicate that the game features significant grinding, which many players find tedious and frustrating, especially at lower levels where progress can feel slow and repetitive. While some appreciate the challenge and find the gameplay engaging, others express dissatisfaction with the high costs of upgrades and the need to restart frequently, leading to a sense of wasted effort. Overall, the grinding aspect is a double-edged sword: it can enhance the game's depth for some, but for many, it detracts from the enjoyment and can become overly monotonous.
“This means that the game isn't that grindy and it's fun to compare ships with friends.”
“In my opinion, the lack of intrusive advertisements is nice and the game isn't too grindy.”
“Never would play if I realized it was so grindy.”
“The first upgrade is $5000, then the next is $200,000, and then $20 million for the third, making grinding absolutely terrible at lower levels.”
“All progress comes to a grinding halt at the third from last section... unless you buy lots and lots of gems, of course.”
- humor30 mentions
- 97 % positive mentions
- -7 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
Overall, players find the game's humor to be a significant highlight, describing it as funny, enjoyable, and often hilarious, particularly in its quirky character names and absurd gameplay elements. While some users appreciate the comedic aspects that provide a light-hearted experience, others note that the humor can wear thin over time, especially when faced with repetitive mechanics. Despite mixed feelings about certain features, the game's humor contributes to its addictive nature and ability to uplift players' moods.
“It's a funny, yet super addictive game that almost anyone, if not everyone, can enjoy.”
“Love the sense of humor built into the characters.”
“When I come from school and have a bad day, this game changes my mood; this is so fun!!!!”
“I like the game, but that jackpot wheel thing that you have to watch ads for each spin is so blatantly rigged that it's not funny.”
“The jokes in this game fall flat and feel forced, making it hard to enjoy the humor.”
“I expected a lot more laughs, but the humor is stale and lacks creativity.”
- optimization20 mentions
- 70 % positive mentions
- 15 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization receives mixed reviews. While many users report smooth performance on various devices, including older models, some experience significant lag and crashes, particularly on tablets and when using certain features. Additionally, there are concerns about high CPU and GPU usage, which can lead to device throttling, although recent updates have addressed some lag issues.
“The app runs smoothly, even on my old Galaxy S3.”
“It has a smooth experience and it always runs smoothly.”
“Great performance and outstanding progression system.”
“I have noticed a couple of performance issues, like sometimes if I sweep a school of fish on the side of my tablet screen, it crashes and brings me back to the lock screen of my tablet.”
“On the S21 Ultra, performance mode, low graphics, the game becomes laggy when using the spawn fish and a buoy.”
“Pretty good, however it drains too much CPU and GPU performance for the type of game it is. I'm on a Galaxy Note 8 at max resolution of 1440p, and it's making my device throttle too much at max brightness. A game like this shouldn't even make an iPhone 5s heat up or throttle; otherwise, it plays nicely and looks really smooth and crisp.”
- emotional9 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find the game to be emotionally engaging, with moments of joy and satisfaction, particularly when overcoming challenges. The wholesome narrative and relaxing graphics contribute to a sense of comfort, although some technical issues can detract from the experience. Overall, the game elicits strong emotional responses, including joy and nostalgia, making it a memorable experience for many.
“I love the story, the gameplay, and the moment I surpassed the jerk that thought he was better than me, I cried tears of joy for 10 minutes straight.”
“Fun game, pretty wholesome so far.”
“This game is really wholesome honestly.”
- replayability4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
Overall, players find the game enjoyable and replayable due to its rewarding ad system and satisfying mechanics, particularly the swiping to collect fish and a balanced resurrection system. However, some users note that, similar to other games in the genre, it may lack long-term replayability.
“Very fun and definitely replayable.”
“The swiping mechanic to collect the fish is very satisfying, and the resurrection system is balanced and gives the game replayability.”
“The reward incentive to watch ads makes it much more playable.”
“Great gameplay, but like most mobile games, it's lacking in long-term fun and replayability.”
- atmosphere4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is characterized by a relaxed and calming environment, enhanced by pleasant graphics and soothing music. Users appreciate the minimal presence of ads, which do not detract from the overall experience, and highlight the unique mechanics that contribute to the enjoyable ambiance.
“The graphics are nice and fluid, the music is pleasant and relaxing, and the game overall just has a nice, calm atmosphere.”
“The ads aren't shoved down your throat in any way, the atmosphere is relaxing, and there are unique and fun mechanics!”
“Thank you for this app, I love everything about it: the art style, the controls, the little atmosphere created by seagulls and a calming background melody... this game is awesome!”