Russian Fishing 4
- November 10, 2021
- FishSoft LLC
- 350h median play time
"Russian Fishing 4 is a realistic fishing game with 17 unique reservoirs and over 190 fish species. The game offers a vast selection of fishing tackle and allows free movement on the water bodies, enabling different types of fishing. It is designed by anglers, promising an immersive and authentic fishing experience."
Reviews
- grinding270 mentions
- 1 % positive mentions
- 3 % neutral mentions
- 96 % negative mentions
The reviews for "grinding" in the game highlight a significant divide among players: many find the extensive grinding necessary for progression to be tedious and frustrating, especially at higher levels, while others appreciate the challenge and find it rewarding. The game is often described as excessively grindy, with some players suggesting that it feels more like a "grinding simulator" than a fishing game, particularly for those who prefer a more casual experience. Overall, enjoyment of the game seems to hinge on one's tolerance for grinding and willingness to invest substantial time or money to progress.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“A bit grindy sometimes.”
“One long, tedious grind.”
“So even if the game forces you to expend a crazy amount of time playing in order to make extremely slow progress, it is not a fun system of grinding.”
“The community itself is very nice and veteran players are always there to help you out if you have questions, but because the game is so slow and grindy it puts off a lot of players before they can understand how to play the game correctly.”
“This is beyond the most 'grindy' game I've ever played.”
- gameplay258 mentions
- 34 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Russian Fishing 4" is characterized by its realistic mechanics and immersive environments, appealing to both casual players and hardcore fishing enthusiasts. While the game offers a deep and engaging experience with a variety of fishing techniques and locations, many players find the progression grindy and the learning curve steep, often leading to repetitive gameplay after extended hours. Overall, the game is praised for its attention to detail and mechanics, but criticized for its monetization strategies and lack of clear tutorials.
“The gameplay is accessible for newcomers while offering depth for seasoned anglers.”
“The attention to detail and engaging gameplay make it a standout title in the fishing genre.”
“The gameplay mechanics in Russian Fishing 4 are relatively realistic, with players needing to pay attention to weather conditions, bait selection, and casting techniques to catch fish successfully.”
“The bottom line is this: if I want to play The Sims, I'll play The Sims. If I want to play a fishing sim, I fire up FP, but RF4 tries too hard to be too much. It has no good tutorial, is extremely grindy, has counterintuitive skills progression and mechanics, and feels like an offline single-player game.”
“I strongly recommend you to avoid this game, since after about 10 hours when you get used to the basic mechanics, it gets very repetitive and involves you in tons of grind for a build that may or may not be good.”
“The gameplay can feel slow-paced and repetitive at times, and the game's customization options and multiplayer features make it worth checking out for those who enjoy the sport of fishing.”
- graphics204 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 34 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The graphics of "Russian Fishing 4" receive mixed reviews, with many players praising the stunning visuals, realistic water effects, and detailed environments that enhance immersion. However, some users criticize the game's optimization, noting that it can be demanding on hardware and that certain graphical elements feel outdated or poorly executed. Overall, while the graphics are often described as beautiful and impressive for a free game, there are concerns about performance and consistency across different systems.
“Compared to other fishing simulators, Russian Fishing 4 immerses players with impressive graphics and realistic mechanics.”
“The graphics are stunning, with beautifully rendered landscapes and realistic water effects that truly bring the environment to life.”
“The stunning graphics and serene atmosphere further enhance the immersion, making it easy to get lost in the beauty of the Russian countryside.”
“The years have not been kind to this game; the graphics are very outdated, animations as well, not to mention the developers seem as money-hungry as EA.”
“The graphics are stuck in the past, and the animations are lacking.”
“The graphics by today's standards are horrible, and on my 7900 XTX, if I turn all settings to max, I get frame drops in certain situations, which clearly shows the developers are very unskilled when it comes to making a graphics engine or they had no budget.”
- monetization47 mentions
- 11 % positive mentions
- 51 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy of the game has been widely criticized as aggressive and exploitative, with many players feeling that it encourages a pay-to-win dynamic through expensive microtransactions. While some users appreciate the ability to play without spending money, the overall sentiment leans towards frustration with the grind required to progress and the high costs associated with in-game purchases. Many reviews suggest that the game's monetization model detracts significantly from the overall experience, labeling it a cash grab.
“There is no pushy microtransactions, though offered, so that is great, for when you just want to fish without pushy services!”
“Yes, there are microtransactions, but they don't get you anything that you can't get without paying money.”
“Overall, the whole game gives a vibe of anxious cash-grabbing developers.”
“Microtransactions: while free-to-play, the game offers microtransactions that can significantly speed up progress, potentially creating a pay-to-win feel for some players.”
“This game is way too greedy with their microtransactions and grind.”
- story41 mentions
- 7 % positive mentions
- 73 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The reviews indicate that the game largely lacks a significant story, with many users noting the absence of quests or narrative depth. While some mention minor quests related to fishing species, the overall focus is on gameplay rather than storytelling. A few users express that the game has impacted them personally, but this is more about their experiences rather than a cohesive narrative within the game itself.
“Russia Fishing 4 is an amazing game; the graphics, story, and gameplay truly compete with the likes of other AAA titles.”
“If you are one for in-depth action adventure, with a complex narrative, you will absolutely love the story too.”
“This game changed my life. I was in a dark space in my life being a diver who had a fear of the water. The story, the characters, the power of the music, all helped me get through my tough time.”
“☑ no story”
“☐ only gameplay, doesn't include a story.”
“A never ending story of trial and error which leads fans (who really believed in this game, with passion) to start hating it.”
- humor28 mentions
- 93 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with many players finding it genuinely funny and engaging, particularly in the context of fishing mechanics and quirky game elements. However, some users criticize the repetitive grinding system as "not funny," suggesting it detracts from the overall enjoyment. Overall, while the game has its humorous moments and entertaining aspects, the humor can be overshadowed by frustrations related to gameplay mechanics.
“Caught more laughs than fish, hilariously addicting!”
“I personally enjoyed this aspect of the game, as I like collectibles, and found the bio descriptions hilarious and full of humorous references (which describes the game as a whole).”
“Just had to post it because it is hilarious.”
“And by 'not funny' I mean extremely repetitive and boring.”
“Not funny money that you can earn through a grind.”
- optimization24 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 29 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization has received significant criticism, with many users reporting poor performance, high CPU and GPU usage, and low frame rates, particularly on lower-end PCs. While some players noted that it runs smoothly at lower graphics settings, the general consensus is that the game suffers from serious optimization issues, leading to frustrating experiences such as long loading times and connection problems. Despite its visually appealing graphics, many feel that the performance does not meet expectations, especially compared to other titles in the genre.
“Good graphics, good sound, good optimization.”
“The performance needs some work but considering this is early access, it is very well made.”
“Still a lot of room for improvement and optimization, but it's getting there.”
“Very poorly optimized, low FPS, physics are very weird.”
“The game's optimization is poor at this point and runs poorly for what it is.”
“Interesting concept but sadly very poorly optimized graphics.”
- atmosphere17 mentions
- 53 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its serene and immersive qualities, enhanced by beautiful graphics and realistic ambient sounds of nature, particularly in the context of fishing in the Russian countryside. However, some players feel that while the overall atmosphere is appealing, certain areas lack distinctiveness, leading to a sense of repetitiveness. Overall, the atmosphere contributes significantly to the game's relaxing experience, especially when enjoyed with headphones.
“The ambient sounds of nature, from the rustling of leaves to the gentle lapping of water against the shore, create a peaceful atmosphere that makes the game a relaxing experience.”
“The stunning graphics and serene atmosphere further enhance the immersion, making it easy to get lost in the beauty of the Russian countryside.”
“The areas you fish in are stunning, with additional wildlife noises that add atmosphere.”
“The atmosphere sucks and you have 0 chance to progress without any tutorials.”
“The atmosphere seems to be very small in relation to the character.”
“The different lakes start to feel the same after a while; they don't have their own atmosphere or soul.”
- stability14 mentions
- 7 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 93 % negative mentions
The game's stability is a mixed bag, with users reporting numerous bugs and glitches, particularly in early access, affecting gameplay and inventory management. While some players find it playable and enjoyable despite minor issues, others experience significant frustrations, including freezing and map glitches. Overall, the game shows potential but requires further refinement to address its stability concerns.
“This game runs great at 800x600 resolution at the lowest settings, and can achieve 30 fps with amazing graphics if I increase the resolution to 720p.”
“It's buggy as hell and requires you to spend real money.”
“This is an early access game, so of course you get all the glitches, random losses of (very valuable) inventory items, and all the other fun that comes along with a buggy game.”
“Like bugs and freezing while switching rods or missed catches due to glitches.”
- music12 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its calming and relaxing qualities, enhancing the overall fishing experience. Players appreciate the soothing soundtrack that complements the serene graphics and gameplay, making it a perfect backdrop for unwinding. While some suggest the addition of more diverse music options, the existing soundtrack effectively contributes to the game's immersive atmosphere.
“Nice graphics, relaxing music, and easy fishing mechanics - since the fishing I've encountered in other RPGs has mostly been annoying and clunky, this was a pleasant surprise by comparison.”
“You're waiting patiently for a bite while being soothed by the sounds of the water, the sunrise on the horizon, and the soothing soundtrack of the game.”
“The calming soundtrack in the main and crafting menu fits the concept of 'fishing' in the game and most of the sounds fit in quite harmoniously.”
“The calming soundtrack in the main- and crafting menu fits to the concept of 'fishing' in the game and most of the sounds fit in quite harmonically.”
“Calming music.”
“Very relaxing, especially when listening to music.”
- emotional7 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players express a strong emotional connection to the game, reminiscing about childhood experiences and family bonds, particularly with their fathers. The game evokes nostalgia and joy, with some players even reporting tears of happiness during gameplay. However, there are also frustrations regarding gameplay mechanics that detract from the overall emotional experience.
“Gg to the devs. It made me feel like going back to my hometown to have a go at it with my dad, just like the old times.”
“Great game! I played it a lot; it made me feel like I was a kid again.”
“Amazing, I cried.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players appreciate the game's diverse fish species, each with distinct behaviors and habitat preferences, which enhances the challenge and significantly boosts its replayability.
“The game features a wide variety of fish species, each with unique behaviors and habitat preferences, which adds to the challenge and replayability.”