From the tranquillity of still water to the sound of distant bird song, fishing is one of the most relaxing pursuits around. This is why we see fishing mini-games used as diversions in otherwise hectic action games. But when you’re faced with paying off a colossal debt and a loan shark is threatening violence, the pursuit of fishing ceases to be relaxing. Catching copious fish suddenly becomes a life-or-death situation, with the fruits of the ocean being your lifeline.
This Italian horror-themed fishing game made its debut on PC last year and has now reached the Xbox with all the updates the PC version received. Priced at around £4, it shares similarities with Clover Pit, Buckshot Roulette and Luck Be A Landlord, in that you need to pay off a debt while making smart decisions – and there’s even a chance to walk away wealthier than before.
This journey begins on a boat at night, with just a radio playing classical music for company. It plays like most fishing games, featuring a power bar for casting and a tension gauge for reeling in. Fish must be caught and gutted before being thrown in a container, each worth a different value. After catching a handful of fish, however, a surprise discovery is made: a one-eyed talking fish with magical abilities. They can make your debt vanish, but only if you agree to various demands. Turns out this talking fish is something of a seasoned businessman.
You’re then given 45 minutes to work, conversing with this foul-mouthed fellow (they’re quite fond of the ‘f-word’) and choosing whether to give in to their demands in return for a cleared slate. To say anything more from this point onwards would spoil the experience.
Once the deadline is up, you’re presented with an ending based on your decisions, with several to see. A few endings can even be discovered part of the way in, meaning you don’t have to necessarily play for 45 minutes each time. To see every ending, however, you will need to start over several times, resulting in a playtime far exceeding the 45 minutes it takes to reach the first ending. There are no checkpoints or save files; you’ll need to start anew, which does feel a little discouraging if one of the endings you’re yet to see involves a whole playthrough. I think most people will want to explore the options available, and the £4 price tag is pretty reasonable for the 3-4 hours of playtime needed to discover everything.
The themes of horror are rather subtle, coming to light only if certain decisions are made. I would also say that the fishing element is a little basic; this is less of a fishing sim and more of a choice-driven adventure, so don’t go expecting a choice of lures and an index of caught fish. Visually, it’s appealing enough, with the fish appearing suitably realistic and the water appropriately murky. I’m grateful that the fish gutting aspect isn’t too detailed.
If you’re a stern believer that games should be cheaper, shorter, and feature numerous ways to reach their endings, then Loan Shark will have you hook, line and sinker. It presents a single idea that’s executed well, with the threat of violence acting as a decent motivator to get started, before being given several chances to turn things around. It’s your job to make sure things are entirely in your favour, not just partly.
Are you up for the challenge of outwitting the savviest talking fish in the ocean? If that sounds even remotely intriguing, Loan Shark should be your next port of call.
Studio Ortica’s Loan Shark is out now on PC and Xbox Series. Published by Dark Product. A PS5 version is coming soon.