Front Page Sports Trophy Bass 2

Last updated: January 9, 2026

Overview

Front Page Sports Trophy Bass 2 is a fishing simulation game developed by Dynamix and published by Sierra in 1996¹. The game was part of Sierra’s Front Page Sports series, which focused on realistic sports simulations during the mid-1990s². Described as “the most addictive fishing simulation ever”³, Trophy Bass 2 built upon the success of Sierra’s original Trophy Bass game with enhanced realism and expanded gameplay features⁴.

The game utilizes the “Trophy Boss engine” to deliver what reviewers called “the best fishing sim to date”⁵. It features an accurate simulation of bass fishing using real conditions, real lakes, and realistic bass behavior patterns⁶. Players can enjoy the experience from an overhead view perspective, simulating the complete fishing experience including reeling and reel dragging for different classes of fish⁷.

Game Info

Developer: Dynamix¹ Designer: Kurt Weber, Randy Dersham¹ Publisher: Sierra¹ Platforms: Windows, Windows 3.1, Windows 95, PC⁸ Release Year: 1996 Series: Front Page Sports Sierra Lineage: Core Sierra

Story Summary

Front Page Sports Trophy Bass 2 is a pure fishing simulation without a traditional narrative structure. As marketing materials described it, the game captures “all of the good stuff about fishing: catching fish and lying about the ones that slip the hook or snap the line without all of the nasty parts”⁹. The game’s appeal was summarized as offering something “more relaxing than spending a day out on a boat casting a line into the water to snag a 10-pound largemouth bass” while “doing it in the privacy of your den, naturally”¹⁰.

Gameplay

Interface and Controls

Front Page Sports Trophy Bass 2 features fishing from an overhead view perspective⁷. The game supports multiple input devices including keyboard, mouse, and analog joystick controllers⁸. Players can adjust various fishing parameters including reel speed and drag settings to successfully land fish¹¹. The game includes detailed mechanics where “after hooking into a fish, all you have to do to reel it in is: 1)Set your reel speed to 5. 2)Set your Drag to 3. 3)As you reel, keep pushing the mouse or joystick up and down or in circles”¹¹.

Structure and Progression

The game offers both single-player and multiplayer modes, supporting 2-8 players online and up to 4 players offline¹². Players can access Quick Fish mode by going to single player, then Fishing Trip, and clicking on Quick Fish to access Bull Shoals Lake¹¹. The game features ten real lakes modeled after their real-life counterparts¹³. Tournament mode provides competitive gameplay options for serious anglers¹⁴.

Puzzles and Mechanics

The core gameplay revolves around realistic fishing mechanics including lure selection, casting techniques, and proper fish-fighting procedures⁴. Video help files from professional anglers are included to provide guidance on “finding fish, which bait to use, and how to bring them in”⁶. The fish behavior is notably realistic - “the fish look, move and feel very realistically - sometimes they bite, sometimes they don’t - just like the real thing”⁵. Players must be careful during the fight as “it’s a lot of fun to hook and reel in those lunkers, but be careful your line doesn’t break!”⁴

Reception

Contemporary Reviews

Publication	Score	Notes
GameFabrique	6.5/10	Praised the Trophy Boss engine and realism5
MobyGames	70%	Database aggregate score15
MyAbandonware	4.44/5	User rating4

Modern Assessment

Modern reviews have been mixed regarding the game’s entertainment value. While some praised its technical achievements, others found the gameplay lacking excitement. One reviewer noted that “even if you enjoy fishing it is difficult to find any real excitement in the murky waters of Trophy Bass” and concluded that “despite all the innovative options available, Trophy Bass is still boring”¹⁶. However, other assessments were more positive, with FileCR describing it as providing “a fantastic virtual fishing experience, combining realism with the thrill of competitive online gameplay”¹³.

Development

Origins

Front Page Sports Trophy Bass 2 was developed during Sierra’s transition period in the mid-1990s when the company was expanding beyond adventure games². The game was part of Sierra’s Front Page Sports series, which focused on delivering realistic sports simulations to compete in the growing sports gaming market¹⁷. As a sequel to the original Trophy Bass, the game built upon the established foundation with enhanced features and improved technology⁴.

Production

The game was developed by Dynamix, Sierra’s subsidiary known for sports and simulation games¹. The development team included designers Kurt Weber and Randy Dersham¹. The musical score was composed by Ken Allen and Neal Grandstaff, with the original music composed using the Roland Sound Canvas SC-55¹⁸. The game’s audio was recorded “directly from the original MIDI files using an authentic SC-55”¹⁸.

Technical Achievements

Trophy Bass 2 utilized the proprietary “Trophy Boss engine” which was specifically designed for fishing simulation⁵. The game required a minimum system of Intel i486 DX2 (66MHz) processor, 8 MB RAM, and Windows 95, though it also supported Windows 3.1⁸. The game featured 640×480 resolution and included multiplayer support via Internet, LAN, and modem connections⁸. Technical specifications included support for 3dfx Glide graphics acceleration⁴.

Legacy

The Front Page Sports Trophy Bass series established Sierra as a significant player in sports simulation gaming during the mid-1990s. The game spawned several iterations and expansions, including Trophy Bass 2: Northern Lakes in 1997, which added five additional fishing locations and eight different fish species¹⁹. A deluxe version was released in 1998, consolidating the base game with expansions¹. The series continued with later entries including Trophy Bass 4, demonstrating the franchise’s longevity in the fishing simulation genre²⁰.

Downloads

Purchase / Digital Stores

• Currently not available on modern digital platforms

Download / Preservation

• MyAbandonware
• Internet Archive - Demo
• GameFabrique

Series Continuity

• Previous: Front Page Sports: Trophy Bass (1995)
• Next: Front Page Sports: Trophy Bass 2 - Northern Lakes (1997)

References

Footnotes

1. SierraChest – - Basic release and development information ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶ ↩⁷

2. FilFre.net – - Sierra business strategy and development context ↩ ↩²

3. Internet Archive – - Product marketing description ↩

4. MyAbandonware – - Game archive with historical information ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶

5. GameFabrique – - Review with Trophy Boss engine details ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴

6. eBay Listing – - Original product description and features ↩ ↩²

7. GOG.com – - User-submitted game description ↩ ↩²

8. MobyGames – - Technical specifications and platform details ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴

9. Old-Games.com – - Comprehensive game review ↩

10. eBay Listing – - Marketing description from product listing ↩

11. IGN Cheats Guide – - Detailed gameplay instructions ↩ ↩² ↩³

12. MobyGames – - Player count and multiplayer information ↩

13. FileCR – - Game features description ↩ ↩²

14. Kotaku – - Game overview and features ↩

15. MobyGames – - Aggregate review score ↩

16. Old-Games.com – - Critical review assessment ↩

17. IGN – - Release information and context ↩

18. XeenMusic Bandcamp – - Musical composition and recording details ↩ ↩²

19. OldGamesDownload – - Northern Lakes expansion details ↩

20. Vogons.org – - Technical discussion mentioning Trophy Bass 4 ↩