Like a gorgeous and strange fish that has all of the sudden risen to the floor, Dave the Diver is an surprising shock. Juggling two core methods that work in tandem, it’s a recreation that excels as each an exploration expertise and as a administration sim and does so in methods which might be intuitive and straightforward to choose up. Nevertheless, the true triumph is a deal with novelty at each flip, with a near-constant provide of sudden twists, actions, and methods to have interaction with the sport, leading to a joyful and approachable journey that’s onerous to place down.
Dave is a scuba diver, summoned to a wierd blue gap within the ocean crammed with all method of marine life. He’s there to assist seize seafood for an area sushi restaurant and its eccentric however knowledgeable chef, and he’s quickly drawn into the administration of the enterprise to an equal depth as his sea explorations. As these underwater investigations swim ever farther from the floor, new fantastical components enter the equation, from sea individuals to prehistoric creatures, maintaining gamers guessing on each the story and gameplay entrance.
The underwater dives are uncomplicated however attractive, leveraging a pixel-art aesthetic to current a substantial number of undersea life and a consistently shifting panorama of cliffs, chasms, and tunnels. With weapons, harpoons, nets, and extra, Dave should snag the tastiest morsels to deliver again to the restaurant whereas monitoring his air tank, avoiding hostile species, and gathering further provides. The straightforward aiming and capturing are pleasing, and the gradual improve of kit gives a rewarding sense of development. However the seek for new sights and locales drives the enjoyable.
Again above water, Dave is wrangled into serving duties behind the sushi counter amid an offbeat forged of characters, a lot of whom drive dwelling a theme that persons are usually extra and higher than they seem at first look. Setting menu objects, hiring and coaching employees, and pouring drinks give solution to extra actions, like working a farm and fish hatchery, competing in actuality meals competitions, and fleeing pirate boats to guard historic relics – most with an connected mini-game or interactive part.
The continuous layering of those small however rewarding methods transforms Dave the Diver into one thing distinctive. The flip backwards and forwards between diving motion and sushi restaurant administration is partaking however would possibly develop into rote have been it not for the fixed inflow of different new concepts to maintain issues contemporary. Taking wildlife images, halting invasive fish species, constructing new weapons, cataloging found creatures – all the pieces works collectively to push the journey ahead whereas remaining forgiving sufficient in complexity {that a} participant by no means feels overwhelmed.
Dave is an enthralling hero, affable and guileless however succesful, form, and keen to assist his mates. Because the story grows extra outlandish, the bosses ever larger and extra unbelievable, and the story sillier, the grounded and likable lead saved me smiling. A couple of late-game actions, together with some stealth and light-weight beam puzzles, don’t fully hit the mark, however by that time, the funding is excessive, and it’s straightforward to push forward to the top.
You would possibly query whether or not a sushi restaurant administration sim crossed with underwater diving is your cup of tea, however that will be lacking the purpose. Dave the Diver is a singular and memorable trip away from expectations, and it’s the actual fact that you just don’t often play video games like this that makes it so satisfying.
