Dive into Adventure: Unmasking Dave the Diver's Epic Review!

Dave the Diver appears to be a basic diving simulator with fish-catching and item-gathering features. However, this initial impression belies the game's true depth. It incorporates diverse genres, such as fishing, farming, and business management, to create a captivating single-player experience. Mintrocket, the developer, successfully immerses players in a world filled with surprises and eccentric characters. Despite its seemingly simplistic premise of operating a sushi restaurant near The Blue Hole, Dave the Diver gradually introduces complex gameplay mechanics. The game seamlessly combines various systems, including fish farming, on-land farming, and underwater farming, creating a cohesive and engaging experience devoid of any interruptions.

The main narrative may not be revolutionary or original, but it possesses an enticing quality that will captivate many players, compelling them to keep exploring until its conclusion. Despite its 2D design, Dave the Diver never feels overly constricting or shallow. In fact, certain cutscenes even offer a glimpse of the underwater world from a 2.5D perspective, while some fish gracefully rotate, demonstrating that these oceanic creatures are not merely attractive from one angle.

Dave's morning usually starts on the diving boat, and he has two options: to dive into the blue water or drive the boat to the restaurant for administrative tasks. This simple but addictive gameplay loop allows players to make choices during morning, afternoon, and evening times. Going to the sushi restaurant enables players to rearrange staff members, check ingredient lists for specific dishes, and select the menu for the night. Knowing the required ingredients or fish for specific meals can result in higher profits, which drive the game's overall progression. In the early stages, running the restaurant at night is more challenging as Dave has to handle all tasks himself, but it becomes easier when he hires and trains additional help.

If Dave needs to dive deeper for a specific item, fish, or mission, upgrading his wetsuit will require money. Expanding the farming fields and upgrading weapons and diving equipment also come at a high cost. Money is also needed to improve the restaurant's appearance and train employees. As the game progresses, players will have more expenses, such as buying seeds or chickens. Eventually, they may feel the need to dive for only the most profitable fish. However, in Dave the Diver, players can enhance dishes using caught fish to sell them at a higher price. This allows users to catch what they want without being limited to hunting specific fish on every dive.

While exploring the ever-changing underwater regions for resources, the game's various farming elements initially feel satisfying, but they gradually become more monotonous over time. These tasks are not overly complex, instead emphasizing basic field maintenance to keep things orderly, yet they require users to consistently revisit them for smooth operation. This mechanic serves a dual purpose within the game, providing players with an alternative means of obtaining necessary items while also demanding their daily involvement to ensure a bountiful harvest.

The game continuously offers a range of unique missions at regular intervals, preventing any downtime between main story missions. These missions can include tasks such as searching for specific fish, engaging in boss fights, gathering ingredients for food challenges at the sushi restaurant, and more. While some of these missions may be forgettable once completed, others stand out for their distinctive presentation. The majority of missions are highly entertaining, seamlessly fitting into the overall wackiness of the game.

Dave the Diver owes much of its greatness to the cast of characters that contribute to its incredible entertainment value. The story revolves around Dave, a pleasantly plump protagonist with unusually skinny legs donning a wetsuit. Along his journey, he encounters a multitude of eccentric individuals who both challenge and praise him for his positive attitude and hard work. The list of memorable characters is too extensive to detail here, but early on, Dave forms a bond with two particularly quirky individuals: Bancho, the head-chef with an unusual obsession for cooking, and Duff, an enthusiastic follower of anime and K-pop who excels in weaponry. These characters instantly leave a lasting impression due to their idiosyncrasies and their seamless integration into Dave's diving-centered world. While some players may find their exaggerated character tropes slightly off-putting, the game exaggerates them to such an extent that many players will undoubtedly find amusement in their absurdity.

Not only do these two main characters exhibit humorous exaggerated traits, but the entire cast embraces the ridiculousness in a way that many games overlook or find unnecessary. Even characters who have minimal interaction with Dave, such as the potential employees for the restaurant, display an immense variety in their designs. Players have the option of hiring a ninja girl, a muscular weightlifter, or even a server with a raptor head. While there are also more conventional-looking employees available, the thrill of witnessing these outlandish characters serving customers makes them even more appealing. Additionally, some of these employees possess exceptional skills, making them wise choices for employment, even disregarding their appearances.

The fish found in The Blue Hole exhibit wacky character designs that are truly captivating. While some adhere to the standard appearance of tropical fish, with vibrant colors and varying sizes that imitate their real-world counterparts, there are others that are astonishingly bizarre. In fact, the game's official 1.0 version launch will introduce new fish that players in early-access mode will have the opportunity to discover for the first time. However, these peculiar sea creatures are not easily found during regular dives. Instead, they are exclusive to specific missions, adding an extra layer of excitement and challenge for divers. For example, one mission may require encountering a colossal hermit crab adorned with a colossal dump truck shell. Additionally, certain fish can only be discovered within a limited time frame, resulting in players potentially missing out if they don't allocate their diving sessions strategically. It can be frustrating to miss these rare finds, especially considering that players can only keep three missions in their notification bar at once. Sometimes, players may not even notice that time is running out on a mission until it is too late.

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Although most sea enemies can be easily avoided, a few sharks can be troublesome for players as they initiate their attacks from outside the game's visible area. This usually occurs later in the game when players have become somewhat accustomed to the dangers of the deep. It can be frustrating when players fail a mission due to an unexpected attack. However, Dave the Diver is understanding and does not punish players for losing fights within mission-specific areas.

The game's musical selection deserves special recognition, as it effortlessly blends a variety of tones and songs to enhance an already enjoyable experience. From hip-hop tracks with Asian influences to haunting melodies played when diving into the deepest and coldest waters, each song perfectly complements its respective area. While some tunes may be more catchy than others, it would have been nice to have the option to choose the music for each area. Regardless, most players will likely enjoy the music enough to keep it playing until well into the later stages of the game. Additionally, there are some surprisingly catchy original tracks in the game that deserve praise for their memorable beats and lyrics.

Dave the Diver offers a truly unique experience with each playthrough. The game seamlessly combines ever-changing side-missions, captivating cutscenes for weapon upgrades or fish dishes, and a captivating ensemble of characters. At first glance, the game may appear shallow, but those who delve deeper will uncover a treasure trove of enjoyment, particularly with its official 1.0 release. This single-player adventure exudes heart, accompanied by delightful music (‘Hot Pepper Tuna’ is destined to become a favorite on many personal playlists). The cast of characters feels perfectly at home in The Blue Hole, leaving a lasting impression. Dave, the warm-hearted and charismatic protagonist, sets a new standard for adventure gaming this year.

Dave the Diver

Dave the Diver is a casual, singleplayer adventure RPG featuring deep-sea exploration and fishing during the day and sushi restaurant management at night.

Dave the Diver is available now for PC. Game Rant was provided a PC code for this review.