DAVE THE DIVER initially appeared to me as a casual underwater fishing game featuring some light RPG gameplay components because it's practically MINTROCKET's very first project backed by NEXON. But from the moment I put on that diving suit, the game kept me on the edge of my seat with unexpected twists and turns. Lots of great things about this game include its charming plot, its very addicting gameplay loop, and the many interesting concepts that are introduced at various points.

And the way MINTROCKET has accomplished the incredible feat of cramming so much substance into such a well-crafted Indie game; is truly remarkable. DAVE THE DIVER is an astoundingly unique experience since it combines so many intriguing ideas in a way that I have never encountered before. There is a lot to enjoy, from the wacky plot to the very addicting gameplay loop to the many new and exciting concepts presented during the game.

You take on the role of Dave in DAVE THE DIVER, a guy who obviously loves Sushi, and as the local scuba diver, you're asked by the residents to assist them with their minor difficulties. The meat of the matter, though, is expanding your business to new heights, necessitating visiting the neighborhood dive bar and forming an alliance with celebrities.

As the depth increases, the fish grow more exotic, and you and the business earn more money. The plot isn't bad, either. The story progresses smoothly, while there are wonderful cutscenes. Along with a good amount of playful comedy, the writing isn't overly serious, perfectly fitting this genre. What matters most is that the game's speed feels flawless, and there's never a dull moment.

It's surprising how diverse DAVE THE DIVER's narrative is. Lots of things are happening simultaneously, but they never get too much. From the very beginning, it is clear that this is not your typical peaceful sushi bar antics. Major events occur, including difficult bosses and the possible existence of a sea race. In a high-stakes enterprise, our hero is entangled in a web of conflict. The primary objective may not be spectacular, but the characters are well-developed and natural, so it's still a good experience.

Initially, you're only required to adhere to a primary plot, which may involve your quest for a certain object or assistance to a person in distress. Throughout your journey, you will delve into the place's history to get insight into its past and complete side missions. As an added bonus, you will face bosses that unlock new areas of the underwater world. You're free to do either if you'd rather concentrate on the missions or official days.

The rawness of Sushi is mirrored in the game DAVE THE DIVER. It seems like you're a scuba diver who loves to harpoon fish. You start your day by preparing the ingredients for your sushi restaurant, then spend the evening overseeing their preparation. There are always a lot of people congregating at the sushi restaurant. The menu is up to you, and you tweak the ingredients to make them taste better and make more gold. You employ people to work the line, and customers are usually served quickly unless they become angry and walk out when their meal isn't delivered in time.

You'll meet Bancho, the Master Chef, prepared to unleash his culinary might. However, you must collect the necessary materials for him. However, the decision-making power over their menu items will always be with you once you begin stocking the ingredients. Throughout the day, you will catch fish. As you accumulate more fish, you can sell more of them. If you want to upgrade your sushi game, you can also devour that priceless fish and use it creatively.

The diving environment varies on each occasion you go down there in a roguelike manner, including the weapons and goods you might uncover in the places of fish. But plenty of different variables are at play here; it's not just a diving simulation with a restaurant. Since you're likely still going down exactly the same goal-oriented actions, and the identical fish are stuck at the exact same level, it's fair to say that runs don't notice much of a difference.

Even so, that isn't going to lessen your desire for it. You can craft enduring weapons and modify your diving gear with the money you earn by selling Sushi. Dive distance, carrying capacity, harpoon strength, and oxygen level are all upgraded. Everything is set up for an exciting loop right from the start. You can also put that money toward employee training to boost their skills and efficiency, allowing you to service more consumers at once and increase your revenue.

As you improve the standard of your dishes, you'll earn more money. However, you'll need to catch more fish to replenish your supply. But everything is important, not only the food. If you have a higher-ranking employee, you can promote them or force them to choose between working in the kitchen or waiting tables.

Because it is a chaotic environment when the doors are opened in the middle of the night, you will require as much assistance as possible. Serving Sushi, clearing tables, pouring drinks, and everything in between will be your job description. A moment's lapse in remembering to restock the wasabi might cause a precipitous drop in revenue as impatient customers rush out to obtain their food.

Even though there was a lot of chaos on screen, the MINTROCKET did a fantastic job with the game and the gameplay. Your sense of direction is always crystal clear. You won't spend hours washing dishes or slicing up meaningless stuff in the kitchen, and the changes won't be permanent either. It won't take more than a few seconds to complete each activity. It's all about organized chaos, and it's incredible. While most games in the restaurant simulation genre reach a breaking point where they become increasingly unpleasant, DAVE THE DIVER keeps players interested from start to finish.

You're participating in reality cooking programs, expanding your social media following, seeking special staff, refining your dishes and income over time, and studying new recipes. While you can devote all your time and energy to the restaurant and disregard the main goal, doing so will prevent you from unlocking crucial later-game items, such as locations to catch rarer and more pricey fish.

DAVE THE DIVER's scuba segments are useful in this regard. As Dave, you must venture out into the vast underwater world using your reliable harpoon to capture fish for your supply. The abundance of marine creatures is what really makes this place shine. You're sure to encounter many species, from tiny to large.

With just one swift stroke of the harpoon, they are captured. But watch your weight; there's a limit. Dave can't move around while I held in portions of shark. Additionally, be cautious since certain fish may display aggressive behavior. You can only kill them with weapons, and every once in a while, you'll get a small Quick Time Event to collect your catch.

The difficulty ramps slightly, but it's still fun because you can access better weapons and gear as you level up. You can bring along various valuable tools, like a portable oxygen tank and a UV lamp to help you navigate caverns in the dark, in addition to the Harpoon and Whitman. But the feature that made this game simple is how oxygen has been made easier.

There is no health bar, no stamina bar—it's all about that valuable air. You can quickly drain your oxygen supply by swimming faster; a shark attack can wipe out a significant portion of your supply. The rate of oxygen depletion increases as dive duration and depth increase. There's a ticking clock, and you can hardly bring the fish you reel in back to the surface.

Diving underwater and running a restaurant aren't the only things you do on DAVE THE DIVER; there are still other tasks to complete. Each day is comprised of three distinct parts: the morning, the afternoon, and the evening. The day begins with a dive and ends with a sushi dinner, after which it's all about gathering fish.

Starting a fish farm is another option; it comes with its own set of interesting challenges. You collect fish you see and put them in tanks where you hope they'll mate. If the fish mate, you will get some of the best fish meat in the world, which you can then send to your sushi restaurant. In any case, there's a ton of stuff to mess around with.

That the graphics are impressive for an indie game would be an understatement. The quality of the art style is fantastic. Other games can't compare to their level of polish and meticulous attention to detail. Their small gestures become more meaningful over time. As Dave approaches, the coral scatters, raindrops land on the water, and the ocean turns a beautiful orange at sunset; all these things fascinated me. The visuals on your screen are full of life and color. They then dive headfirst into the coral reefs of Australia, meticulously hand-drawn textures and all.

Their classic pixel graphic style usage is incredible, but I think they've gotten a little carried away with the blurring. It works wonderfully and goes beyond simple 8-bit or 16-bit formats. As Dave dives around, you can see air bubbles springing from him. Everywhere you look, the particle animations are wonderful.

What grabs my attention is how they've integrated the elements; each fish has a distinct appearance and character. Despite being a 2D game, there are moments when it feels incredibly 3D. Compared to other independent games I've played, DAVE THE DIVER stands head and shoulders above the crowd because of its stunning visuals, diverse underwater life, and gorgeous animations.

The audio team's work is as impressive as the visual team's. Feeling the laid-back rhythm of the song will be your initial impression. The soundtrack is reminiscent of an 80s synth keyboard extravaganza, perfectly matching the game's design. The soundtrack adapts to the increasing peril as you descend. Another factor is the amount of detail given to them. A distinct noise is produced whenever the harpoon is drawn out, another when it is drawn in, and yet another when a fish is caught.

This also applies to opening the chest. As soon as something falls out of the container and you take it out, you'll hear a distinct sound. Furthermore, there's also a sound effect that plays whenever you pierce an underwater fish. Like the restaurant, this place is jam-packed with action, danger, sound effects, and things you can pick up. You could lose track of these particulars if absorbed entirely in the game.

Despite what you might expect, this is not only a game about scuba diving, fishing, and managing a sushi joint. There is a lot more to it than that. Unpredictable twists and turns await you in this unforgettable adventure. Everything in this game fits together perfectly and makes perfect sense. Playing DAVE THE DIVER has been a gratifying experience.

Without realizing it, you'll lose track of time and be utterly engrossed in it. You will gain additional mechanics and gameplay elements throughout the game, such as farming, fish breeding, and, towards its end, the ability to build a new restaurant outlet to run. It is highly gratifying to prepare ahead of time for big events to make the most gold intake since you gain additional earnings for serving particular kinds of dishes.

Every aspect of DAVE THE DIVER is well-designed and functional, adding more to the gameplay. There is no denying the affection that MINTROCKET and NEXON have for this game, as seen by the fact that it is a wonderful and incredibly addicting game. You can't help but be enchanted by the meticulous attention to detail, the stunning visual style, and the heavenly soundtrack. Even if you do not usually like this genre, you should definitely check out DAVE THE DIVER because it's unique.
 

Azfar Rayan (@AzfarRayan)
Senior Editor, NoobFeed