14 DAY TRIAL // 
With all sorts of AAA titles out there and so many options to choose from, it might seem almost impossible for a new developer to step into this overcrowded game scene.
The gaming world is not only about AAA titles and some of you might sometimes feel the need to play a game only to relax your mind and relief some of the daily stress.
To accomplish that, you don’t need a futuristic FPS with mass destruction weapons or a challenging strategy title; you need something simple, something you can really enjoy and why not, something that will teach you a few things about the world we live in.
Story
Reef Shot is an underwater first-person adventure game from Polish developer Nano Games. The action takes place in the warm waters of the Pacific Ocean, near the Robinson Crusoe Island.
[admark=1]Taking the role of Scott Burton, a skilled freelance photographer, and accompanied by your friend Renée, a passionate biologist, you start on a photo-diving expedition only to discover that the ocean holds more than meets the eye.
Gameplay
Starting with your first dive, you will be introduced to the basic movement controls and, of course, the way to handle your camera underwater to take great pictures of the amazing marine wildlife. During your adventure, you will gain access to three different cameras, each with its advantages and disadvantages.
The first camera you will get your hands on is just like a usual point-and-click camera and it’s the perfect starting gear for those of you who want to learn how to take a photo underwater. Advancing through the story, Scott will acquire two new cameras that will have a great impact on the quality of the pictures he takes.
While the Autofocus camera needs a few seconds until it clearly focuses on the subject, the Manual Focus camera and the one that gives the best results will take some time to get used to.
Finding the balance between the moment you press the shutter button and the perfect focus area would seem hard to achieve at first, but, with a little bit of practice, you will start taking 5-star pictures in no time.
Surely, the game aims for simplicity, but, as a passionate photographer, I would have loved some kind of camera customization options, as well as a simple reward system that would allow you to sell your best pictures and buy new cameras rather than getting them for free. New lenses, like the popular fisheye lens, could also have been an interesting aspect that would add a different perspective to the underwater realm.
Besides cameras, Scott will have access to a motion detector that will determine the quality of his pictures, a flashlight to lighten his subjects and, of course, an oxygen meter that will notify you when it’s time to buy a refill.
I said 'buy a refill' because you cannot swim up to the surface, as Nano Games only focuses on the underwater world and doesn't offer you the possibility to view the Robinson Crusoe Island (or at least your boat) from the surface.
Snapping good photos earns you stars that are directly influenced by your current camera and the motion detector. Taking the best possible pictures of a subject will earn you the maximum amount of stars available.
These stars can be used to buy a few perks available from the wheel menu. If you happen to run out of oxygen (and it will happen) you can buy the corresponding perk and instantly get a refill of your oxygen tank. Likewise, you can buy more photo storage in case you have exhausted all your snapshot space on the camera.
If you can’t find an artifact or a specific type of fish, just buy the right perk and they will be instantly revealed as a waypoint marker. An Autofocus perk is also available at later stages – you might find it useful if you can’t get along with the manual focus camera controls.
Finally, if you buy the Bonus Mission perk, it will unlock a few side quests that will allow you to explore more of the surrounding area and discover new types of fish or ancient relics.
The stars accumulated during a mission have no actual value and can only be used to buy new perks for the current mission. It would have been nice to receive some kind of reward for unused stars or even use them to buy in-game art, featuring the locations you have visited, or a cool-looking photo album to store your photographs.
Reef Shot is not all about photographing various fish species (tropical fish, sharks, turtles and even manta rays): throughout your adventures, you will discover some old Mayan ruins that might hold the key to find the ancient City of Gold or El Dorado.
Slowly, what started as a simple marine wildlife photography expedition turns into a treasure hunt as photographing various relics and old Mayan symbols might lead you and your friend Renée to a fantastic discovery.
The ability to save midway through a mission is missing, so make sure you have enough stars to refill your oxygen tank and buy new photo storage or you will have to start all over again.
Graphics and audio
Taking into account that the graphic engine is made entirely by Nano Games, they managed to achieve fairly good results and created some beautiful and realistic underwater levels.
From sun rays touching the bottom of the ocean to beautiful fish silhouettes swimming in the semi-dark depths of an underwater cave and finishing with the micro particles of plankton drifting in the current, Reef Shot manages to create a beautiful underwater world despite the fact that it’s sparsely populated.
The soundtrack adds depth to the whole scene as it blends relaxing tunes and exotic instruments into a Zen-like atmosphere that will make you clear your mind and enjoy the experience.
Conclusion
Reef Shot is an atmospheric adventure game that takes you along the shore of Robinson Crusoe Island to explore the marine wildlife and uncover a mystery hidden for centuries.
Although simple in concept, the game feels like it can be more than it is. Adding a reward system would have strengthened the purpose of taking perfect pictures while some basic equipment customization could attract even more interest within the game.
The title surely doesn’t appeal to everyone, but if you are looking for some fun and relaxation while exploring the depths and mysteries of the Pacific Ocean, try Reef Shot.
Here are some snapshots of the application in action:
