Dave the Diver Review (PC)

Fighting the shark wasn’t that hard, although I needed to upgrade my dive equipment first to ensure I could stay underwater longer. I used a weapon with a relatively short range, which meant I fired at least twice without hitting the creature. But its telegraphed attacks meant I lost none of my oxygen, and, thanks to some electrified harpoon work, my friend Bancho will get to serve it up to a special customer tonight.

The shark was just the morning dive shift. Now, Dave, the diver I am guiding through the wondrous Blue Hole, is back in the water, collecting resources and making sure he knows where all the oxygen refills are. After my shark victory, I plan on going a little deeper, which means I have to tango with the more dangerous fish of all sizes.

But, while swimming, I drop that goal and focus simply on hunting with the harpoon. The sushi restaurant can’t only serve delicacies, so I get as many small fish as possible. After I avoid a strike from a morena, I also manage to get some special vinegar, which will be used to enhance at least one dish. Finally, I spot the place where I might get the pieces for a bomb that might lead another friend to a long-lost aquatic civilization.

Dave the Diver is developed and published by MINTROCKET. I played the PC version using Steam. The title mixes underwater fishing and exploration with an arcade take on restaurant work while delivering a constant stream of narrative events.

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Everything in the game happens around the Blue Hole, a diving spot that’s filled with fish and more mysterious things. It is also weirdly able to change constantly, making it impossible to entirely map and giving gamers a different experience every time they visit. This beautiful but weird place attracts protagonist Dave, who’s a certified scuba diver and isn’t afraid to use it when friends ask for his services.

Diving might be his job, but he is also quickly roped into running a sushi bar near the Blue Hole. Dave is jovial, the kind of guy who’s actually afraid of telling anyone around him “No”. So he works as a server, dives, and quickly accepts missions for a cast of colorful characters.

The setup is solid enough, but the story evolves in some surprising and fun ways. Our chubby hero will investigate an ancient lost civilization, make friends with a dolphin, and much more. I was constantly chuckling at some of the interactions between the main cast. Each of them also gets short but intense cutscenes that showcase their personality, with Bancho’s the best of the bunch.

The game does justice to its name by focusing on Dave’s trips to the Blue Hole. He will scuba to new depths, exploring the ever-changing depths and getting the fish he needs. Initially, he only has a limited supply of air, a small knife, and a harpoon. Most of the aquatic life isn’t threatening. There are other resources to harvest and chests to open. It’s a pleasant trip only limited by the air supply (it can be replenished) and by a weight limit.

As players make progress, the level of complexity increases. The main character can be equipped with a variety of weapons to take down aggressive sharks and even more powerful enemies (the harpoon will also get upgrades to become more effective at getting the big creatures). Tranquilizers and nets can also be used to capture fish. From time to time, Dave will have to watch patterns and keep his cool as he battles boss creatures.

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As he completes missions and finds more resources in the depths, our hero can improve his equipment to go deeper and last longer underwater. A constant stream of missions will influence what he needs to do on his trips. There are two diving sessions each day, and players should reserve one to actually get the fish they need before evening comes. If the oxygen reserve is depleted, gamers can carry just one item to the surface as their character recovers.

That’s when Dave goes to help his friend Bancho in his sushi restaurant. Players have to decide what goes on the menu and then actually work to serve clients while the chef cooks. They will also research new dishes, hire other people to work in the restaurant and deal with high-profile clients that demand certain foods. All this work gets rated at the end of the evening. All the money customer spend can then be re-invested to improve Dave’s equipment to dive deeper, get more fish, make more sushi, and get even more money.

The game is very inventive and never feels repetitive. It’s always fun to explore the Blue Hole aiming for a particular objective, only to get sidetracked by some hidden chest or the attempt to get a particular fish. Bancho is one of the coolest characters I’ve recently interacted with, especially when he thinks up a new dish.

Dave the Diver is lovingly crafted using a modern take on classic pixel art techniques. Dave and all the other main characters are instantly recognizable and ooze personality. The Blue Hole itself, while always shifting in terms of structure, remains a bright, colorful place. Even the more threatening fish are beautiful, and there are moments when it’s nice to simply get Dave hovering in a spot to look at the many fish swimming around him. Bancho’s restaurant can change decorations as long as players are willing to pay, and the small cutscenes associated with each character are weird and endearing.

The game’s soundtrack is designed to add to the excitement of each dive and restaurant shift. It also features plenty of tunes and doesn’t require replacing with nautical-themed podcasts. The sound effects also work well, although I would have liked for weapons to have more of an impact.

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The Good

The Bad

Conclusion