Deep Diving Adventures

Genre: Free-Roaming Exploration Game

Players: 1

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Review:

Deep Diving Adventures is a game that’s difficult to pin to a genre, so I’m calling it a Free-Roaming Exploration game, because while it has numerous disparate elements, the focus of the game is largely on the exploration of numerous expansive underwater environments, and the collection of various items strewn about.

I should note that despite the generic-sounding name, Deep Diving Adventures is surprisingly original and inventive, and clearly not a low-effort affair, although throughout the game there are definitely signs that this is the creation of a somewhat inexperienced developer. Originally created as a VR game for PC under the title Deep Diving Simulator, the Switch version features greatly reduced graphics, but on the upside this game also includes the Adventure Pack DLC.

Graphically, the downgraded graphics here are definitely apparent, with lower-poly characters and terrain, and far less impressive atmospheric effects. However, the game still features some vast and varied environments with nice textures and a decent framerate, making this a game that’s not terrible to look at… at least when it’s lit (but more on that in a moment).

The music here is good, the sort of dreamy synthesized sorta’ thing you associate with underwater adventures, and you could almost picture Jacques Cousteau narrating and you look around. Having said that, the game’s voiced characters aren’t quite as compelling as old Jacques, with somewhat awkward writing and line delivery. It’s not terrible, but it doesn’t really add anything to the game.

Some of this is caused by the way this game is kinda’ trying to be two different things at once, and this is a large part of the source of this game’s problems. See, on the one hand, this is a game about slow, methodical exploration through the game’s environments, cleaning up pollution and enjoying the natural beauty and wonder that these environments hold. On the other hand, this is a game about treasure hunting in exotic and potentially dangerous locales, searching for sunken treasure among dangerous creatures and hazards. These two elements seem to be in a constant struggle with one another, when the game clearly would have been better off if the game’s creators picked a lane and stuck with it.

For example, this game features sluggish, floaty, and slightly awkward controls, which makes sense given the entire thing takes place underwater and mobility and navigation is one of the game’s core challenges. However, when you’re attacked by a shark, you have limited time to respond, and those same sluggish, floaty controls stop feeling like a natural and realistic part of the game and more like a frustrating element that keeps you from responding quickly. Furthermore, these moments of suspense really hurt the otherwise peaceful, relaxed tone and pace of the game.

When you respond to an attacking shark, you’ll be using an unrealistic recharging stun gun to zap the shark. However, this gun recharges extremely slowly, meaning that if you miss your shot or have to fend off multiple sharks, you’re bound to take a hit. What’s more, because of the game’s environmentalist tone, you aren’t killing these sharks, you’re merely deterring them with a stun… meaning that after a minute or so that same shark will be attacking you again.

However, while the game definitely makes these shark attacks seem scary, all they do is reduce your time on the clock – not such a bad penalty, as at any point you can rise to the surface wherever you are to exit the map and save all of your progress.

Another element here that’s frustrating is the game’s flashlight, which really helps to bring out the beauty in the game’s environments, but which has limited batteries that don’t recharge until you leave the level. Why? To add a challenge, I guess? Except… it doesn’t add a challenge. It’s actually usually easier to just swim around in the dark and use the radar function to highlight points of interest in the environment, which are harder to see when things are lit up. In fact, the primary reason to even use the flashlight seems to be that it makes the game look better, which makes it all the more perplexing that its use was limited in this way.

If the game’s creators wanted to make this about exploration and natural beauty, they could have stuck with the environmental theme, ditched the dangers, and simply allowed the exploration and discovery be the focus of the game. If this game was intended to be more actiony, they could have given players more useful weapons and better controls, filled environments with more hazards, and stuck with the treasure hunting theme. But the way this game is, every time an element from one of these two competing halves rears its head, the other competing half suffers.

Despite how much Deep Diving Adventures’ game design conflicts with itself, it still manages to be unique and compelling. Exploring the game’s environments is relaxing and engaging, and moments when you’re being hunted by sharks are effective in delivering suspense. However, it’s hard to become fully engaged with the game when these two halves of the game seem to constantly be fighting with each other. Still, if you’re interested in a truly unique exploration-based game, deep Diving Adventures may still be worth a look.

tl;dr – Deep Diving Adventure is a game that has you exploring underwater areas, cleaning up the environment and hunting for treasure. The game has some really relaxing exploration elements, as well as some suspenseful encounters with dangerous wildlife, but these elements clash with each other in multiple ways, making for a game that’s far worse than if the game’s creators just stuck with one of the game’s two clashing tones. It’s still a unique and fun experience despite this, though.

Grade: B-

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This game has been nominated for one or more of eShopperReviews 2020 Game Awards:

Runner-Up: Most Original

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