What a week it has been, with the sun finally showing its face again after a chilly April for the UK. We’ve still had plenty of time to play games though, and I’ve been continuing to plug away at Fallout 4 and No Rest for the Wicked, as well as taking some time to chill out with Endless Ocean: Luminous which is just a little bit too calm for its own good. Besides that I’ve made a start on Sand Land for our review which will appear after the weekend.
Dave the Diver Review (PS5) | Push Square
19.04.2024 - 05:34 / pushsquare.com
If Dave the Diver proves anything, it's that one shouldn't make judgements based on appearances. Not only does the loveable lead character exceed the expectations of his cohorts at every turn, but the game itself goes well beyond what it looks like. At a glance, this is a charming adventure about exploring the sea, catching fish, and running a sushi restaurant. It is all that, but it also refuses to settle, constantly evolving the experience in surprising and compelling ways.
It all begins with a strong core loop already in place. Every time you dive into the mysterious Blue Hole, its layout and the marine life within it will be slightly different. It's your job, armed with a harpoon and secondary weapon, to catch various fish species in order to then serve them up in the nearby sushi restaurant. Only open during the evenings, this side of the game is a management sim of sorts, as you place dishes on the menu, enhance them to earn more money, and serve the customers Diner Dash style. The cash you earn from the restaurant can be spent on upgrades for your diving equipment, letting you catch bigger, more dangerous fish, stay underwater for longer, and go gradually deeper.
For most games of this ilk, that would be enough; the two halves of Dave the Diver work wonderfully, perfectly feeding into each other as you discover new creatures beneath the waves, research new dishes, and explore the Blue Hole more deeply. However, it doesn't take long before this simple, addictive cycle is supplemented with more layers, and it's this commitment to broadening the game that makes it stand out.
Soon, you'll be able to hire and train staff for the restaurant. Guns found in the water become blueprints so you can craft them permanently. You'll get a camera to take photos at certain spots, earning you a little extra money. Special events and VIPs will demand specific foods on certain days. Nighttime dives are introduced, letting you catch nocturnal species at the cost of a shorter night at the restaurant. Collectable cards, boss battles, new diving gear, minigames galore — the game is never sitting still. The good news is that every addition — and there are far more than we've mentioned — makes perfect sense and enhances the overall experience.
These extra complexities are added at a fair pace, but it doesn't feel overwhelming at any point. It's an impressive achievement, because the game becomes so dense with features by the end, and you'll barely notice. We will say that some aspects of Dave the Diver aren't particularly well explained, or not touched on at all, leaving us scratching our head on occasion. However, most of the game's systems are simple enough that the short tutorials are sufficient.
Running hand-in-hand
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pushsquare.com
02.05.2024 / 14:51
Mar 2024 USA Sales: Dragon's Dogma 2 Tops the Charts, Helldivers 2 Is Unstoppable | Push Square
March was a good month for new games, as a number of fresh releases walked straight into the USA software charts. As per Circana (formerly NPD) analyst Mat Piscatella, it was Dragon's Dogma 2 that caught fire in March, claiming the crown as the month's best-selling title. The action RPG sequel is also the third best-selling game of the year, which is quite impressive.
pushsquare.com
02.05.2024 / 14:51
Jackbox Naughty Pack Is an M-Rated Entry in the Popular Party Game Series | Push Square
We don't know about you, but anytime we've ever played Jackbox Party Pack, it's only ever been with people in their late 20s or older. While the successful series of party titles are typically aimed at a broad audience, featuring games suitable for all ages, it seems as though a lot of players are treating it like a game purely for adults. That's the feedback developer Jackbox Games was getting, anyway, and thus we end up here: Jackbox Naughty Pack.
pushsquare.com
02.05.2024 / 14:51
Stellar Blade Is a Best-Seller in the UK After Launch PS5 Sales | Push Square
Stellar Blade was the best-selling physical game in the UK last week, with its launch sales on PS5 being enough to see it top sales charts in the region. Sony and Shift Up haven't shared any official sales data just yet, but this marks a good start for the title, which holds the potential to sell well long-term. TopSpin 2K25 was another new entry in the UK sales chart last week, debuting in third place.
pushsquare.com
30.04.2024 / 01:35
Akuma Brings the Pain to Street Fighter 6 in May on PS5, PS4 | Push Square
The next playable character joining the fun in Capcom's Street Fighter 6 is a proper series staple. The powerful antagonist, Akuma, is next in line, and he'll be swinging his fists when he arrives on 22nd May, 2024.
pushsquare.com
28.04.2024 / 23:49
Knuckles - Fun, Lighthearted Spin-Off Eases the Wait for Sonic 3 | Push Square
Despite some early bumps in the road, Sonic the Hedgehog's live action movie adaptations have been a big success. A third film is due to arrive at the tail end of 2024, and if it's anything like its predecessors, it'll not only boom at the box office, but it'll also be another entertaining all-ages flick the whole family can enjoy. We have confidence it can achieve that after watching Knuckles, a TV mini-series spin-off that's just as fun as its big screen counterparts, if not more so.
pushsquare.com
24.04.2024 / 19:28
Rumour: Sonic Frontiers 2 in the Works, Say Multiple Sources | Push Square
Rumblings of a follow-up to SEGA's Sonic Frontiers are currently doing the rounds. Referred to simply as Sonic Frontiers 2, a couple of known leakers have said the project is currently in development.
pushsquare.com
19.04.2024 / 05:34
PS Plus Premium Brings Back Classic Alone in the Dark Horror for PS5, PS4 | Push Square
If the new Alone in the Dark PS5 reboot has given you a classic survival horror itch, then Sony's subscription service PS Plus Premium is looking to scratch it. Available from Tuesday, 16th April 2024, the old PS1 terror Alone in the Dark: The New Nightmare will be available to members on the top tier, complete with all the bells and whistles that come with the re-releases Sony accepts on the service. It's joined by MediEvil and Star Wars: Rebel Assault II: The Hidden Empire on the same day.
pushsquare.com
19.04.2024 / 05:31
Transmog System 'Doesn't Make Sense' in Helldivers 2, Says CEO | Push Square
We doubt we were alone in wondering whether some kind of transmogrification system could reach fashion-conscious Helldivers 2 players grasping hands, but sadly, that won't be the case. Arrowhead CEO Johan Pilestedt put this particular pipe dream to bed, definitively stating, «We are not doing transmog.»
radiotimes.com
16.04.2024 / 15:21
Dave the Diver trophy guide: Full trophies list as PS5 version arrives
For a small game, Dave the Diver has made a big splash — pun fully intended.
gematsu.com
15.04.2024 / 03:35
This Week’s Japanese Game Releases: Dokuysei: Bangin’ Summer, DAVE THE DIVER for PS5 and PS4, more
Dokuysei: Bangin’ Summer for PlayStation 4 and Switch, and digital releases such as DAVE THE DIVER for PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4, Umurangi Generation for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, PlayStation VR2, and Quest, and Tales of Kenzera: ZAU for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, Switch, and PC are the highlights of this week’s Japanese video game releases.
gadgets.ndtv.com
11.04.2024 / 08:59
PS Plus Game Catalog Titles for April Announced: Dave the Diver, Animal Well, Tales of Kenzera: Zau and More
Sony has revealed the slate of games joining the PlayStation Plus Game Catalog in April. In the coming weeks, PS Plus Extra and Deluxe/Premium tier members will get access to deep-sea exploration RPG Dave the Diver, Metroidvania action title Tales of Kenzera: Zau, indie platformer Animal Well, open-world racing title Crew 2, action platformer Raji: An Ancient Epic and more. Most of these games will be available on the PS Plus catalogue on April 16. Tales of Kenzera: Zau and Animal Well, on the other hand, will join the service as day-one launch titles on April 23 and May 9, respectively.