Aug. 30th 2010
A WiiNintendo game review by hattrick.
Game – Dive: The Medes Islands Secret
Version – WiiWare (only version available) for 1000 Points
Time Spent Playing – 3+ hours
Completion – First 2 areas completed
Obtained – Review Copy from Cosmonaut Games
Introduction and Story
Dive: The Medes Islands Secret takes place in a side-scrolling underwater world. You will play John Saunders, an experienced diver and treasure hunter. He is in search of the secrets hidden under the deep surrounding the Medes Islands. Your goal is to find all the secrets without running out of oxygen or dying from the harmful animals and plants. When you find the secret in one area, you will move onto the next location. Does this WiiWare title end up being a treasure or does it sink to the bottom?
Gameplay and Controls
Instead of a full-3D space, similar to Endless Ocean, Dive takes a 2D approach. Also simplified are the controls. You will move Saunders around the screen by simply pointing and holding the B button. To get a burst of speed, tap the B button again. You will also have a few tools to your disposal. The A button controls your speargun. Initially, you can hold up to five darts. To shoot the speargun, simply point and hold A until a shot fires. Use the darts to kill or stun harmful fish or plants. Left on the control pad turns your torch (flashlight) on and off. The battery does die over time, but it will re-charge by turning it off for a bit. The torch will also help, as it doubles as a treasure detector. To access your map, just press right on the control pad. To collect treasure, simply swim over them. Your torch, speargun, air tanks, wetsuit, and fins are all available for upgrades in the shop. Simply use your money you find treasure hunting to buy new equipment. You will need to do this in order to find all the collectibles.
Keeping the gameplay and controls as simple as possible makes Dive easily accessible. However, that does not mean it is only for the casual audience. If you are a collector, and desire to find all the hidden treasures in a game, Dive is definitely up your alley. A bit of action, shooting sharks and other dangerous creatures, also adds to the gameplay. It is not always safe, so do not expect extremely calm diving. There are three different levels (easy, normal, hard), so if one level is too easy for you, move up to the next difficulty. As I did play through easy on this review, just to get a good feel of the game, I will admit it was a bit too easy at times.
Atmosphere (Visuals and Sound)
Dive is easily one of the best looking games on the WiiWare service. It is tough to cram high quality graphics into the size restrictions for WiiWare, but Cosmonaut Games seems to know how to do it. While it obviously does not look like an HD dive, you do get the sense that you are underwater. The colors are vibrant, and it is definitely a game you will not get tired of watching.
The music is calming and inviting. In fact, I just kept the game running in the background as I wrote this review to enjoy the tunes. Orchestral sounds composed by El Topo Negro will play as you navigate the menus and dive underwater. When you start to run out of oxygen, a simple heartbeat sound will let you know. Similarly, when you begin to reach your maximum depth, an alarm will sound, warning you to not go deeper.
Concluding Overall Impressions
While this game might not be for everyone, I can definitely say that most people will enjoy it. The great music and detailed graphics invite you in, and the treasure-searching style will keep you coming back for more. Top that off with achievements, and you have a great title. The only thing that would probably make it better is cooperative play and some online components.
Final Score:
BUY IT – While it may not compare to actual deep sea treasure hunting, it may be the next best thing. Not to mention, it is much cheaper. For 1000 points, you will definitely enjoy several hours searching around the Medes Islands for the secrets of the deep.
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