Unusual RPG action
If you're looking for a bit of a change from the usual fantasy-style RPGs like Zelda and so on, then Diver Down could be just what you're looking for. It plays out in familiar top-down fashion but distinguishes itself from other similar games through its well written and unusual story while also being simply good fun to play. The story starts out with our hero waking up in an underground battlefield, with no memory of how he got there. The rest of the game then follows his quest to regain his memories and re-discover just who he is. What follows is a long way from the usual 'kill the bad guy'plot seen in RPGs and will have you hooked to the end, thanks to its rich, detailed and believable world. Gameplay is fairly standard for the genre, with all the usual exploring, random battles, items, sidequests and so on that we've come to expect from such things, although one problem here is that battles are too frequent and a little repetitive. Visually, the game is a bit of a mixed bag, with a strange blend of lovely character and environmental work standing alongside some very bland and uninteresting material, although overall things are fairly charming. Music however is well done, and adds much to the strong atmosphere. There are also a few unusual elements to the mechanics of the gameplay and a few bugs to watch out for which can prove annoying. However, the story here is very strong, partially due to its general originality, and the game really does hook you in right from the start. Althugh a tad uneven, on the whole Diver Down is a cracking little RPG.
