CaptainD's Freeware Game Digest #3 - Diver Down
May 20 '04 (Updated Sep 18 '07)
The Bottom Line A truly original freeware RPG. Now that's a rarity... (oh yeah, it's really good, too!)
CaptainD's Freeware Game Digest #3 - Diver Down
Yes, you’d better believe it, issue 3 is here. It’s not a lack of great new freeware games coming out – it’s just finding time to review them. In fact I had more or less shelved the idea but kept being bothered by my conscience about one particular game I’d played and actually told the author that I was going to review it, so that one at least I’m going to review. (Partly to salve my conscience, partly because, not only is it a great little RPG, it is also quite different to most freeware RPGs, and partly as it might encourage the game’s author (Grenideer) to write another game…)
Diver Down differs from your standard freeware RPG in several ways. Firstly, it’s written with a package called Verge 2 (I won’t provide the link because I have never been able to access the site, but the link’s still up on the Diver Down site, which I will link to… - er no hang on, it seems to be working now! - www.verge-rpg.com ) – the vast majority of freeware RPGs are created with RPGMaker – it doesn’t require hours of repetitive battles to level up enough to beat the harder monsters, there’s a really strong, original storyline – it uses cinematic techniques quite effectively to build up the atmosphere, it’s not a “save the world” or “good vs. evil” quest, and it’s much more puzzle-based than fighting-based. All of which are good things (not to say that RPGMaker games, levelling up, saving the world etc are bad in themselves!), and it’s all put together so well that it culminates to make one of the best freeware gaming experiences you’re ever likely to have.
The game opens with a long cinematic cut sequence, at the end of which you find yourself imprisoned, having lost your memory, not knowing who your friends and enemies are, and having in your possession technology far more advanced than the planet you’re inhabiting has invented yet, but not knowing how to use it – or where you got it. You have some form of electronic journal, but it’s been damaged so you can’t access it at the start of the game.
The plot is a mix of sci-fi and fantasy, and there is a real sense of intrigue as the story unravels. There are plenty of surprises along the way and this plot would make a fantastic film (any takers?). The dialogue is generally well thought out, with the insight shown by the author (especially in scenes where the hero of the game, Drek, is trying to make sense of his discoveries) more than making up for some grammatical errors and inconsistency. (There is also a bit of bad language in this game – not a great deal, but really it was unnecessary. There’s not so much that it will ruin the game for you unless you are really sensitive.)
The battle system is a little different from normal in that you can “recharge” – use a turn to build up your stats – as well as the normal “attack – spell” system, and the battles tend to be a little more strategy-based than the normal “just keep pressing the space bar as quickly as possibly…” method.
The puzzles range from dead easy to damn tricky, and I’m afraid I did need to email the author twice in order to complete the game. (Though on both of them I was actually on the right lines already, just not quite all the way there…) Oddly the two mentioned on the game’s homepage I found extremely easy, but just those two really had me baffled for a while.
The music’s very good (adds very significantly to the large download size though) and the sound effects well-chosen. The graphics are pretty basic but in the cut scenes look great – they have a real retro feel to them (reminds me of “Under a Steel Sky” on the Amiga and the intro to “Powermonger” on my old ST). The fact that they’re all hand-drawn, original graphics is a welcome change from all the free games using ripped or universal graphics, too. (Graphics by “Metro” and “Arias”)
The game will probably take you around 15-20 hours to complete, which ain’t bad for a freebie! It’s greatest merit is by far the storyline, which I would say without hesitation is the best, and most original, that I have yet seen – in any RPG, let alone a free one! Very highly recommended.
Final Ratings
Graphics: - 8/10 – some cool retro artwork that will bring back happy memories if you ever owned a 16-bit computer, functional in-game graphics
Sound: - 10/10 – some of the most impressive music you’re ever likely to hear in a freeware game, well-chosen sound FX
Playability: - 9/10 – easy to pick up
Longevity: - 8/10 – I wish it could have lasted a bit longer, but considering you’re not spending extra hours levelling up, 15-20 hours is good
Replay Value: - 6/10 – these games never tend to draw you back after you’ve completed them, but this one does slightly more because the storyline is so good.
Overall Rating: - 9/10 – a very worthy freeware RPG, and original through and through – a real rarity!
Download Size: - 20MB (versions available for newer and older versions of Windows, the same file size for each)
Where to get it: - http://www.grenideer.com/diverdown/_htm/download.htm
(Exact system requirements unknown, but I wouldn’t have thought you’d need anything special to run this.)
Thanks for reading,
Dave
Copyright 2004 Dave Seaman
Please feel free to link to this article. If you wish to quote from it, please feel free but I would appreciate it if you also include a link.
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See CaptainD’s Freeware Game Digest #1 & Index for more freeware game reviews.
See also: My Top Ten Freeware Adventure Games (September 2007 Edition)
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