DAVE THE DIVER: In the Jungle Review — A Worthwhile New Adventure

If you loved the original, the DAVE THE DIVER – In the Jungle DLC is a solid, albeit slightly overstuffed, expansion that breathes new life into the familiar loop. It successfully transports the crew from the familiar blue hole to a remote inland lake, offering roughly seven hours of fresh content that keeps the core hook intact while experimenting with some bold new directions.

A Different Way to Play

The most immediate change in this expansion is the shift to an isometric perspective during the daylight hours. Instead of being locked to the harbor, Dave now explores a local village, interacts with residents, and tackles various mini-games. This social layer is a welcome addition, as it adds depth to the characters and ties progression to specific tasks, like gathering resources for hut decorations or engaging in a beetle-wrestling game.

However, the transition to an active timer—where time passes as you explore—is a smart design choice. It removes the pressure of the base game's restrictive schedules, allowing players to focus on what they enjoy most, whether that is diving for prehistoric fish or simply socializing in the village.

The Highs and Lows of Experimentation

While the diving remains the star of the show, the DLC suffers slightly from trying to do too much. A significant segment involves trekking through a jungle temple, which introduces a turn-based RPG combat system. While it's a surprising departure, it feels shallow compared to the rest of the game. The combat encounters here are often tedious, and the progression system feels inconsistent, rarely rewarding the player for winning difficult, high-level fights.

Conversely, the diving itself is better than ever. The new "jungle gun" is a massive quality-of-life win, combining the net gun, shotgun, rifle, and sniper into one swappable tool. It eliminates the need to constantly cycle through weapons, making both non-lethal captures and combat encounters much smoother. The addition of hydrogen sulfide contamination in the lake also provides a clever, narrative-driven reason for limiting your initial depth, giving the exploration a satisfying sense of progression.

Verdict

Despite some pacing issues caused by an abundance of mini-games, the charm of the world remains intact. If you were hoping for more of the same, you'll be pleased, though you should be prepared for a few detours that don't quite hit the same highs as the main fishing loop.