The new "In The Jungle" DLC for Dave the Diver, available for $10, significantly expands the game's offerings with a wealth of new activities and a narrative centered around a remote village and a washed-up dinosaur.
Players once again step into the flippers of Dave, who is tasked by Dr. Bacon to investigate a mysterious lake. Bancho, the renowned sushi chef, establishes a restaurant in the village, where locals are initially hesitant of the newcomers. While the core loop of daily dives for spearfishing and restaurant management remains, the DLC introduces a host of new mechanics and challenges.
Deeper Dives and New Dangers
The spearfishing aspect sees Dave exploring a dangerous lake filled with creatures like piranha and crocodiles. He's equipped with new, upgradable gear, including a versatile "Jungle Gun" that can switch between sniper, shotgun, net, and assault rifle modes. As Dave ventures deeper, the aquatic life becomes more bizarre and perilous. The DLC also features traditional fishing with a rod and reel, a mechanic long-requested by players.
A Living, Breathing Village
A major shift in the DLC is the expanded surface world gameplay, which adopts a Stardew Valley-esque perspective. The village, populated by over 30 new characters, is fully explorable, allowing players to interact with its inhabitants, gather resources like plants and herbs, and even craft furniture for the restaurant. This change creates a more cohesive experience, seamlessly blending activities from Dave's customizable cabin to the restaurant and then to the dive site.
Exploring the Jungle and Beyond
Beyond the lake, the "Jungle" portion of the DLC introduces a separate area filled with branching paths and dangerous creatures such as giant spiders, venomous frogs, baboons, and massive snakes. Here, a new turn-based combat system is implemented, where Dave and his companions Cobra and Muna battle threats. This combat involves strategic use of offensive and defensive skills, with timed button presses enhancing attacks or blocks. Cobra's distinct abilities include using dynamite and an incendiary sniper rifle.
Deep within the jungle lies an ancient temple, presenting intricate block-pushing puzzles reminiscent of Zelda challenges. The DLC also hosts a surprising variety of minigames. These include managing and battling horned beetles in a rock-paper-scissors system, bird hunting akin to NES's Duck Hunt, a rhythm minigame with a local musician, block-stacking activities, and fishing in jungle ponds. A mobile app feature allows players to level up a virtual flower using in-game walking and swimming distances.
Character and Relationship Development
The DLC enhances Dave's relationship with the villagers, who, despite living in primitive huts, exhibit modern habits like reading manga and using mobile phones. Each villager has a disposition meter, which players can influence through gentle interaction, uncovering their likes and dislikes. Dave's inherent kindness and humility, a recurring trait from the base game, prove instrumental in winning over the villagers, leading to heartwarming moments as they eventually offer him gifts. This narrative thread, coupled with the sheer volume of engaging activities, makes "In The Jungle" feel less like a content pack and more like a substantial standalone experience.