Bonus Coins 7/10

Dive Alert is an RPG game with a unique overhead display for combat which I have never played before. Created for the neo geo pocket color system by Sacnoth in 1999 it follows the trend that the Pokémon games made where there are two games. One version you play as Becky the other as Matt besides a little dialog change the games are the same with the Becky version being the cheaper and easier to find.

The game takes place in a world where humanity is on its final legs and a world consumed by oceans after the explosion of the Sirius b star 100 years ago. As the player you are on a quest to accumulate enough points to be able to become a citizen of terra the last place where humans can live on land peacefully away from the seas. You also find a group from the resistance in which you interact in the story as they fight against the land of terra controlled by the CDH  Dive Alert is short and sweet with about 6 missions each containing a boss.

At the end of each stage you are brought back to the Domus base for resupply and to upgrade your submarine with new parts you can find or buy. For a game that is so short the amount of upgrades you can do is very high. From mines, torpedoes, missiles, charges and then upgrades in each of those categories it amazing! You can also build your sub for your play style as a tank or fast and agile. The games combat system is not the prettiest but it works simply enough with your sub being able to dive to avoid attacks and your enemies also being able to dive or rise adds to the depth in combat. There is a fun training mode which is more like a shooting gallery and nothing like the actual combat which is silly fun and a quick way to earn spare cash early on.

 I won’t spoil the ending this game takes about 2-4 hours to play and beat I maxed out my sub so it was more on the 4 hour mark playing casually with breaks. The music is simple and nothing amazing and the story is also the same way. Dive Alert is like vanilla ice cream simple but good.