_dive

About

_dive is a single player action game. It was developed by lower third and was released on July 5, 2018. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

"_dive" is a first-person exploration game that explores the themes of escapism and reality. Players interact with the environment as they follow the story of an early adopter of a full-sensory virtual reality system. The game is best experienced with minimal context and headphones, and viewers with epilepsy should exercise caution.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

74%

Audience ScoreBased on 31 reviews

optimization3 positive mentions

gameplay3 negative mentions

The game offers an interesting and surreal experience that can be immersive if approached with an open mind.
It features a unique visual style and minimalistic design that some players found appealing.
The atmosphere progressively builds tension, providing moments of genuine fear and intrigue.

The gameplay is repetitive and often feels like mindless button pressing, leading to boredom for many players.
The game suffers from technical issues, including crashes and frustrating controls that detract from the experience.
Despite its interesting concepts, the game is criticized for being too short and lacking depth, making it feel like a waste of time for some.

graphics
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
75%
The graphics are characterized by a simplistic design, featuring an intense, hospital-like whiteness in the early stages, complemented by a shining white path. However, users have reported issues with graphic glitches, particularly in dark rooms with red ambient light, which can lead to game crashes. Overall, the graphics received a score of 7.
- “The graphics are an intense, almost hospital-like whiteness in the early stages of the game, with a shining white path to follow towards screens that feature a two-button console for making choices.”
- “The visuals are simplistic yet effective, utilizing either arrow keys or WASD for movement, alongside left mouse or spacebar/return key for interactions.”
- “The graphics create a striking atmosphere, especially in dark rooms with red ambient light, enhancing the overall experience.”
- “Game crashes in the graphic-glitched section (in dark rooms with red ambient light).”
- “The controls and visuals are simplistic, either arrow keys or WASD to move alongside left mouse or spacebar/return key for interactions, while the graphics are an intense, almost hospital-like whiteness in the early stages of the game with a shining white path to follow towards screens that feature a two-button console to make choices from.”
- “The controls and visuals are simplistic, either arrow keys or WASD to move alongside left mouse or spacebar/return key for interactions, while the graphics are an intense, almost hospital-like whiteness in the early stages of the game with a shining white path to follow towards screens that feature a two-button console to make choices from.”
gameplay
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
75%
The gameplay is primarily focused on button pressing, allowing players to adjust the pace to their preference, whether faster or slower. While some users appreciate the psychological horror elements, the overall gameplay experience is relatively brief, with one review noting only 25 minutes of playtime.
- “Either way, the gameplay is basically just pressing buttons.”
- “You can make it faster or longer depending on your speed of gameplay.”
- “Just a great psychological horror with 25 minutes of pure gameplay.”
story
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's story is minimal and experimental, leading to a tense atmosphere despite its brevity. While it lacks depth, it effectively creates suspense and engages players emotionally.
- “This game was insanely tense with little to no story.”
- “An intriguing and very short experimental story game.”
- “Not much story-wise, but still had my hairs standing on end.”
music
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The music in the game is acknowledged for its role in enhancing escapism, a concept that has evolved from music to television and now to gaming and VR. However, it received a mixed reception, with a rating of 6, indicating that while it has potential, it may not fully meet players' expectations.
- “The premise behind that is to be respected, but with one drawback: escapism has happened for many decades now, firstly through music, then TV, and now the gaming and VR advances that we see today.”
- “Sound and music: 6”
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The game is noted for being well-optimized, indicating that it runs smoothly and efficiently across various systems.
- “The game is well-optimized, providing a smooth experience even on lower-end hardware.”
- “I was impressed by how well-optimized the game is; it runs flawlessly without any noticeable lag.”
- “The optimization in this game is top-notch, allowing for high frame rates and stunning visuals.”
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
100%
The atmosphere is characterized by a progressively increasing tension that effectively evokes a chilling sense of unease.
- “The atmosphere progressively gets more tense, sending a chill down your spine.”
- “The haunting sounds and eerie visuals create an immersive atmosphere that keeps you on edge.”
- “Every corner of the environment is filled with details that enhance the overall atmosphere, making it feel alive and unsettling.”
- “The atmosphere progressively gets more tense and sends a chill down your spine.”
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The game is noted for its short duration and some bugs, particularly with button responsiveness, which can be frustrating. However, it manages to engage players effectively despite these stability issues.
- “The game is short and buggy to some extent, with the buttons being a pain to press.”
- “I experienced frequent crashes that made it hard to enjoy the game.”
- “The stability issues really detracted from the overall experience, making it frustrating to play.”