This four-year-old game still hooks me every time I pick it up, and it’s somehow better than I remember

I’m sure most gamers have that one title that just sticks with them throughout the years. Most of us probably have several. You know the type: we stop playing them, even forget about them for a while, but then one day, there it is.

You pick it up to have a quick go, and boom, fifty hours later, you’re as hooked as day one and can’t get enough.

As someone who plays a lot of games (obviously), I have plenty of these games in my library, but few are more fascinating than Dave the Diver.

I know, it’s a story-driven game, and you’d expect a sandbox to have the lead here. If Kenshi 2 were out yet, that would likely be the number one game here. But with the first game starting to really age now, Dave the Diver edges it.

Self-limiting challenges help keep things fun

Every year or so since launch, I revisit Dave the Diver. The art style is so incredibly unique, and the pixel art is gorgeous. And sure, diving down and fishing up whatever you find gets boring after a while, but self-limiting challenges can re-ignite the fun.

One such challenge I like is to set my menu in the morning, then hunt specifically for what I need to make those dishes. Everything else gets ignored. I’ll also often time-limit my dives when I can, and try to be in and out within ten minutes.

Finally, in the Sushi restaurant in the evenings, I like to relax and only worry about the menu and the wasabi. It can get pretty stressful when your staff isn’t up for the challenge, but you’ll just have to spend extra on staff upgrades, as I do.

The best part is the nightmares

What I love most about Dave the Diver is the sheer amount of diligence that went into this game. As far as I can tell, all the fish are based on real-world counterparts. So, unless you’re already a marine biologist, you’ll have the opportunity to learn all about a whole new world.

I like to look up the fish every time I find a new one, and boy, do some of these creatures fuel my nightmares.

Go ahead, look up goblin shark. Look up frilled shark. See my point?

Okay, so maybe the nightmares it can induce aren’t really the best part about the game. It’s more the game itself. The loop is intensely satisfying. The daytime fishing is a blast, and running the restaurant at night is a great change of pace.

Dave the Diver has also been getting regular updates, so it being better than I remember (as I stated in the title) isn’t all that weird. Finding Balatro in Dave the Diver this year was probably my all-time favorite gaming moment for a long, long while.

And if you don’t know what I’m talking about, yeah, a collab means you can play a limited version of Balatro in Dave the Diver, around the time you’re unlocking the Glacial Passage.

But enough about me and my love for this amazing game. I’d love to hear from you! What’s the top game that you revisit every year? I bet it’s Skyrim, isn’t it?

Drop it down in the comments and let’s compare games, shall we?

The post This four-year-old game still hooks me every time I pick it up, and it’s somehow better than I remember appeared first on Destructoid.

The Anti-Virus pack is an important item to find in Marathon if you plan on taking part in the Lockdown event.

While participating in the event is optional, having the Anti-Virus is a non-negotiable due to how Lockdown works. The event takes place on the Dire Marsh map, so expect to find several dangers from runners and UESC alike. Let’s first look at how you can find the Anti-Virus Packs.

How to find Anti-Virus Packs in Marathon

There are two different ways to get an Anti-Virus Pack in Marathon.

Faction Upgrades

Once you’ve unlocked the MIDA faction, you can start working towards unlocking the required upgrade. To do so, you’ll need to take your MIDA faction rank to 5 or above. You’ll also need 23 Unstable Lead and 1500 Credits to get the upgrade. You can find the upgrade in the Armory section from the MIDA faction page.

Lootboxes

If you’re a beginner, it will take some time for you to unlock MIDA and get the required resources. Until you reach that point, you can rely on Lockboxes. However, you’ll first need to open the box. You’ll also have to rely on your luck since Lockboxes don’t necessarily guarantee an Anti-Virus Pack.

You can also find them from lootable containers and boxes, but they appear to be extremely rare. Hence, you’ll best have to hope for some great luck.

How to use Anti-Virus Packs in Marathon

The Anti-Virus Pack is exclusively required for the Lockdown event, as I mentioned earlier. When the event begins on Dire Marsh, consume the item. You’ll then need to look for a Lockdown Drive that has to be inserted into a blue terminal. Having the Anti-Virus consumable allows you to preserve your health and shield in the corrupted field.

While you try to complete the task (of finding the drive), UESC enemies will spawn at your location. Eliminate all to get some loot for yourself, and you can repeat this for up to two more times to try and find something nice.

The post How to get and use Anti-Virus Packs in Marathon appeared first on Destructoid.