If you're of a certain age, you may remember Scuba Dive — Mike Richardson's underwater classic all about collecting treasure while avoiding aquatic sea creatures and managing your oxygen levels.
The game was originally released all the way back in 1983 for the ZX Spectrum, by the publisher Durell Software, and garnered some excellent reviews from magazines like Crash and Your Sinclair. It also received a couple of ports to the Commodore 64 and Oric. Although, these would admittedly be slightly less well-reviewed than the original version.
If you're questioning why we're bringing the game up now — well, as recently spotted by IndieRetroNews, it appears that a couple of fan developers over at Space-Time Games and Sunteam have gotten together to make a brand new unofficial remake for PC, and it looks absolutely fantastic from what we've seen so far.
The remake includes the original treasure-hunting game mode "with multiple skill levels", but also introduces "an all-new 'Free Dive' mode" where you can enjoy the underwater vibes without dying, and an atmospheric soundtrack from the artist and musician Paul Weller (no, not that one!).
If this sounds like something that floats your boat, you can download the remake for free from itch.io.
[source sunteam.itch.io, via indieretronews.com]
Comments 6
Yeah, I remember it. It was one of the most impressive early ZX Spectrum 48k games. The 16k and 48k versions of ZX Spectrums released in april 1982, so it really was the early days before licensed arcade ports started to be released big time.
I did play Scuba Dive quite a lot, but in the end I found it a bit too finicky for my taste (it requires a lot of patience and concentration and I'm more into something a bit more fast and arcadey - but yeah great game nontheless).
This game had great atmosphere, on the Spectrum. The C64 version I played years later and it's a poor port. Wouldn't mind this on my Switch.
Actually looks like a cool port.
Looks like they've done a great job here!
Never owned it, but I have really fond fuzzy memories of playing this when visiting family friends. Having to wait patiently for a go as I was the youngest! Will have to pick this up.
One of my earliest gaming memories... Loved this on my +2... Looks to be a faithfully port, updated where required, I'll give this a definite look on release... Free Dive mode would be a godsend for a 10 year old frustrated gamer... Hate that Octopuss...
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