Unlikely Allies: The Surprising Crossover of Goddess of Victory: Nikke and Dave The Diver

The collaboration between Dave the Diver, a 2.5D adventure game, and Goddess of Victory: Nikke, a sci-fi RPG shooter, may seem unexpected, but it's a fusion that works. According to Nikke's director, Yoo HyungSuk, the idea for the crossover came about because the development team enjoys playing Dave the Diver and saw an opportunity to combine their different gameplay styles. Jaeho Hwang, the director of Dave the Diver, initially had some concerns about the collaboration due to the differences in art style and gameplay between the two games. However, after receiving the test build, his team was impressed with how well the Nikke development team had integrated Dave the Diver's elements into their game. The crossover event, part of Nikke's July summer event, Beauty Full Shot, allows players to control Nikke characters as they dive into the depths, catch fish, and scavenge ingredients. They can also run a sushi restaurant in the Nikke world with Banjo. The update is accessible via PC and mobile devices, and the Nikke team hopes it will 'surprise and delight players.' The collaboration is not a one-time event, as each game will feature in the other, introducing the games to a new audience. The Nikke team has worked to 'faithfully preserve the original gameplay experience and fun' of Dave the Diver, while also incorporating their own unique elements. Yoo HyungSuk explains that although Goddess of Victory: Nikke is based on arcade shooting gameplay, the team has always strived to offer various fun elements beyond that, including storylines, character collection, and co-op mode. The minigames developed for Nikke have been fast-paced and light-weighted, but the collaboration with Dave the Diver has allowed for a more comprehensive gameplay experience. The gameplay of Nikke and Dave the Diver may seem different, but they share some similarities, such as shooting elements. The collaboration has combined Dave's underwater weapons with Nikke's characters' unique weapons, allowing for a differentiated diving and fishing experience. In terms of art style, the Nikke team retained Dave the Diver's original style to make it visually distinct from Nikke. However, blending the two games together took considerable time and thought, as the challenge was to simplify the framework while retaining the essence of the original gameplay and incorporating Nikke's unique elements. As for what's next, Dave the Diver is working on DLC, and the team plans to utilize a Nikke-themed boat skin in the game. Additionally, they are exploring the possibility of showing more stories of each character in the game. Goddess of Victory: Nikke also has a special 'unannounced collaboration' planned for later this year.