Divers: A little more info would be really nice...

[GoatusMax]

Stats, man, STATS?!?! Can I have some numbers? Could I get a little bit of explanation of what the different characters and item "Elements" mean? What happens if I mix and match? Why are the mallets so weak? Do they do something against particular enemies or something? I love this game and I want to know what's going on. An instruction manual would be great. Kudos to the developers for recreating the 80's/90's gaming experience, but I'm a little lost, thanks.

[Snarboo]

A user on Reddit compiled a very nice guide[docs.google.com] for the game using Google Sheets. Do note that it spoils the entire game.

As for the weapon elements, pay attention to enemy and weapon colors. There's a rock paper scissors mechanic going on there, with certain enemy types being weaker to some weapon elements. Hammer type weapons, on the other hand, count as both a shield and weapon. When used defensively, they give you the full defense bonus a shield would, but they do not give you the passive defense bonus otherwise. You can also attack with shields. While they do less damage than dedicated weapons, they block damage from enemies that hit you back like the Urchins in the starting area.

A lot of the fun in this game is figuring out how things work, but the guide is there if you get stuck or don't feel like it.

[Echoing Lion]

Slowly exploring is the way to go in the beginning. Healing up at the spawning area is free, so no harm in returning. I haven't played Divers for very long myself, but like Snarboo said, there's a elemental system here. To keep things simple, the three elements are basically represented by Pink, Yellow, and Green. If an enemy flashes bright when you hit them, that means you've struck their weakness. For example, the electric eels flash pink when you hit them with pink weapons.

Weapon durability is a thing however, so make sure to keep an eye on it every so often. Aside from that, just take it slow until you build up a good amount of cash for potions and the like. Should make traveling deeper in the ocean easier. Bit by bit.