Bad Dream: Fever
- November 15, 2018
- Desert Fox
- 4h median play time
Get on Steam"Bad Dream: Fever" is a dark, atmospheric adventure game with point-and-click mechanics. The player must navigate a series of unsettling environments and solve puzzles to uncover the mystery behind their bad dreams. With hand-drawn art and a haunting soundtrack, the game delivers a unique and immersive horror experience.
Mac OS
Nintendo Switch
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game features a unique narrative and atmosphere that keeps players engaged.
- The artwork and graphics have significantly improved, providing a visually appealing experience.
- The puzzles are clever and require out-of-the-box thinking, adding to the overall enjoyment.
- The gameplay feels linear and railroaded, lacking the exploration and item experimentation found in previous installments.
- There are no achievements or multiple endings, which diminishes replayability and player choice.
- The dialogue can be tedious and the fourth wall breaks may feel forced, detracting from the immersive experience.
- story151 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 59 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The game's story has received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating its creativity, emotional depth, and engaging twists, particularly in relation to the previous entries in the series. However, some found the narrative predictable and criticized its linearity, which limited player choice and exploration. Overall, while the story is often described as thought-provoking and beautifully presented, it also faced criticism for pacing issues and a reliance on fourth-wall breaks that some players found tedious.
“The story was incredible and I loved all the references to the older games.”
“This game has a linear story with a somewhat overdone twist, and the horror elements aren't nearly as prevalent as in its predecessor.”
“The story is oddly touching (and relatable to me as a creative myself), and you can really tell it came from the writers' hearts.”
“The story has legs, but sadly the partner in this journey is not likeable.”
“Didn't find it as interesting or replayable as other games; there were some instances of spookiness, but overall the story felt forced and the gameplay was more restrictive.”
“The sudden story change into a fourth wall break felt out of place, and the main story suddenly started to be about the developer's mental breakdown in the process of making this game.”
- graphics63 mentions
- 51 % positive mentions
- 43 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game have received widespread praise for their significant improvement, unique art style, and detailed visuals, which enhance the overall atmosphere and experience. Many reviewers noted the beautiful artwork and creative design, although some expressed disappointment that the gameplay did not match the graphical advancements. Overall, while the visuals are a highlight, opinions vary on whether they compensate for perceived shortcomings in gameplay and story depth.
“A story to contemplate, engaging gameplay, and beautiful graphics.”
“Bad Dream Fever is a fantastic follow-up that expands upon the bad dream world in a distinctly unique story and beautiful art style.”
“The graphics are amazingly detailed and are stylistically beautiful.”
“I think it's supposed to be a sequel of some sort to Coma, but it feels like only the graphics were improved and the gameplay was downgraded.”
“The graphics have improved, but that's not all a game is supposed to be.”
“The graphics are really improved since the last game, but I wish you'd rather spent half of the time you invested on the graphic part on the gameplay design.”
- gameplay62 mentions
- 15 % positive mentions
- 76 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with many players noting a significant downgrade from its predecessor, "Bad Dream: Coma." Critics highlight its linearity, tedious mechanics, and vague puzzle design, which often leads to frustration and a lack of engagement. While some appreciate the improved graphics and innovative elements, the overall consensus is that the gameplay feels simplistic and lacks the depth and replayability expected from a sequel.
“A story to contemplate, engaging gameplay, and beautiful graphics.”
“Love the concept, style, and innovative gameplay!”
“Not only is the story driven from personal drives (for the developer and for myself) but the soundtrack/ambiance was amazing, the art style was improved and utilized to be creative with its source material, and the puzzles and gameplay themselves were really creative, smile-provoking (without killing the mood and atmosphere of the game) and sometimes just straight up genius.”
“I think it's supposed to be a sequel of some sort to Coma, but it feels like only the graphics were improved and the gameplay was downgraded.”
“The gameplay is a pain, as in all pieces of the Bad Dream series: pixel-hunt and click around, re-visit all places, rinse, repeat.”
“I'll start with the obvious one: gameplay is very linear, feels empty, and is pretty tedious with vague goals where you have to remember every detail in the world, devolving into complete guessing that tries to claim to be puzzles.”
- atmosphere24 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of "Bad Dream: Fever" is described as dark, stylized, and eerie, effectively creating a sense of loneliness and despair that enhances the horror experience. While many players appreciate the improved graphics and unique narrative, some feel that the atmosphere lacks the depth and tension found in its predecessor, "Bad Dream: Coma." Overall, the game delivers a visually appealing and immersive environment, though opinions vary on its ability to maintain a captivating atmosphere throughout.
“Bad Dream: Fever is another dark and stylized atmospheric horror adventure in an apocalyptic setting, in which the player tries to comprehend and stop an ink-like pandemic.”
“The overall atmosphere, graphics, and art style have improved, but the gameplay is a bit less impactful than Coma, which is fine if you can see it as its own game instead of a follow-up from Coma.”
“I personally really like this game; the moody atmosphere does a great job of instilling a sense of loneliness and despair.”
“Essentially, all of these elements combined manage to siphon the previously pervasive tense and dreadful atmosphere out of this release.”
“The soundtrack isn't all that captivating this time around, and it doesn't do much to push the atmosphere in a tense direction.”
“I tried playing this multiple times, left it, started it again, and then left again. I just don't get it; there is no atmosphere, the story is weak and rather pointless.”
- music17 mentions
- 18 % positive mentions
- 65 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the atmospheric background that enhances the experience, while others find it ordinary or lacking in engagement. Several users noted that the soundtrack effectively complements the art style and overall ambiance, though some felt it didn't significantly contribute to the game's tension or action. Overall, while the music has its merits, it appears to be a divisive aspect, with opinions ranging from praise for its thematic elements to criticism for its lack of impact.
“I would highly recommend wearing headphones while playing this game as the background music really does envelop you in the scenery.”
“I honestly loved the art style, music, and dialogues.”
“Not only is the story driven from personal drives (for the developer and for myself) but the soundtrack/ambiance was amazing, the art style was improved and utilized to be creative with its source material.”
“Just filling noises/no music.”
“The soundtrack isn't all that captivating this time around, and it doesn't do much to push the atmosphere in a tense direction.”
“Sounds design and music are still very much forcing that scary vibe, and it's kind of annoying after a while.”
- grinding10 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, often describing the gameplay as linear and filled with vague goals that lead to repetitive and pointless tasks. Many reviewers express that the puzzle-solving elements feel more like a chore than an engaging challenge, with some puzzles being unnecessarily obtuse and requiring excessive backtracking. The lengthy dialogues and poor translation further contribute to the overall sense of tedium, making the experience feel less rewarding.
“So not really worth playing unless you got it for free or if you can ignore the tedious gameplay, then in a bundle or a really cheap discount.”
“I'll start with the obvious one: gameplay is very linear, feels empty, and is pretty tedious with vague goals where you have to remember every detail in the world, devolving into complete guessing that tries to claim to be puzzles.”
“Rinse and repeat, it becomes quite tedious.”
- replayability10 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is considered low, with many players noting its linear structure and lack of multiple endings or significant choices. While some aspects, like creative puzzles and memorable dialogues, provide a brief entertainment value, the absence of achievements and varied gameplay elements diminishes the incentive to replay.
“🔲 Infinitely replayable (or almost).”
“I've played every Bad Dream game since Butcher, and I always thought they had an incredibly unique charm, allowing for replayability even though they are pretty linear games.”
“The dialogues are excellent, some of the later puzzles are truly creative, and while it may have less replayability, it more than makes up for it in being memorable.”
“Unless achievements are added, then I'm definitely not replaying this. There is no replayability at all.”
“It is completely linear, offers no replayability, and in the middle of a playthrough, the story turns into a completely unexpected direction, breaking the fourth wall in a way that will remind some of Pony Island.”
“I think the biggest con for Fever is that it is linear, lacking the multiple consequence-heavy choices that existed in previous Bad Dream games, and therefore also lacking alternate endings and replayability.”
- humor9 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is a mixed bag; while some players find it clever and amusing, particularly appreciating the mission control character, others feel it can be inconsistent and sometimes detracts from the overall tone. The humor seems to resonate more with younger audiences, and while some jokes elicit a chuckle, others may come off as tedious or misplaced within the game's narrative. Overall, the effectiveness of the humor varies significantly among players.
“It's really funny she just has a bra hanging on her doorknob.”
“Oh, haven't I mentioned yet that the game is funny and clever?”
“The jokes were incredibly funny!”
- emotional4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its touching and relatable story, which resonates deeply with players, particularly those in creative fields. Reviewers appreciate the heartfelt writing and the personal growth reflected in the game's development, fostering a strong emotional engagement throughout the experience. Despite some criticism from the community, many feel the game successfully captures a unique emotional depth that enhances player investment.
“The story is oddly touching and relatable to me as a creative myself, and you can really tell it came from the writers' hearts.”
“I don't care how many people moaned about how it's not just like the previous game; this was a fantastic game that kept me engaged emotionally the entire ride.”
“I recommend this game because it shows the growth of the developer from the last game and has more of a personal feel to it that aids the player in getting mentally and emotionally invested.”
- character development3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is highlighted by well-crafted character designs that enhance the overall experience, with some characters being both enjoyable and silly despite occasional annoyance. The art style and attention to detail in character design are praised, reflecting the significant thought invested in the game's development.
“The level of thought that went into this game was absolutely incredible, and the character designs were amazing.”
“Great art style and character design, as needed for this type of game.”
“The woman was annoying at times, but she was still enjoyable and silly, and I love her character design; she's drawn really well.”
- stability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Overall, users report experiencing several glitches and technical issues that negatively impact the gaming experience, although some believe these may be isolated incidents.
“I've also experienced quite a few glitches that have hurt the gaming experience, but this is most likely an isolated incident.”
“Just lots and lots of blue ink and computer glitches.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Reviewers express concern that the game's monetization strategy includes unnecessary content and complex achievements that seem designed more for marketing purposes than enhancing gameplay, suggesting a disconnect between the game's actual scope and its promotional presentation.
“The game has more unnecessary content and features that feel out of place and seem designed solely for advertising, making it appear much bigger than the developers intended.”
“The monetization strategy feels overly aggressive, pushing players to spend money on features that should be part of the core experience.”
“I find the in-game purchases to be frustratingly essential for progression, which detracts from the overall enjoyment of the game.”
