Broken Dreams
- February 18, 2016
- Mihai Morosanu
Get on Steam"Broken Dreams" is a platformer game featuring a dark, melancholy story of unrequited love and hand-drawn gothic artwork. Players control the character Jack and his shadow friends, copies that repeat his previous actions, to overcome obstacles and solve levels. The game offers new levels, professional voice-overs, and a free asset pack in its expansion from the original flash-based version.
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Reviews
- The game features clever mechanics that allow players to create shadow clones to solve puzzles, providing a unique gameplay experience.
- The music is calming and well-received, enhancing the emotional atmosphere of the game.
- Many players found the game enjoyable for its price, appreciating its short playtime and simple yet engaging puzzles.
- The game is criticized for its short length, with many players completing it in under an hour, leaving them wanting more content.
- Voice acting has been described as poor and mismatched, detracting from the overall experience.
- Several reviews highlight the game's lack of originality, comparing it unfavorably to other titles and noting that it feels like a derivative work.
- story96 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The game's story, centered around unrequited love, is often described as clichéd and underwhelming, with many reviewers noting its lack of depth and character development. While some appreciate the emotional resonance and the potential for reflection, the overall execution is criticized for being flat, poorly narrated, and reminiscent of better titles. The combination of basic storytelling and gameplay mechanics leaves many players feeling disappointed, suggesting that the narrative fails to engage or provide closure.
“Where I come from, when we share a story, it spans eons, echoing the tales of our ancestors.”
“That's what makes this game's story hit home for me...”
“It's got lovely artwork, beautiful music and a (short) story to tell along with an interesting mechanic.”
“The graphics are pretty unprofessional-looking, the story is just about the most cliche you can find, and the music is generic 'sad, sentimental' music.”
“Too short to get attached to the characters, but no matter how long the game was, storytelling is so bad no character development would ever happen.”
“The story promised well, but made no sense in the end.”
- gameplay56 mentions
- 39 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The gameplay features clever mechanics centered around shadow manipulation, offering a mix of puzzle-solving and platforming elements. While some players appreciate the unique concepts and engaging level design, others criticize the game for its short length, lack of challenge, and similarities to other titles, leading to a mixed reception overall. Despite its flaws, many find the gameplay enjoyable for a brief experience, though it may not stand out in a crowded genre.
“The gameplay is freaking amazing.”
“This game is a short, sweet, little puzzle platformer with well thought out levels and several interesting, unique mechanics.”
“Overall, I did enjoy the gameplay, but wish it had been longer.”
“However, a boring story, really odd voice acting, and short gameplay make this a pass, unless you get it in a bundle or on sale, but at that point you might as well get some other puzzle game, like Braid.”
“The gameplay's gimmicks get wonky at times (shadows not following your previous actions and not working in level 7 for some unexplained reason).”
“This mechanic has been done by several flash games already, and this game doesn't do it very well.”
- music54 mentions
- 37 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally described as beautiful and calming, often characterized as "sad piano" that sets an emotional tone for the story. While many players appreciate the soothing quality of the soundtrack, some note its repetitiveness and lack of variety, with only one track looping throughout the game. Overall, the music is seen as a highlight, despite some criticisms regarding its generic nature and potential to become annoying over time.
“Beautiful music.”
“The music is the same selection you've heard in the trailer labeled 'It's Hard to Let Go' (the name alone sets the mood of the entire game's plot) by Michael Ortega, which is more commonly referred to as 'sad piano' by other users.”
“This game is only forty-nine cents and it has great music and a unique art style...for the price alone, get it.”
“The music is the same selection you've heard in the trailer labeled 'it's hard to let go' (the name alone sets the mood of the entire game's plot) by Michael Ortega, which is more commonly referred to as 'sad piano' by other users.”
“Music is repetitive and there is only 1 track.”
“The graphics are pretty unprofessional-looking, the story is just about the most cliché you can find, and the music is generic 'sad, sentimental' music.”
- graphics24 mentions
- 42 % positive mentions
- 42 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some praising the unique art style and calming music, while others criticize the visuals as unprofessional and lacking animation. Many users feel that the promised "beautiful" hand-drawn artwork falls short, comparing it to poorly crafted ice sculptures, and suggest that the overall aesthetic may not appeal to those who prioritize graphics in their gaming experience. Despite these criticisms, some players find the game's low price point and artistic elements worth considering.
“The art style is pretty nice and the music is calming.”
“This game is only forty-nine cents and it has great music and a unique art style...for the price alone, get it.”
“It's got lovely artwork, beautiful music and a (short) story to tell along with an interesting mechanic.”
“The graphics are pretty unprofessional-looking, the story is just about the most cliche you can find, and the music is generic 'sad, sentimental' music.”
“Slightly better visuals will rip your eyes out due to being written in Flash, so no texture filtering.”
“If aesthetic is a deal breaker for you, then this probably isn't the game for you.”
- emotional14 mentions
- 71 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 29 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of "Broken Dreams" elicits mixed reactions; while some players find the themes of unrequited love and the accompanying music to be deeply moving, others criticize the story as boring and the voice acting as odd. Despite its potential for an immersive experience, many feel that the gameplay and narrative fail to deliver, leading to a lack of emotional engagement overall.
“So, when I encountered 'Broken Dreams', I was hoping for an immersive experience, similar to the heart-wrenching tales of love and loss we share during our long winter nights.”
“This game is so sad, yet so heartbreaking.”
“It's so wonderful with the emotional music and the puzzles being quite easy.”
“However, the boring story, really odd voice acting, and short gameplay make this a pass. Unless you get it in a bundle or on sale, you might as well get some other puzzle game, like Braid.”
“Plain boring story.”
- stability4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's stability is marred by clunky controls and frequent bugs, particularly with the shadow mechanics that can become frustratingly unresponsive and glitchy. Overall, players report a lack of polish that detracts from the overall experience.
“Clunky controls, buggy clones, poorly made.”
“The shadows that separate from you and repeat your movements can be buggy and frustrating at times.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is generally described as somber, but the female voice actor's performance is criticized for being jarring and mismatched, detracting from the overall mood. In contrast, the male voice actor's performance is deemed acceptable, highlighting a disparity in vocal delivery that affects the immersive experience.
“The male voice actor was acceptable, but the female voice sounded like she had just emerged from a cold swim in icy waters; her performance felt off-putting and mismatched to the somber atmosphere.”
- character development2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is criticized for being insufficient, with players feeling that the short duration prevents meaningful attachment to the characters. Additionally, the poor storytelling further hampers any potential for character growth, leading to a lack of engagement.
“The game is too short to get attached to the characters, and no matter how long it was, the storytelling is so poor that no character development ever occurs.”
“The character development is lacking; I couldn't form any emotional connection with them.”
“There is minimal character growth throughout the game, making it hard to care about their journeys.”
