CINERIS SOMNIA
- October 9, 2018
- NAYUTA STUDIO
"Cineris Somnia" is a story-driven, atmospheric adventure game set in a surreal world. As Nayuta, you'll explore dreamscapes, solve puzzles, and uncover the truth behind your forgotten past. With its distinctive art style and emotionally charged narrative, Cineris Somnia offers a unique and memorable gaming experience.
Reviews
- CINERIS SOMNIA features a captivating atmosphere and a beautifully crafted story that resonates emotionally with players, often evoking strong feelings.
- The game is visually stunning, with gorgeous environments and a haunting soundtrack that enhances the overall experience.
- The unique storytelling approach, where players explore the narratives of different characters, adds depth and intrigue to the gameplay.
- The slow movement speed and constant backtracking can make the gameplay feel tedious and frustrating, detracting from the overall experience.
- Navigation can be confusing due to unclear objectives and a lack of helpful map features, leading to players getting lost frequently.
- Some technical issues, such as awkward camera angles and dated graphics, can pull players out of the immersive experience.
- story135 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 65 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The story of "Cineris Somnia" is praised for its emotional depth and unique storytelling methods, including environmental cues and character notes, which create an immersive experience reminiscent of classic psychological horror games. Players appreciate the gradual unfolding of each character's narrative, particularly highlighting the poignant tales of young women, though some find the pacing slow and the gameplay repetitive. Overall, the game is recognized as a hidden gem with a beautiful atmosphere and a compelling, albeit sometimes convoluted, storyline that resonates deeply with players.
“I felt the emotions of the game and the story; it made me cry a little.”
“Each chapter has a moving story that gradually expands as you explore each area.”
“The storytelling is very slow and dream-like (which is probably the point).”
“Senseless story and empty similar rooms like a liminal space.”
“The story they attempted to put out there was pretty good in and of itself, in fact it was the only thing that kept me playing, but the game is a serious slog-fest even when supposedly in 'run' mode.”
“You just run around, with no story whatsoever, guessing what to do next, because the game won’t give you a single hint.”
- atmosphere53 mentions
- 81 % positive mentions
- 13 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its haunting, melancholic qualities, enhanced by superb audio, detailed visuals, and immersive storytelling. Players appreciate the slow-paced exploration and the way the environments evolve, creating a rich, eerie ambiance reminiscent of classic psychological horror titles. Overall, the game's atmosphere is considered its strongest feature, drawing players into a beautifully crafted world filled with intrigue and emotional depth.
“The atmosphere and audio are superbly done (I just wish the beautiful music played more often!) and the voice acting is fantastic.”
“A hidden gem <3 an intriguing, melancholic, and atmospheric game that has a dark, eerie undertone with a dash of horror elements.”
“The atmosphere cannot be rivaled.”
“The atmosphere is mostly quiet and slow except for the black butterfly (Ophelia's story).”
“It might not be everyone's cup of tea because of how slow and clunky it is at times, but the atmosphere and storytelling are definitely worth it if you decide to put a bit of patience into the experience.”
“Very Silent Hill-esque, where it relies mostly on eerie atmosphere and creepy story plots rather than jumpscares.”
- graphics49 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 61 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating the nostalgic PS2-era aesthetic and beautiful visuals that enhance the atmosphere. However, several reviewers noted that the graphics are somewhat dated and could be considered mediocre by modern standards, which may detract from the experience for some players. Overall, while the visuals may not be cutting-edge, they effectively contribute to the game's storytelling and immersive environment.
“I just finished one of the stories, but I'd recommend it and give it a thumbs up for the beautiful visuals and aesthetics.”
“There is a great mix of horror and beauty, very effective visuals and sound design.”
“The graphics/art style is really good, a bit anime-ish, but I don't mean that in a bad way.”
“The graphics are very PS3, so don't expect to be floored by them, and the environments they have you walking through are usually fairly small, so you probably shouldn't get this game if you want your walking simulator to just be a pleasant stroll through some pretty environments either.”
“The graphics are mediocre at best for a game like this, but certainly not as bad as I expected it to be.”
“I would normally expect a walking simulator to place emphasis on its story and graphics, but Cineris Somnia has definitely faltered on the latter.”
- music44 mentions
- 52 % positive mentions
- 41 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its haunting beauty and atmospheric quality, enhancing the overall experience with a minimalist classical-based soundtrack and occasional dark ambient elements. While some players noted the repetitiveness of certain tracks, many found the soundtrack to be a standout feature that complements the game's emotional and surreal storytelling. Overall, the combination of music, voice acting, and sound design contributes significantly to the game's immersive atmosphere.
“The music in the game was very good; definitely nice tracks to listen to.”
“The story was interesting, but what you'll most likely enjoy out of this game is the great atmosphere and amazing soundtrack.”
“The soundtrack, the graphics, and especially the atmosphere are amazing.”
“A little confused people are praising the music in particular, as it's often two or three bars of soft piano music on repeat.”
“Sometimes you get tormented with backtracking, finding other ways and listen to repeating short music passages only to honor you for enduring all this with relieving beautiful visuals and music.”
“There is no sound options, you can't lower or raise certain sound effects or music.”
- gameplay37 mentions
- 14 % positive mentions
- 62 % neutral mentions
- 24 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game is primarily characterized as a slow-paced walking simulator with minimal mechanics, focusing on narrative exploration and item collection. While some players appreciate the atmospheric and artistic elements, many criticize the repetitive and tedious nature of the gameplay, often feeling lost due to poorly designed maps. Overall, the experience may appeal to those who prioritize story and ambiance over engaging gameplay mechanics.
“My favorite chapter in particular is chapter 2 (Ophelia's story), as it introduces classic horror game mechanics - it puts me very much in the mind of Haunting Ground!”
“The gameplay is slow-paced, but I feel like there are so many games that are straight to the point and action-based that this game is a welcomed change!”
“I love the whole vibe, the art, the story... the mechanics are very simple but make for chill and atmospheric gameplay.”
“The maps suck, they're barely any help if I'm being honest, it's very easy getting lost in this game so you will have to use some online walkthroughs which makes the gameplay feel like a boring chore.”
“The gameplay isn't great, and that will definitely be dealbreaking for some.”
“It's probably a beautiful game with a meaningful story that'll never see through to the end due to some of the most monotonous gameplay I've ever experienced.”
- emotional12 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is widely praised, with players noting its ability to evoke strong feelings, including tears during poignant moments, particularly in the chapters featuring Ophelia and Charlotte. The narrative is described as a heartfelt and heartbreaking journey that tackles themes like child neglect, complemented by a moving piano score, despite some awkward animations. Overall, the game is recognized as a thought-provoking experience that resonates deeply with players.
“I felt the emotions of the game and the story; it made me cry a little.”
“I loved Ophelia's chapter, and Charlotte's almost made me cry.”
“Beautiful and heartbreaking game.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is a mixed bag; while some users find it very optimized, others point out significant flaws, suggesting that it doesn't require extensive optimization despite its shortcomings.
“The game is very optimized overall.”
“Despite some flaws, the game runs smoothly and is well optimized for performance.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be slow-paced and often tedious, with repetitive tasks like running back and forth across the map contributing to a sense of monotony.
“Slow-paced gameplay can be tedious at times.”
“It got to be really tedious running back and forth across the map.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game's stability is marred by occasional visual glitches, awkward character animations, and choppy frame rates, which can detract from the overall experience.
“There are occasional visual glitches, awkward character animations, and choppy frame rates that can pull you out of the experience.”
“The game crashes frequently, making it frustrating to progress.”
“I encountered several bugs that caused the game to freeze, requiring me to restart.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players find the game highly replayable due to its stunning visuals and engaging gameplay, making it enjoyable for both solo play and streaming to friends, despite its medium length. Many feel it offers good value for the money spent.
“Stunning and despite its medium length playtime, it feels replayable for streaming to friends or experiencing again on your own. It definitely felt worth the money.”
“The game offers so many different choices and paths that I can't wait to dive back in and explore all the possibilities.”
“Each playthrough feels fresh and engaging, making it easy to return for another round.”
“The game is stunning, but despite its medium length, it doesn't offer much in terms of replayability. Once you've experienced it, there's little incentive to go back.”
“While the game is enjoyable, I found that after completing it once, there wasn't enough variety to make me want to replay it.”
“The initial experience was great, but the lack of different outcomes or choices really limits its replayability.”