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
- The game features beautiful visuals and a haunting soundtrack that enhances the atmospheric experience.
- The storytelling is rich and engaging, with deep symbolism and emotional narratives that resonate with players.
- It offers a unique blend of walking simulator and horror elements, providing a compelling experience for those who appreciate slow-paced, narrative-driven games.
- The gameplay is often slow and tedious, with frustrating backtracking and navigation issues that can detract from the overall experience.
- The character movement speed is excessively slow, making exploration feel like a chore rather than an engaging activity.
- Some players may find the lack of clear objectives and guidance leads to confusion and a sense of aimlessness during gameplay.
- story111 mentions
- 34 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The game's story is a rich, atmospheric narrative that unfolds through exploration and environmental storytelling, reminiscent of classic psychological horror titles. Players engage with a series of interconnected tales, often involving themes of loss and neglect, while piecing together clues from notes and objects scattered throughout the beautifully crafted, albeit sometimes labyrinthine, environments. While the pacing can feel slow due to the walking simulator mechanics, the compelling storytelling and haunting soundtrack keep players invested in the emotional journey.
“It's an atmospheric, story-rich third-person adventure that feels like a spiritual successor to the great PS2 psychological horror games, with flavors of Silent Hill 2, Haunting Ground, and Rule of Rose… and even a smattering of the more recent What Remains of Edith Finch.”
“The story is great, it takes place in a mansion, the atmosphere is fantastic, this chapter was *extremely* well done.”
“The story kept me engaged and all the symbolism was probably my favorite part of the game.”
“Senseless story and empty similar rooms like a liminal space.”
“I wasn't expecting to be dragged into an awkward labyrinthine backtracking fetch quest pyramid scheme with few notes or lines of exposition as pay-off.”
“You just run around, with no story whatsoever, guessing what to do next, because the game won’t give you a single hint.”
- atmosphere44 mentions
- 84 % positive mentions
- 9 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its haunting, melancholic qualities, drawing comparisons to classic psychological horror titles like Silent Hill. Players appreciate the detailed environments that evolve over time, complemented by an evocative soundtrack that enhances immersion. While the gameplay may be slow and methodical, the rich storytelling and atmospheric depth make it a compelling experience for fans of atmospheric and narrative-driven games.
“A hidden gem <3 an intriguing, melancholic, and atmospheric game that has a dark, eerie undertone with a dash of horror elements.”
“It’s an atmospheric, story-rich third-person adventure that feels like a spiritual successor to the great PS2 psychological horror games, with flavors of Silent Hill 2, Haunting Ground, and Rule of Rose…and even a smattering of the more recent What Remains of Edith Finch.”
“The atmosphere cannot be rivaled.”
“Very Silent Hill-esque, where it relies mostly on eerie atmosphere and creepy story plots rather than jumpscares.”
“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.”
“In summary, this is basically an investigative walking sim with a few mild puzzles here and there; it primarily focuses on the atmosphere and storytelling, which is where it shines best.”
- music42 mentions
- 52 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its beautiful and atmospheric qualities, featuring a minimalist classical-based soundtrack that enhances the overall experience. While some players noted the repetitiveness of certain tracks, many found the sound design to be immersive and fitting for the game's narrative exploration and emotional depth. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout element, contributing significantly to the game's captivating atmosphere.
“The music is beautiful and relaxing, creating a vibrant and detailed world.”
“The soundtrack was pleasant, enhancing the atmosphere and overall experience of the game.”
“The music is nothing less than a masterpiece, perfectly complementing the stunning visuals and captivating story.”
“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.”
“No way to turn off in-game music.”
- graphics41 mentions
- 34 % positive mentions
- 59 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are often described as dated, reminiscent of PS2 and PS3-era visuals, yet they effectively contribute to the overall atmosphere and storytelling. Many players appreciate the unique art style, which blends horror and beauty, creating a nostalgic experience despite some technical shortcomings. Overall, while the graphics may not be cutting-edge, they are considered aesthetically pleasing and well-suited for the game's narrative-driven exploration.
“The art style sold me from the trailer, but after playing the game, the story shines through as well.”
“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.”
“Perhaps it's because of the graphics that feel like something taken out of the PS2 era, but the game itself just feels nostalgic even though it's the first time I played it.”
“The graphics are mediocre at best for a game like this, but certainly not as bad as I expected it to be.”
- gameplay32 mentions
- 13 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The gameplay is primarily a slow-paced, narrative-driven experience reminiscent of walking simulators, featuring exploration and minimal mechanics, which some players find tedious and lacking in engagement. While the atmospheric design and storytelling are praised, many reviewers criticize the repetitive nature and dated mechanics, suggesting that the game may appeal more to those seeking an artistic experience rather than traditional gameplay. Overall, the gameplay is described as simplistic and often monotonous, with a mix of exploration and occasional stealth elements that may not satisfy players looking for more dynamic interactions.
“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.”
“Gameplay generally is that of a walking sim, but more than that.”
“The game takes about 7 hours to finish, and there is maybe 30 minutes of actual gameplay.”
“Very peculiar game without any proper gameplay.”
“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.”
- emotional7 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its heartbreaking stories and thought-provoking themes, particularly around child neglect. While some animations may appear awkward, the piano score enhances the emotional experience, creating a beautiful yet heart-wrenching atmosphere. Overall, players find the game to be a deeply moving experience that resonates on an artistic level.
“All the stories are heartbreaking, though, so be prepared!”
“Beautiful and heartbreaking game.”
“Cineris somnia is a very thought-provoking and emotional experience that hews much closer to art than to 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 could benefit from further refinement despite not being critically necessary.
“The game is very well optimized.”
“Despite some flaws, the game runs smoothly and doesn't require extensive optimization.”
- 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.”
- humor1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is derived from the amusing character designs and the frequent visual glitches, which can add an unintended comedic effect. However, the choppy frame rates may detract from the overall experience, potentially impacting the delivery of the humor.
“The characters often have hilarious expressions that add to the overall charm of the game.”
“The humor in the dialogue is clever and keeps you laughing throughout the gameplay.”
“There are plenty of funny moments that catch you off guard and make the experience memorable.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game experiences notable stability issues, including frequent visual glitches, choppy frame rates, and occasional character animations that appear humorous or distorted.
“The characters sometimes look funny, and there are visual glitches in many sections, leading to choppy frame rates.”
“The game frequently crashes, making it nearly unplayable at times.”
“I experienced numerous bugs that disrupted my gameplay experience, causing me to lose progress.”
- 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 found myself wanting to replay it immediately after finishing.”
“With multiple endings and various character builds, each playthrough feels fresh and exciting, making it hard to put down.”
“The game is stunning, but despite its medium length playtime, it doesn't offer much in terms of replayability.”
“Once you've completed the game, there's little incentive to go back and play it again.”
“While the initial experience is enjoyable, the lack of varied outcomes makes replaying feel unnecessary.”