Dreambound
- April 29, 2024
- Two and a Half Studios
"Dreambound" is a single-player Role Playing game with a deeply emotional and intriguing story. As introverted artist Noah, players are plunged into a mysterious world of dreams, tied to those who have wronged him in the past. Navigating a complex web of grief and loss, Noah must face his demons and solve a series of murders, all while questioning the line between reality and dreams.
Reviews
- The game features a beautifully written and emotionally impactful story that resonates deeply with players, exploring themes of loss, grief, and love.
- The art and music are stunning, enhancing the overall experience and immersing players in the game's emotional journey.
- The characters are well-developed and relatable, with each route offering unique insights and perspectives that enrich the narrative.
- Some players found the puzzles to be too few and not challenging enough, leading to a desire for more engaging gameplay elements.
- The romance aspects felt underdeveloped for some characters, with a lack of traditional dating sim elements that may disappoint those expecting a more conventional experience.
- The protagonist's angst and melodrama can be overwhelming, making it difficult for some players to connect with the character or enjoy the story.
- story31 mentions
- 35 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The story is widely praised for its emotional depth and beautiful writing, with many players finding it both heart-wrenching and relatable. The narrative's complexity is enhanced by multiple character routes, each revealing different facets of the plot and character backstories, making it a compelling experience that resonates deeply with players. Overall, the combination of stunning visuals, a captivating soundtrack, and robust character development contributes to its status as a standout visual novel.
“The story is insanely beautiful but so heart-wrenching at the same time.”
“The writing is really, really good, the art is beautiful, and the soundtrack is perfect for the story, making me very emotional.”
“The story was so interesting and the writing really boosted it alongside the gorgeous visuals.”
“Conflicts in the story are often almost comical, which would be fine if the rest of the game wasn't so heavy.”
“With him, the story is learned mostly, like 70% of it. He is the best character while with him, he was with Noah for over 20 years, he carried him all his life on his shoulders and cared for him more than anyone else. Kaine also suffered the most out of the three interests and did the most for Noah, and it was so painful. After I finished Kaine's route, doing all the others for 100% felt undeserving and negative.”
“One of the things I wasn't sure about early on was flashing between the past and the present in the story, as that's not something I usually like.”
- emotional10 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its deeply emotional storytelling, combining beautiful writing, art, and a fitting soundtrack that enhances the experience. Players describe it as an emotional rollercoaster, with each route revealing more layers to the plot and evoking strong feelings, often leading to tears. Overall, it is highly recommended for those seeking a heartfelt and engaging narrative, particularly within the LGBT visual novel genre.
“The story is insanely beautiful but so heart-wrenching at the same time.”
“This was an emotional rollercoaster, and I only just finished one route.”
“The writing is really, really good, the art is beautiful, and the soundtrack is perfect for the story, making me very emotional.”
- music10 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 30 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its emotional depth and perfect alignment with the story, featuring hauntingly beautiful vocals and a soundtrack that enhances the overall experience. While some users noted a few less favorable tracks, the majority found the music to be a standout element that significantly invested them in the narrative. Overall, the combination of stunning art and a compelling soundtrack creates an immersive atmosphere reminiscent of an emotional anime.
“The writing is really, really good, the art is beautiful, and the soundtrack is perfect for the story, making me very emotional.”
“The soundtrack includes tracks with hauntingly beautiful, dreamy vocals by Luno, the contrast between the bright golden past with August to the cold and gloomy present.”
“And not to mention the amazing soundtrack and art; my god, this feels like an actual anime I would watch and cry all over again.”
“The soundtrack includes tracks with hauntingly beautiful, dreamy vocals by Luno, contrasting the bright golden past with August to the cold and gloomy present.”
“The music really made me more invested in everything.”
“I kept thinking to myself that I needed this soundtrack on Spotify!”
- graphics3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics are highly praised for their beauty and artistic quality, significantly enhancing the overall gaming experience. Players appreciate the character designs and visuals, which complement the engaging story and writing, making the game visually captivating.
“The background music, visuals, and art all elevated the experience significantly and made everything so much more beautiful.”
“Ivan started out as my favorite during the demo because he was so visually appealing, and he's still a favorite aesthetically. However, I've really come to love August, Crow, and Kaine through their routes.”
“The story was so interesting, and the writing really boosted it alongside the gorgeous visuals.”
- gameplay2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Gameplay is enhanced by engaging "escape" mechanics that add a fun twist to the visual novel experience, though some users find the mystical mechanics confusing and lacking clear explanations. The overall experience is complemented by beautiful art, a captivating story, and compelling characters.
“The art is beautiful, the story is captivating, the characters are compelling, and the 'escape' mechanics are a super fun addition to the usual visual novel experience!”
“I do not understand the mechanics of the mystical aspects, and I don't think an explanation exists.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game boasts strong replayability, with many users highlighting its ability to engage players repeatedly.
“It has great replay value too.”
“The game offers multiple endings and choices that make each playthrough feel unique.”
“With various character builds and strategies, I find myself coming back for more.”