Dreamscaper: Prologue

About

FULL GAME OUT NOW! https://store.steampowered.com/app/1040420/Dreamscaper/ About the GameDREAM. DIE. WAKE. REPEAT. Dreamscaper: Prologue is the first chapter in the Dreamscaper saga, consisting of the level Home Town and 4-6h of unlockable content. Dreamscaper is an ARPG Roguelite blending elements from brawlers, top-down shooters, and dungeon crawlers. Every slumber is a different dungeon in a…

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

94%

Audience ScoreBased on 575 reviews

gameplay61 positive mentions

grinding5 negative mentions

Beautiful art style and graphics that create an immersive atmosphere.
Engaging combat mechanics with a variety of weapons and abilities that feel satisfying to use.
Interesting blend of roguelite gameplay with social interaction elements that enhance character development.

Some combat mechanics can feel clunky, particularly with timing attacks and dodging.
The game can become repetitive quickly due to limited enemy variety and level design.
Certain gameplay elements, like the social interactions, may feel underdeveloped and could benefit from more depth.

gameplay
144 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
55%
3%
The gameplay of Dreamscaper is generally well-received, featuring solid mechanics, enjoyable hack-and-slash combat, and a unique dual-world system that blends roguelike elements with social interactions. While many players appreciate the fluid controls, engaging combat, and beautiful art style, some have noted issues with bugs, inconsistent aiming, and a lack of clarity in the tutorial. Overall, the game offers a fun and immersive experience, though some mechanics may require further refinement.
- “Great gameplay and art style, very enjoyable!”
- “The gameplay is smooth, and I love how unique it is; this game has great potential.”
- “Absolutely gorgeous art style, fun gameplay, good writing, and an interesting premise to tie it all together.”
- “Still has a lot of bugs and crashes during gameplay sometimes.”
- “The tutorial does not explain every major gameplay mechanic, condemning the player to face the game in a very unpleasant way.”
- “Clumsy controls and grindy game mechanics all but ensure that Dreamscaper is not a fun game to play.”
graphics
121 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
62%
36%
2%
The graphics of the game have received widespread praise for their beautiful and unique art style, which combines a dreamy aesthetic with polished visuals reminiscent of high-quality indie projects. Many players appreciate the smooth animations and immersive atmosphere, although some have noted issues with blurriness and a lack of customizable graphics settings. Overall, the visuals contribute significantly to the game's enjoyable experience, enhancing both gameplay and storytelling.
- “The graphics are unique and stunning!”
- “The visuals are beautiful, the music and sounds are soothing.”
- “Absolutely gorgeous art style, fun gameplay, good writing, and an interesting premise to tie it all together.”
- “No graphical options (a basic necessity for a PC release)”
- “I really like the graphics but there's no way to limit FPS in game so my GPU runs with the fans at max speed and it generates way more heat than it needs to (I don't need 400-600+ FPS and a space heater)”
- “It does have a niche art style that I honestly do not care for.”
music
111 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
58%
40%
3%
The music in the game has been widely praised for its beautiful and calming soundtrack, which enhances the overall atmosphere and gameplay experience. Reviewers noted that the soundtrack effectively transitions between serene melodies and more intense combat themes, creating a captivating and immersive environment. While some mentioned a lack of variety in the music, the overall consensus is that the sound design is exceptional and significantly contributes to the game's charm.
- “The music, atmosphere, and overall feel of the game brings shivers down my spine and tears from my eyes.”
- “The soundtrack is stunning and fits the game perfectly.”
- “The art, music, and atmosphere all come together extremely well into a game that is a treat for the eyes and ears.”
- “My only issue is when fighting enemies the music is still calm and tranquil; which takes away from the feeling of combat a bit.”
- “The entire game has a very relaxed, dreamlike air to it- even as the music swells in combat and the challenge begins to mount, the intensity carries a strangely quiet quality, and despite dying to the second floor of the dungeon repeatedly, I found myself unable to get upset with it.”
- “When you enter a boss's room the music fades away until you can't hear it anymore to let you enjoy the noise of the environment before the big fight.”
story
78 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
58%
4%
The game's story is described as captivating and unique, with players piecing together the narrative through interactions with characters and exploration of the dream world. While some find the storytelling engaging and emotionally resonant, others note that the plot can be chaotic and unclear, suggesting a need for further development. Overall, the combination of character development, atmospheric design, and the integration of gameplay mechanics with the story creates a compelling experience, though opinions vary on its clarity and depth.
- “The story in the prologue is good enough to leave room to develop later on, and the character development between the four NPCs is fun, enjoyable, and relatable as well.”
- “Overall a super solid experience with a wonderful heart-touching story backed with fantastically fresh combat that feels like Binding of Isaac made a baby with Bastion, bringing a refreshing feeling to the roguelike genre that I haven’t seen in years.”
- “Cassidy's tormented dreams and conversations in reality will reveal her story, her fears, but also her strength as she will have to face them to find her light, her happiness.”
- “Even the plot is presented to the player in a chaotic and unclear way.”
- “Moreover, the story of the game is not really clear.”
- “There doesn't seem to be much of one other than the backstory that we learn about the protagonist and side characters.”
atmosphere
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
64%
25%
11%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its dreamy, nostalgic, and immersive qualities, enhanced by beautiful art and excellent sound design. Many players find it calming and emotional, with music that complements the visuals to create a unique and intoxicating experience. Overall, the atmosphere is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's appeal.
- “The music, atmosphere, and overall feel of the game bring shivers down my spine and tears from my eyes.”
- “Such an atmospheric, well-made, balanced, and deep game with a wonderful sound design and unique design for the characters and maps.”
- “The art, music, and atmosphere all come together extremely well into a game that is a treat for the eyes and ears.”
- “The atmosphere in this game is so intoxicating and dreamy. The music is excellent, the gameplay is fun. Can't wait for the whole game. 9/10.”
- “Lots of sounds that really immerse you in the dream-like atmosphere of the game.”
- “This is the gesture that I think best illustrates the fact that they really looked at the atmosphere and what it conveys to the player.”
emotional
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its engaging narrative and relatable characters, fostering a sense of connection and warmth through meaningful interactions and heartfelt storylines. Players appreciate the blend of fun gameplay with deep emotional journeys, often reflecting on personal themes like trauma and acceptance. Overall, the game is praised for its ability to evoke strong feelings, making it a memorable experience.
- “I have fun during the gameplay, and then am engaged on whatever emotional journey the story segments take me on.”
- “You get to know each persona better and little dialogues after achieving a new tier of friendship are very wholesome.”
- “However, Dreamscaper has pulled me right in with an emotional rollercoaster of fear, isolation, and acceptance.”
replayability
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
The game offers significant replayability, enhanced by its rogue-lite elements and extensive content, including DLC that effectively doubles gameplay. Players appreciate the engaging mechanics, unlockable features, and relationship-building aspects, making it a highly recommended experience for repeated playthroughs.
- “It has a really good replay value, and the DLC basically doubles the gameplay.”
- “With already so much content, satisfyingly crisp gameplay, and addictive replayability, it's a no-brainer.”
- “Lastly, the replayability is there in the unlock style, and the relationship building is truly intriguing to see where it goes.”
- “It's a rogue-lite, so there will be a ton more replay value.”
grinding
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed experience; while it can lead to rewarding progression and a sense of achievement, many also describe it as tedious and exacerbated by clumsy controls and technical issues. The grind is seen as necessary for crafting and improving gear, but it can become frustrating, especially when faced with game crashes after significant progress. Overall, the grind may appeal to those who enjoy challenges, but it risks alienating players seeking a smoother experience.
- “Clumsy controls and grindy game mechanics all but ensure that Dreamscaper is not a fun game to play.”
- “Grinding to finally get to the end of the 3rd boss where everything does ridiculous damage and I'm a few strikes from victory, and the game crashes for the 5th time today for seemingly no reason, flushing all that down the drain?”
- “The game can get tedious to some people really fast; after all, it is in part a roguelike game.”
optimization
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
20%
40%
Overall, the game's optimization is generally well-received, with minimal performance issues reported, particularly in ultra-wide settings. However, some users noted stuttering during transitions and suggested improvements for certain details and camera zoom levels, which are understandable given its pre-release status.
- “There were little to no performance issues, and the only time I had a memory leak was when I alt-tabbed.”
- “The game feels pretty well optimized with little to no bugs.”
- “Since it’s still in development, on my 2K 144Hz monitor, there’s some apparent stuttering during certain transitions (like cutscenes) or rapid scene changes.”
- “Some of the details should be optimized, but I think it's okay for a pre-release version.”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game currently suffers from significant stability issues, with users reporting numerous bugs that affect gameplay. While there are hints of potential in the mechanics, the overall experience is hampered by frequent glitches and freezes.
- “And of course, it's still buggy at the moment, but you get a hint at what's to be expected.”
- “The game is extremely buggy.”
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Character development is highlighted as a strong point, with engaging and relatable interactions among the four NPCs that enhance the overall narrative. The prologue sets a solid foundation for future growth, while the "awake" time offers a refreshing pause that allows for deeper character exploration.
- “The story in the prologue is good enough to leave room for later development, and the character development between the four NPCs is fun, enjoyable, and relatable as well.”
- “The action is fun, the different weapons are varied enough to make the playstyles feel unique, and the character development during the 'awake' time is a nice break.”
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The humor in the game is highlighted by witty and funny item descriptions, which enhance the overall experience. Players also appreciate the creative design of the boss character and the engaging nature of the boss fight, contributing to the game's lighthearted tone.
- “The item descriptions are witty and funny, and while there's only one boss so far, I really enjoy his design and the design of the fight!”
- “The humor in the dialogue keeps me laughing, making even the most mundane tasks feel entertaining.”
- “I love how the game incorporates puns and clever jokes throughout the quests; it adds a delightful layer to the gameplay.”