Going Nowhere: The Dream

69%
Game Brain Score Based on 28 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Going Nowhere: The Dream Game Cover
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Loren's on a journey through an urban dreamscape, in search for a way to reuinite with her long lost friend, Violet. Explore a story in the fray of space and time, where a heightened sense of adventure will lead to many curiosities.

  • Mac OS
  • PC
  • Windows
  • Linux
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

69%
Audience ScoreBased on 28 reviews
story5 positive mentions
music3 negative mentions
  • The game offers a fun parkour experience with a strong emphasis on exploration, rewarding players with secrets and achievements for their curiosity.
  • The art direction, combining 3D environments with 2D character sprites, creates a unique visual style that enhances the overall experience.
  • Despite its short main story, the game provides multiple endings and encourages players to engage deeply with the world, making it replayable and enjoyable.
  • The main story is quite short, leading to a reliance on secret hunting that can feel tedious and directionless due to a lack of in-game guidance.
  • Some gameplay mechanics, such as the wall jump and item carrying, are poorly implemented, leading to frustrating experiences during exploration.
  • The graphics and overall presentation are criticized for being simplistic and lacking detail, which detracts from the immersion and enjoyment of the game.
  • story24 mentions

    The story in this parkour game is relatively short, lasting about 40 minutes, and while it features likable characters and some impactful plot twists, many players find it predictable and somewhat hamfisted. The narrative serves more as a backdrop for exploration, with hidden secrets and alternate endings that enrich the experience, though some feel the dialogue attempts to add depth that feels out of place. Overall, while the story may not be groundbreaking, it is enjoyable and complements the engaging gameplay and exploration elements.

    • “The characters are likable enough, so the plot twist is more impactful.”
    • “The story is intriguing, and I will admit that despite having only obstacles to overcome, it sometimes got really creepy as the more you progress, the weirder the game and story become.”
    • “I'd recommend this to anyone who wants a nice story to experience with engaging characters, who loves to explore vast maps and find little secrets hidden away, and can really immerse themselves in the moment when playing a game.”
    • “The mediocre main story is only around 40 minutes long, so the bulk of the game involves hunting down the various secrets and alternate endings.”
    • “For some reason, making the game story delivery as craphouse as an old dead 1990's 2D pixel RPG seemed like the developers' choice for a 'great idea'.”
    • “The story is nothing special, nor could it have been with what little dialogue there was in such a short time.”
  • gameplay10 mentions

    The gameplay is generally easy to grasp, allowing players to enjoy the jumping and running mechanics without feeling overwhelmed. While some mechanics, like the wall jump, are criticized for their implementation, the game offers a blend of parkour elements reminiscent of a 2D Mirror's Edge, with an emphasis on community exploration and puzzle-solving. Overall, the gameplay is enjoyable and complemented by a strong atmosphere, despite some limitations in length and depth.

    • “Its gameplay is very easy to handle, so you won't feel overwhelmed by the large amount of jumping and running.”
    • “Loved the game; great music, atmosphere, gameplay, and art style—it's all just really enjoyable.”
    • “Sure, it's not the longest game ever, but I don't think it needs to be. The world is far more open than the narrative-focused linear gameplay may seem; it's as enjoyable as a scavenger hunt/puzzle exploration game as it is a platformer.”
    • “The wall jump mechanic is only granted after completing a secret level, which is only accessible after completing the game.”
    • “It is also the worst implementation of such a mechanic that I have ever encountered.”
    • “Overall, while the gameplay isn't the best, the story makes up for it, and although it is less than an hour long, if it was any longer it would degrade from the experience.”
  • graphics9 mentions

    The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players criticizing the visuals as lazy and lacking effort, particularly in exterior designs. However, others appreciate the unique art style, likening it to a 2D version of Mirror's Edge, and find the overall aesthetic enjoyable despite some optimization issues. While the graphics may not be universally praised, they contribute to a fun atmosphere that complements the gameplay.

    • “Fun parkour-style game with a nice story, interesting visuals and hidden secrets.”
    • “It's like a 2D Mirror's Edge and it was pretty good, although it could have used a bit of the climbing or wall running mechanics; it was a pretty decent game with interesting NPC graphics.”
    • “Loved the game, great music, atmosphere, gameplay, art style, it's all just really enjoyable.”
    • “I don't have a problem with Minecraft-like visuals, but here they seem very lazy, especially in the exteriors.”
    • “"Art" is not an excuse for failing to bother to put any effort into the graphics for a game.”
    • “The game might have been okay if the developer had put some effort into all aspects of the game... the levels themselves are fairly rich and interesting, but the shoddy delivery on graphics ruins any enjoyment.”
  • music3 mentions

    The music in the game is generally well-received, contributing positively to the atmosphere and overall enjoyment, though some users note that it can be unremarkable and occasionally fades into the background.

    • “Other than that, it's a nice, if a bit short, parkour game with good music.”
    • “Loved the game, great music, atmosphere, gameplay, art style, it's all just really enjoyable.”
    • “The music is nothing special and often seems to disappear.”
    • “The soundtrack lacks variety and quickly becomes repetitive.”
    • “The audio quality is subpar, making it hard to enjoy the music.”
  • grinding2 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be somewhat tedious, particularly due to the physics mechanics that complicate object placement. However, the overall execution of the concept is appreciated, showcasing the developer's boldness.

    • “This can be tedious enough on its own, but these objects are also subject to physics, so placing them on top of each other and jumping on them without shifting them around can be a chore.”
    • “There are a couple of tedious elements, but the concept is still largely well executed, and I have to applaud the developer's audacity.”
  • humor1 mentions

    Players appreciate the humor in the game, noting that it encourages exploration and rewards curiosity with hilarious secrets and locations, adding an extra 4 to 12 hours of enjoyable gameplay.

    • “You can easily spend another 4 to 12 hours 'going off the rails' to find some hilarious secrets and places to explore.”
  • optimization1 mentions

    Users recommend adjusting the graphics settings to low to mitigate optimization issues, noting that this change has minimal impact on the game's visual aesthetics.

    • “The game runs smoothly after tweaking the settings, making for a much more enjoyable experience.”
    • “I was impressed by how well the game optimized for different hardware configurations, allowing everyone to enjoy it.”
    • “If you run into optimization issues, try setting graphics to low before the start; it makes very little difference on the aesthetics.”
    • “The game struggles to maintain a stable frame rate, even on lower settings.”
    • “Despite having a powerful PC, I still experience significant lag and stuttering during gameplay.”
  • stability1 mentions

    Users report that the game's stability is generally solid, with few glitches encountered, even when attempting to exploit the mechanics by jumping to distant locations.

    • “I am the kind of person who likes to find glitches in games, so I decided to jump to a distant location.”
  • emotional1 mentions

    The game's story may be predictable, but the quality of the writing effectively evokes emotions, particularly sadness at the ending, despite its brief playtime of under an hour.

    • “The story for the game was rather predictable, but the actual writing itself was well done and made me feel a little sad at the main ending, which is quite good for a game that took less than an hour.”
  • atmosphere1 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is highly praised, with users highlighting the excellent music, engaging gameplay, and appealing art style, all contributing to an overall enjoyable experience.

    • “Loved the game; the music, atmosphere, gameplay, and art style are all just really enjoyable.”
    • “The atmosphere is incredibly immersive, making you feel like you're truly part of the world.”
    • “Every detail contributes to a hauntingly beautiful atmosphere that keeps you engaged.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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