Hypnagogia 催眠術
- November 25, 2020
- sodaraptor
- 5h median play time
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io Store"Hypnagogia 催眠術" is a first-person exploration game that takes players through surreal, dream-inspired environments. Collect dream crystals while interacting with various characters and uncovering the game's themes of deep dreams and liminal spaces. With hand-crafted levels based on real dream journal entries, the game offers a unique and intriguing experience.
Windows
PlayStation
Xbox
Reviews
- Visually and audibly stunning, with a nostalgic PS1 aesthetic that enhances the dreamlike experience.
- Unique and memorable environments, each with their own story and characters, creating a rich exploration experience.
- Engaging atmosphere that balances whimsical and eerie elements, making for a captivating journey through dreams.
- Platforming mechanics can be frustrating and detract from the overall experience, with some players finding them tedious.
- The narrative can feel disjointed at times, especially towards the end, with some players desiring a more cohesive story.
- Lack of a save system and excessive backtracking can lead to frustration, particularly for players looking to explore hidden content.
- graphics104 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have been widely praised for their stunning, nostalgic PS1-era aesthetic, which effectively creates a dreamlike atmosphere that immerses players in its surreal environments. Reviewers highlight the vibrant colors, unique character designs, and impressive art direction, noting that the visuals complement the game's music and narrative beautifully. While some mention minor graphical glitches, the overall consensus is that the game's aesthetic is a standout feature, making it a must-play for fans of retro-inspired visuals.
“The visuals, the music, and the characters all just fit.”
“This game really manages to hone in on the dreamlike aesthetic.”
“The graphics are pleasing and tasteful in their intended jank, the music perfectly captures that otherworldly, slightly 'off' tone, and character dialogues and the story itself are very well written.”
“I honestly can't tell graphical glitches from artistic design here.”
“However, visuals alone can't sell hypnagogia and the supposed exploration and platformer elements are (in my humble opinion) completely missing from the game.”
“The visuals would be creative, but in my opinion the PS2 style, pixelated, polygon graphics don't do it any favors.”
- music89 mentions
- 54 % positive mentions
- 43 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its ability to enhance the immersive experience, with many reviewers praising its nostalgic quality and emotional resonance. The soundtrack complements the vibrant visuals and dreamlike environments, creating a cohesive atmosphere that captivates players. While some noted that certain tracks can become repetitive, the overall consensus is that the music is a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's charm and appeal.
“The soundtrack is fantastic; ambient sounds blend with the music, melting rhythm into environments.”
“The music fits the scenes really well and connects to the moment or the world you're experiencing, but somehow differently than you'd normally expect.”
“The visual style is perfectly PS1 and the soundtrack is fantastic; each track is memorable and catchy and perfectly suited to the area it plays in.”
“Music can become annoying, since it's looping endlessly - most worlds have only one track, which, great as it may be, gets stale after some time.”
“The only minimally interesting part outside of the artwork and the music are the easter eggs, if you can even call collecting a couple of items, platforming again, falling again, then entering a secret room with no significance an easter egg.”
“There are times when music should play, and there are times when it shouldn't play, or it should be more quiet or something to that effect.”
- story66 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 65 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The game's story is a captivating exploration of dreams and nightmares, featuring well-developed characters and engaging narratives that enhance the overall experience. While some players found the plot to be simple or lacking depth, many appreciated the unique settings and emotional themes woven throughout, making it memorable despite its occasional clichés. Overall, the storytelling is a significant aspect of the game, with a blend of humor, melancholy, and intriguing secrets that resonate with players.
“It's a story about dreams that also includes nightmares, and it really sells the feeling of them, for better or worse.”
“From wholesome moments to moments of deep reflection where I found myself pondering my own existence and decisions, it conveys a story so expertly crafted it's almost unfathomable to believe it belongs to an indie game.”
“What a beautiful game this is... from the diverse and interesting characters and dialogue, to the thought-provoking and touching story, the refreshing graphics and soundtrack... I absolutely loved this game.”
“The story exists, but it only exists to prop up the set pieces.”
“Story-wise, it tries to be profound and emotionally affective, but ends up being cliche and cringy.”
“As someone who really loves story-driven games, I'd say that it's not the selling point for this game, if I'm being honest.”
- atmosphere58 mentions
- 66 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its rich, immersive quality, combining nostalgic visuals and an exceptional soundtrack that enhances the overall experience. Players appreciate the unique and varied environments, which evoke a range of emotions from cozy nostalgia to eerie tension, making exploration feel rewarding and engaging. The sound design further complements the atmosphere, creating a dreamlike experience that resonates deeply with players.
“The atmosphere is impeccable and the sound design is incredible.”
“This game changed my view on games because this incredible atmosphere and such an original idea just steals my heart.”
“An absolutely stunning piece of art, from its 90's era low poly visuals to the amazing soundtrack, used to create a perfect atmosphere for every situation.”
“The atmosphere was strong in this game, I see that, but I couldn't feel it because I was stuck feeling detached as I played it.”
“There was even a small bit of platforming in the spooky section that just pulled me out of the atmosphere and whatever spooks I was supposed to get just passed by me due to frustration.”
“The atmosphere starts off strong and only gets better as the game progresses and the surrealism increases.”
- gameplay43 mentions
- 26 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The gameplay is primarily focused on exploration and interaction, featuring simple mechanics such as walking, platforming, and puzzle-solving, which allow players to immerse themselves in diverse and atmospheric worlds. While some reviewers noted the gameplay can feel rudimentary and lacks complexity, others appreciated its charm and the engaging narratives that drive the experience. Overall, the game prioritizes atmosphere and storytelling over intricate gameplay mechanics, making it accessible and enjoyable for those seeking a more relaxed adventure.
“The characters and stories are all incredibly compelling, and the gameplay is simple but changes mechanics slightly between levels, keeping things fresh.”
“It's simple in gameplay for the most part, with you mainly exploring each world with some pretty chill platforming a good chunk of the time, and interacting with NPCs to progress, but its strong point is in its sheer immersion, atmosphere, and just pure charm.”
“Almost every new level will have a surprising twist to the gameplay, either becoming a space level with no gravity, or a deep sea level, or a desert level where you run around on a chocobo-style bird; there's a lot of cool stuff that you end up doing through a run-through.”
“There isn't much in the way of gameplay; you just walk around and talk to people.”
“It's mechanically not much more than a zero-stakes platformer with some backtracking, but for people already intrigued by just looking at its store page, you'd probably not be here for more than that anyway.”
“I think this series has a lot of potential, and while I do understand how gameplay taking a backseat makes the game accessible and allows the player to focus on the environment, I also think the gameplay itself needs a few more advancements - it seemed like the developer wanted to take it further in some parts with the bird you can ride and similar moments, but it never really had the variety it needed to stay interesting.”
- emotional23 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highly praised, with players noting its compelling environments, touching themes, and a standout soundtrack that evoke a wide range of feelings. Many reviewers express deep emotional investment in the characters and story, highlighting moments of introspection and profound connection. While some critique certain narrative elements as cliché, the overall consensus is that the game successfully delivers a heartfelt and memorable experience.
“I got emotionally invested in this game; I loved every character, every small detail, the colors, sceneries, music, design, everything.”
“From wholesome moments to moments of deep reflection where I found myself pondering my own existence and decisions, it conveys a story so expertly crafted it's almost unfathomable to believe it belongs to an indie game.”
“What a beautiful game this is... from the diverse and interesting characters and dialogue, to the thought-provoking and touching story, the refreshing graphics and soundtrack... I absolutely loved this game.”
- humor19 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its unique blend of humor and horror, featuring quirky characters like a funny rabbit and a golem, which contribute to its whimsical yet eerie atmosphere. Players appreciate the clever writing and humorous moments, such as flirtatious interactions with inanimate objects, while also noting that the humor enhances the overall experience despite some heavier themes. Overall, the game successfully balances lightheartedness with spookiness, making it a memorable adventure filled with charm and wit.
“It's funny, it's weird, it's spooky, it can be legitimately scary, and one of its main characters is a bunny!”
“The story is cute, sometimes funny, and the game is full of fun secrets to find.”
“It's a funny, thought-provoking, shiver-inducing game capable of conveying emotions beyond words.”
- character development5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- -20 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is highlighted by its unique and interesting character designs, which captivate players and encourage them to engage deeply with the narrative. The combination of stunning visuals, a captivating soundtrack, and thought-provoking dialogue contributes to a rich experience that prompts players to reflect on existential themes. Overall, the character design and development are praised for enhancing the gameplay and emotional engagement.
“The music and visuals are fantastic, and the character designs are delightful. I have a folder full of screenshots I keep adding to as I play.”
“The soundtrack is wonderful, the character design is so interesting and unusual, and the lines of some NPCs made me stop and think about existence itself a few times.”
“I am enjoying the character designs and the platforming.”
“The character development feels shallow and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with the characters.”
“The character arcs are predictable and fail to evolve throughout the game.”
“There is little to no meaningful choice in character development, leaving players feeling disconnected from their decisions.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is mixed; while some players find it offers a wealth of content that encourages multiple playthroughs, others feel that once all objectives are completed, there is little incentive to return.
“This is a seriously amazing game with loads of replayability.”
“I can't say replayability is high, as once you've done everything... you've done everything.”
“After completing the game, I found little incentive to go back and play again.”
“The lack of meaningful choices and consequences makes replaying feel pointless.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, particularly criticizing the first-person platforming mechanics.
“I like the look and feel of the game, but the first-person platforming is tedious and awful.”
“The grinding in this game feels endless and repetitive, making it hard to stay engaged.”
“I find the grind to level up incredibly frustrating; it takes away from the enjoyment of the game.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Users find it difficult to distinguish between graphical glitches and intentional artistic design, suggesting that the game's stability may be inconsistent or unclear in its visual presentation.
“I honestly can't tell if the graphical glitches are part of the artistic design or just bugs.”
“The game crashes frequently, making it nearly unplayable at times.”
“I've experienced constant frame drops and stuttering, which ruins the overall experience.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its excellent optimization, featuring smooth performance without issues, a distinct PS1-era graphic style, and well-paced storytelling that integrates seamlessly with its secrets.
“It is an interactive dream diary experience/horror game; everything is super well put together in regard to performance (it runs without issue), graphics (distinct PS1 era style), and the pacing (story and even secrets fit together seamlessly).”
