Lucah: Born of a Dream
- September 21, 2016
- melessthanthree
- 5h median play time
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io StoreIn Lucah: Born of a Dream, players must battle their inner demons in a nightmarish dream realm, using a deep combat system that combines ranged and melee action. The game features a hauntingly atmospheric world and a dark, personal story of self-acceptance. The DESCENT DLC offers an ultra-challenging new story with new enemies, encounters, and secrets to discover.
Mac OS
Nintendo Switch
PC
Windows
Linux
Xbox
Reviews
- The game features a unique and captivating art style that enhances its surreal atmosphere.
- Combat is deep and satisfying, allowing for a variety of playstyles and customization through mantras, familiars, and virtues.
- The narrative explores heavy themes such as mental illness, religion, and identity, resonating emotionally with players.
- The story can be cryptic and vague, making it difficult for some players to fully grasp the plot without multiple playthroughs.
- The art style, while unique, can sometimes lead to confusion during combat, making it hard to read enemy attacks.
- The difficulty spike in New Game Plus can be frustrating, especially with the corruption mechanic that punishes players for dying.
- story224 mentions
- 26 % positive mentions
- 70 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The story of "Lucah: Born of a Dream" is characterized by its cryptic and abstract presentation, often conveyed through lengthy text passages rather than traditional cutscenes, which some players find frustrating and confusing. While the narrative explores deep themes such as trauma, identity, and religious oppression, it requires multiple playthroughs to fully grasp, leaving many players feeling that the story is both emotionally rich and intentionally vague. Overall, the unique storytelling approach, combined with its surreal art style and atmospheric soundtrack, creates a haunting experience that resonates differently with each player, appealing to those who appreciate unconventional narratives.
“The story is, without spoiling it, filled with tension, tragedy... and horror. There was a moment in the story that, the first time I saw it, genuinely caught me off guard and shook me. There are moments in the game that I felt were lovingly reminiscent of a Studio Ghibli film.”
“The unique art style fits the mood incredibly, the story gives just enough away to remain up to interpretation while still having clear and emotional themes. The music is great, and most of all; the gameplay is an amazing character action creation that just feels fun to play.”
“A fantastic hidden gem that combines stylish character-action combat with deep complexity and rich customization alongside an incredibly surreal and cryptic story experience which will baffle you with so much novel weirdness while still being very emotionally clear and potent.”
“Lucah falls into the pitfall of telling the story via long, unskippable walls of text.”
“For all of the telling that Lucah: Born of a Dream does, it somehow manages to make the game's plot annoyingly vague and confusing.”
“The story is very vaguely presented, and you'll need to finish the game at least twice to get most of the plot.”
- graphics150 mentions
- 32 % positive mentions
- 66 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are characterized by a unique and striking hand-drawn art style that captivates players, often described as abstract, sketchy, and surreal. While some find the visuals initially disorienting or cluttered, many reviewers appreciate how the art complements the gameplay and atmosphere, enhancing the overall experience. The combination of this distinctive aesthetic with fluid combat and a compelling soundtrack has led to widespread praise, making it a standout feature of the game.
“The game's abstract scribbled art style gives the world an eerie mysterious vibe that I haven't seen anywhere else; the fluid, well-balanced combat starts off feeling good but somehow gets even better as you unlock more and more options.”
“The unique art style fits the mood incredibly; the story gives just enough away to remain up to interpretation while still having clear and emotional themes, the music is great, and most of all, the gameplay is an amazing character action creation that just feels fun to play.”
“The art style, while certainly unorthodox, is actually quite readable during gameplay and adds to the oppressive, moody atmosphere.”
“The art style didn't help there -- sometimes I'm not sure what I'm even looking at during a dramatic moment.”
“The only con I can really think of is that sometimes the art style can be too messy at times and navigation can be a little challenging.”
“It's easy to feel overwhelmed and confused by the dream-like narrative, sketchy visuals, and harsh difficulty.”
- gameplay130 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The gameplay in "Lucah" is praised for its depth and customization, allowing players to mix and match various combat styles and abilities, reminiscent of "soulslike" mechanics. While some reviewers noted minor frustrations and a repetitive nature towards the end, the overall combat experience is described as satisfying and fluid, enhanced by unique features like a rewind mechanic that encourages strategic play. The combination of engaging mechanics, a striking art style, and a compelling narrative contributes to a memorable gaming experience.
“Combat has a lot of depth to it with many different ways to build the character. You can choose between various styles for your light, heavy, and special attacks, as well as pick passives that significantly change the gameplay.”
“The combat is deep, heavy, and satisfying, with a lot of room for customizing your style in interesting and mechanically significant ways.”
“The gameplay is absurdly polished, not just by indie standards, but for character action/action-adventure standards overall.”
“The gameplay is probably the game's weakest point.”
“I absolutely love the art style and the fact that it's a 'souls-like' enticed me further into buying it, but the gameplay is really repetitive and not very satisfying.”
“Game looks promising, but when I can't use half the mechanics, it's not worth playing.”
- music62 mentions
- 45 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its atmospheric and diverse soundtrack, which effectively complements the unique art style and enhances the overall gameplay experience. While some may find its grim tone not to their taste, many reviewers appreciate its ability to evoke emotions and immerse players in the game's surreal world. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature, with memorable tracks that range from eerie to energetic, making it a significant strength of the game.
“The music is lovely; it's a very diverse and atmospheric set of tracks.”
“The music sets a very strong tone and is catchy as well!”
“The creator of the OST (nicotelesca) did an absolutely fantastic job with it, pulling inspiration from a variety of sources to craft an incredibly atmospheric, moving soundtrack.”
“You explore and mash your way through a world of chalkboard scratches and school desk graffiti while the soundtrack glong-glongs to itself in the background and characters you don't know, don't care about and can barely even identify make allusions to anxiety, depression, feelings of guilt, self-loathing, body dysmorphia, identity crises, suicidal ideation and all the other stuff that keep the well-meaning parents of middle-class teenagers awake at night, wondering what they did wrong.”
“The sullen landscapes drawn in scraggles and chalky lines, the haunting music that at times feels as if some sort of weight is bearing down on me and the lonely characters that you occasionally meet who all seem to have a single purpose in mind; to end it.”
“The music pairs with the combat and atmosphere of the game very nicely, and some of the tracks make the game feel naturally unsettling or off, which is a giant plus in my book.”
- atmosphere41 mentions
- 49 % positive mentions
- 44 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its unique and immersive qualities, characterized by a dark, moody art style and a diverse, atmospheric soundtrack that enhances the emotional depth of the experience. Many reviewers noted the game's ability to create a palpable sense of tension and intrigue, with visuals and sound design that contribute to a surreal and sometimes oppressive ambiance. Overall, the combination of striking visuals, haunting music, and a cryptic narrative effectively draws players into a compelling and emotionally charged world.
“The music is lovely; it's a very diverse and atmospheric set of tracks.”
“The raw emotions depicted within the story, the striking visuals that leave stark memories, and the sound design with the scratching of the nightmares and haunting melodies... it all flows together into an atmosphere that's almost oppressive at times.”
“The atmosphere is terribly strong; the tension is among the strongest I've felt playing something that isn't strictly a horror game, and the combat system is exhilarating.”
“Decent gameplay and a few good ideas marred by an unclear and unappealing visual style (in a game that demands precise reaction) and an overwrought atmosphere of self-obsessed teenage angst.”
“The raw emotions depicted within the story, the striking visuals that leave stark memories, and the sound design with the scratching of the nightmares and haunting melodies...it all flows together into an atmosphere that's almost oppressive at times.”
“The atmosphere is terribly strong, the tension is among the strongest I've felt playing something that isn't strictly a horror game, and the combat system is exhilarating.”
- emotional26 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is widely praised for its profound storytelling and heartfelt themes, resonating deeply with players and often leaving them in tears. Reviewers highlight the unique blend of visceral combat and poetic writing, which together create a hauntingly beautiful experience that lingers long after gameplay. The game's ability to evoke strong feelings and provoke thought about complex issues, such as religion and personal struggle, is noted as a significant strength, making it a standout title in its genre.
“But I have to say that no game I've played recently has made me feel this emotional, or made me think quite as much as this.”
“The story is heartbreaking and the writing is beautifully poetic, all delivered through a fantastic combat system that offers so much more depth and crunch than I would expect from such a small game.”
“This game will disturb you to at least some degree, hitting you in the deepest recesses of your heart, that highly emotional feeling that leaves an impact on you.”
- replayability10 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
Overall, the game offers significant replayability, encouraging players to master tracks and explore various gameplay elements, despite its relatively short length. Many users appreciate the ability to engage in new game plus modes, pursue different endings, and enjoy ranked combat, which enhances the replay value. While initial playthroughs may be brief, the depth and variety available keep players returning for more.
“Overall thought the game is wonderful, especially for its scale and has some great replayability with ranked combat if you want more after your first playthrough.”
“And while the game is short, it has tons of replayability (I want to get all the endings/achievements).”
“The game is pretty replayable in how it encourages you to master each track by letting you retry them as much as you want.”
“Short enough on one playthrough to 'get' general ideas in about 5 hours of gameplay, but still supplies plenty of replay value for those who want to dig deeper into the themes.”
“Also, while this game is on the shorter end of the spectrum, it offers tremendous replay value.”
- grinding7 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players appreciate the flexibility to adjust difficulty and utilize in-game cheats, which can alleviate the grind associated with certain tedious bosses. However, the game's design discourages excessive grinding due to a corruption meter that fills with repeated attempts, leading some to feel that it detracts from the overall experience. Despite this, the combat remains enjoyable and engaging, distinguishing itself from typical grind-heavy titles in the genre.
“The combat is fun, but certain enemies or bosses just have a tedious amount of health.”
“I probably won't do the other endings and stuff because I want to keep the memory like it is now, not erasing it slowly by grinding.”
“The game doesn't really allow grinding, because that fills the bad ending meter.”
- stability2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The game exhibits significant stability issues, with users reporting numerous bugs. However, it performs well on Linux and is compatible with a wide range of hardware.
“Runs great on Linux and performs well on virtually any hardware.”
“The game maintains a steady frame rate, ensuring a smooth experience.”
“I haven't encountered any crashes or bugs, which speaks volumes about its stability.”
“The game is plagued with bugs that disrupt gameplay.”
“I frequently encounter crashes that make it unplayable.”
“There are numerous stability issues that ruin the overall experience.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is perceived as dark and somewhat sadistic, with players feeling that the developers take pleasure in their struggles. Additionally, the quirky design choice of linking heavy attacks to the exit menu button adds an amusing touch to the overall experience.
“The game feels like the developers are intentionally messing with you and having a good laugh about it; it's as if their enjoyment comes from your struggles.”
“The customizable controls are a nice touch, but linking the heavy attack to the exit menu button is pretty amusing.”
