Lucid Dream
- October 8, 2018
- Dali Games
"Lucid Dream" is a surreal adventure game inspired by the works of Salvador Dali. You play as a young artist who enters a dream world, where you must solve puzzles and uncover the truth about your past. The game features striking visuals and an eerie atmosphere, making for a memorable and thought-provoking experience.
Reviews
- The game features stunning artwork and a captivating atmosphere that enhances the overall experience.
- The story is engaging and beautifully crafted, with emotional depth and interesting characters.
- The puzzles are creative and enjoyable, providing a satisfying challenge without being overly frustrating.
- The game suffers from numerous bugs and crashes, which can disrupt gameplay and lead to frustration.
- The inventory system is cumbersome, as it remains visible and can obstruct important visuals and puzzle elements.
- Some puzzles lack clear logic and can feel arbitrary, leading to moments of confusion and pixel hunting.
- story60 mentions
- 48 % positive mentions
- 47 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The game's story is a mixed bag, with many players appreciating its beautiful art and engaging narrative, often likening it to surreal tales like "Alice in Wonderland." While some found the storyline touching and thought-provoking, others criticized it for being thin, incoherent, or poorly executed, leading to confusion and a lack of character development. Overall, the story's themes of loss and reality resonate with many, but its execution leaves room for improvement.
“At first I was confused about the story, but I am glad I continued as it turns out to be very beautiful.”
“It's not, as it may first appear, a story about a little girl using magic to fix her problems; it's a story about coming to terms with reality, learning what the true demons of our lives are and how to conquer them.”
“Amazing, touching story, great art to back it up, and it does a wonderful job of keeping the atmosphere at all times!”
“Thin and incoherent story.”
“I personally found this game boring because of a poorly executed story, obscure puzzles, and a confusing narrative.”
“Unfortunately, the story didn't come together, which felt like going through all the challenging puzzles was not worth the trouble.”
- graphics31 mentions
- 65 % positive mentions
- 26 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their beauty, detail, and ability to create an engaging atmosphere that enhances the storytelling experience. Many reviewers highlight the mesmerizing artwork and colorful backgrounds, although some note issues with technical performance, such as crashes and loading problems. Overall, the visuals are considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's appeal despite some criticisms regarding the depth of the story and character development.
“The artwork and atmosphere is extraordinary.”
“The graphics are mesmerizing and the story is engaging.”
“Absolutely beautiful artwork and atmosphere that definitely sets the tone.”
“If there was a neutral button, I'd probably hit it because I did appreciate most of the artwork, but it became almost annoying and the music loop didn't help... there just isn't enough substance there to recommend it.”
“I found the artwork to be really pretty, but the character interactions involving items took away from the art by looking cheap and mechanical in comparison.”
“The graphics are fine, the music is okay, and I only hit one bug that crashed the game entirely, but the game did a fantastic job of remembering where I was before the crash.”
- music22 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 41 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating its fitting atmosphere and emotional resonance, while others criticize it for being overly repetitive and lacking substance. Many noted that the short, looping tracks can become annoying over time, detracting from the overall experience. Despite these criticisms, some players found the music to enhance the game's dark and mysterious themes, suggesting that it may appeal to those who enjoy its specific style.
“Normally, I turn off music, but this is one I left on the whole time.”
“The music is fitting to the dark and mysterious world you are exploring, and each character you encounter seems important to the world you are discovering.”
“Pros: beautiful artwork, music is simple yet nice, good atmosphere, touching story.”
“The music is extremely repetitive; scenes play their very short tunes in a constant loop.”
“The biggest problem was its soundtrack: it's the same music looped over and over again.”
“The music was repetitive to the point where I had to turn it off, and the noise the game makes when you 'click' on something to interact with it was completely out of place.”
- atmosphere13 mentions
- 69 % positive mentions
- 15 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its extraordinary artwork, imaginative characters, and surreal level design, which collectively create a beautiful and immersive experience. Reviewers highlight the effective use of sound and visuals to enhance the mood, contributing to a touching narrative. However, some players noted that game-breaking bugs detracted from their enjoyment of the otherwise captivating atmosphere.
“The artwork and atmosphere is extraordinary.”
“Absolutely beautiful artwork and atmosphere that definitely sets the tone.”
“Amazing, touching story, great art to back it up, and it does a wonderful job of keeping the atmosphere at all times!”
“This adds nothing to difficulty or atmosphere.”
“[h1] narrative & atmosphere [/h1]”
- gameplay11 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
Gameplay is characterized by a mix of smooth mechanics and a variety of puzzles, appealing particularly to puzzle enthusiasts. However, some players found certain mechanics tedious and controls challenging, which detracted from the overall experience. While the character designs and artwork received praise, interactions involving items were criticized for appearing cheap and mechanical.
“I loved the character designs and the game mechanics were smooth.”
“+ puzzle heavy gameplay for puzzle lovers and there are some fun to solve puzzles.”
“Not to mention that it also incorporates some psychological mechanics into the puzzles.”
“Usually, the problem was that I didn't see something on the screen to pick up or I didn't understand the mechanics.”
“Many puzzles are held back by tedious mechanics and controls.”
“The moving mechanic was a little difficult, but considering how simple the tasks and areas were, it's understandable.”
- emotional7 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its touching and unique storyline, complemented by beautiful and creative graphics. Players appreciate the game's ability to evoke a range of feelings, from warmth to creepiness, while the atmospheric music enhances the overall experience. The combination of challenging puzzles and a captivating narrative creates a deeply engaging emotional journey.
“Amazing, touching story, great art to back it up, and it does a wonderful job of keeping the atmosphere at all times!”
“I love the point 'n click 2D handmade, and the story was unique and touching!”
“An absolutely lovely puzzle game with some challenging (although never impossible) puzzles, beautiful artwork, and a touching story.”
- stability5 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The stability of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players reporting a smooth experience free of bugs, while others have encountered frequent glitches, freezes, and crashes, particularly during startup and gameplay. Overall, the game appears to have significant technical issues for a portion of the player base.
“However, I have never experienced so many glitches, freezes, and fatal errors (usually on startup) before.”
“Unfortunately, the version that I beat crashed like 10 times on me, and I had to restart a few chapters due to glitches.”
“- many glitches, other technical problems”
- grinding4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that the grinding aspect of the game is characterized by tedious and simplistic mechanics, leading to a frustrating experience. Many players find the puzzles lacking in logic, which further contributes to the overall sense of monotony and tedium.
“It's just a grunt-inducing moment of tedious game design, or incredibly simplistic.”
“Like another reviewer said, it's tedious.”
“There isn't much logic to the puzzles, which become tedious as a result.”
- character development2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
While the game features impressive character designs and smooth mechanics, it suffers from a lack of meaningful character development and a weak storyline, leaving players wanting more depth in the narrative.
“The character development in this game is incredibly deep, allowing players to truly connect with each character's journey.”
“I was impressed by how the characters evolved throughout the story, making their growth feel authentic and engaging.”
“The choices you make significantly impact character relationships, adding layers to the development that keep you invested.”
“It offers very nice artwork, but unfortunately it has a weak story and absolutely zero character development.”
“The characters feel one-dimensional and lack any meaningful growth throughout the game.”
“I was disappointed by how predictable the character arcs were; there was no real depth or evolution.”
- humor1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Reviewers appreciate the humor in the game for its clever integration of original concepts with amusing references to iconic figures like Méliès, H.R. Giger, and Dalí, creating a unique and entertaining experience.
“I loved the clever blend of original ideas and humorous references, from Méliès to H.R. Giger, and of course, Dali.”
“The humor in this game is brilliantly executed, making every moment enjoyable and memorable.”
“The witty dialogue and hilarious situations kept me laughing throughout my entire playthrough.”