Nightmare: The Lunatic
- March 31, 2024
- Maetdol Games
Get on Steam"Nightmare: The Lunatic" traps you in an endless dream world filled with powerful monsters. With the help of a dream merchant, find a way out by exploring and collecting useful items. Use various weapons and master their attacks to defeat enemies and progress through the ever-changing dreamscape. Dying is just a minor setback, as you'll reawaken to try again.
PC
Steam Deck
Windows
Reviews
- The weapon swapping mechanic adds a unique layer of strategy to the gameplay, encouraging players to experiment with different builds and tactics.
- The game features smooth and satisfying combat mechanics, with a well-implemented parry system that enhances the overall experience.
- Visually appealing with beautiful pixel art and varied biomes, the game offers a compelling roguelite experience reminiscent of titles like Dead Cells and Skul.
- The weapon swap mechanic can feel cumbersome and may not provide enough incentive to switch weapons during combat, leading to frustration.
- Boss fights are often criticized for being overly difficult, with high HP and attack patterns that can feel tedious and punishing.
- Some players have noted issues with visibility during combat, particularly when multiple enemies are on screen, making it hard to track attacks and avoid damage.
- gameplay18 mentions
- 44 % positive mentions
- 39 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The gameplay is a blend of engaging mechanics reminiscent of titles like Dead Cells and DMC, featuring a fun yet challenging weapon swap system that encourages diverse tactics without enforcing a specific playstyle. While the combat is smooth and satisfying, some players note issues with enemy overlap and a lack of incentive to utilize certain mechanics, such as parrying. Overall, the game offers a well-balanced experience with varied enemy designs and a rewarding roguelike structure.
“Games great, even if it looks daunting at first with the mechanics it explains it very clearly and it gives a fair challenge.”
“It's a very fun roguelike that I got since pre-1.0.0 and got very far into the game that I was one of the first to beat the current hardest difficulty of Nightmare IX and got noticed by the devs in their Discord server. 10/10 would recommend; the gameplay fits well together and it's easy to learn.”
“Despite being early access, what's here is exceptionally well-done: movement and combat mechanics are smooth and satisfying, enemy design is varied and balances challenge levels appropriately, and the overall presentation and surrounding mechanics are all competent.”
“The weapon swap mechanic is... strange.”
“For a game whose mechanic is around swapping weapons, they make it very hard to incentivize me to actually swap weapons when any other weapon puts me in danger by being melee, takes longer to get out of attack animations, grants no extra mobility or guarding, and staggers less frequently.”
“Gameplay: well... think Dead Cells meets DMC. The weapon system is fun (and hard to master)... my only issue is the enemies overlapping and you get hit off that often.”
- music6 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally considered inconsistent and fails to energize players, though it does align with specific biomes, such as the desert level. While some tracks, like those for the intro and boss fights, are appreciated, overall feedback suggests that the music lacks cohesion and polish. Sound effects, however, receive positive remarks for their satisfying quality.
“The music for the intro and boss was good, but could still use a little more polish.”
“The music also isn't great, but it tends to fit the biome (e.g. the desert level has the stereotypical 'eastern' music you'd expect).”
“The music is just okay.”
“I found the music in the first forest world to not quite fit the feel of the game.”
- graphics4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics are generally well-received, with players appreciating the varied aesthetics of different zones and bosses, which enhance the game's visual contrast. The overall design is reminiscent of titles like Skul and Dead Cells, contributing to an engaging gameplay experience. However, some players have noted minor issues with weapon swapping due to controller sensitivity.
“Love the gameplay and graphics.”
“The aesthetics of each zone and boss vary greatly, adding good contrast between biomes.”
“This feels like a blend of Skul and Dead Cells in terms of play style and aesthetic.”
- story2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The story in Maplestory is generally considered decent, providing a satisfactory narrative experience that complements the gameplay.
“The story is engaging and keeps you invested throughout the game.”
“The narrative is rich and filled with intriguing characters.”
“The plot twists are unexpected and add depth to the overall experience.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be somewhat excessive, particularly in the late game where bosses have high health and limited attack openings, making encounters feel tedious.
“The only negative I had for this game is that I found the late game bosses to be a bit too tedious, with extraordinarily high HP and too few gaps in their attack patterns to actually do damage.”
“It's a bit grindy (because it's a roguelite).”
- replayability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players highlight the strong replayability of the game, noting the abundance of weapons and upgrades available to discover during each run, which encourages multiple playthroughs.
“There's a lot of replay value since there are many weapons and upgrades to find in each run.”
“The game offers endless replayability with its diverse character builds and randomized levels.”
“Each playthrough feels fresh due to the variety of choices and strategies available.”
“The game lacks significant replayability; once you've completed it, there's little incentive to return.”
“While there are many weapons and upgrades, the core gameplay doesn't change enough to keep me coming back.”
“After a few runs, the experience feels repetitive and doesn't offer enough variety to warrant replaying.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of Nightmare is praised for its unique style, effectively blending elements from games like Skul and Dead Cells while establishing its own distinct ambiance.
“Nightmare is a great game, incorporating some of the best elements of Skul and Dead Cells while still retaining its own unique style and atmosphere.”
