Onirism

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Onirism is a thrilling Action/Adventure game where you play as Carol, a lively girl on a mission to rescue her stolen Bunbun plushie in the magical world of Crearia. Explore 20 unique areas, wield hundreds of weapons, and unlock power-ups in metroidvania style. Play solo, with a friend in co-op or versus mode, or engage in local multiplayer with up to 2 players, all with split screen. Look forward to 10 chapters of compelling gameplay and hilarious moments.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Reviews

88%

Audience ScoreBased on 295 reviews

gameplay21 positive mentions

optimization8 negative mentions

Unique blend of platforming and shooting mechanics reminiscent of classic games like Ratchet and Clank and A Hat in Time.
Vibrant and colorful environments filled with secrets, collectibles, and a variety of mini-games that enhance replayability.
Charming protagonist with humorous dialogue and a whimsical storyline that adds to the overall enjoyment of the game.

Game suffers from bugs and performance issues, including inconsistent controls and occasional soft locks.
Lack of a map or clear direction can lead to confusion and frustration while exploring the large open world.
Some gameplay mechanics, such as enemy AI and platforming physics, feel unpolished and can detract from the overall experience.

gameplay
69 mentions
30 % positive mentions
65 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The gameplay is a standout feature of the game, offering a diverse mix of mechanics that blend third-person shooting, platforming, and mini-games, reminiscent of titles like Ratchet & Clank and Crash Bandicoot. While the combat is generally enjoyable with a variety of weapons and abilities, some players find it lacks depth and can become repetitive due to simplistic enemy designs and basic mechanics. Overall, the game is praised for its fun, fast-paced action and engaging environments, though it still requires some polish and optimization as it is in early access.
- “There's a lot of gameplay variety with different mini games and bonus levels, the combat also feels great with tons of weapons, explosives, and abilities to choose from.”
- “The gameplay is fast and responsive, the combat feels good, and the dialogue is so funny.”
- “The gameplay of this game is a nice blend of third-person shooter and platformer with enemy ambushes and stage design that make me think of an action game like Halo and optional side missions that remind me of Crash Bandicoot.”
- “The combat is also surprisingly great, it's sort of a mix of hack and slash and mobility hero shooter, but both are on a very basic level. On the melee side, there is no combo; you can only do certain types of moves like dash, tackle, and rolling. It's very basic button mashing, and the shooter side doesn't have anything special at all. Every enemy is literally the same, just either using a gun or a melee weapon with different HP. There is no mechanic like 'this enemy is weak to this gun type' like in Doom, so the combat from both modes becomes very boring quickly, especially when you are given so many gun types for what?”
- “The next issue may be a smaller issue or even a nitpick, but I just get annoyed by the sound of the environment. The sound of breaking boxes and vases is so bad that it feels like they just downloaded it from a free sound website. The big open world environment doesn't feel interactive; all you can do is break stuff to get health, ammo, or cooldown reduction of skills. You can't open a door, destroy a tree, or even climb a ladder. It's very boring. I know the game has linear gameplay, but maybe I just expected too much from it.”
- “But the gameplay reminds me of Arms for the PS2, and while the graphics are charming and colorful, the gameplay itself isn't anything to write home about.”
story
59 mentions
12 % positive mentions
83 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The game's story is described as minimal and somewhat lacking, primarily serving as a backdrop for gameplay rather than a central focus, with players noting a simple plot about retrieving a stolen stuffed bunny. While the main story mode offers around 15-20 hours of playtime, it is still in early access and lacks depth, with many players expressing a desire for more narrative content and quest guidance. Despite its shortcomings, the charming aesthetics and humor, along with a wealth of additional game modes, provide a fun and engaging experience that keeps players entertained.
- “Best enjoyed with the open world story mode where there are secret chests, puzzles, caves, and portals to many amazing mini-games like kart racing, seasonal games, and so much more.”
- “The aesthetic is charming, and the story always has this charmingly dark vibe while having a bright and vibrant color palette of a classic N64 platformer.”
- “It delivers on a fantastic dreamscape, lighthearted story, fun and fleshed-out play dynamics, different ways to handle combat, tons of fun equipment, and oh so much extra.”
- “To get this out of the way, the story and writing in this game are minimal; they barely exist and are just an excuse for player motivation. The real meat and bones of this game is the gameplay.”
- “The story cutscenes aren't implemented yet, so there's basically no plot other than 'go here, grab this power-up, kill this boss' so far as I've gotten.”
- “I will, however, state that story-wise the main conflict (her stuffed bunny being stolen) is lacking, and the character herself is a bit of a psycho.”
humor
38 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The game is widely praised for its humor, characterized by cute and funny dialogue, a charming protagonist named Carol, and whimsical interactions reminiscent of classic PS2 titles. Players appreciate the witty writing and comedic moments, which contribute to an overall lighthearted experience, despite some technical issues. The humor is described as endearing and engaging, making the game a delightful hidden gem.
- “Carol is also a cute and funny protagonist; her dialogue is hilarious and there's tons of customization with her.”
- “The gameplay is fast and responsive, the combat feels good, and the dialogue is so funny.”
- “On top of these, the game has a charming universe, filled with brief but funny encounters and jokes that don't go under the belt.”
graphics
28 mentions
46 % positive mentions
43 % neutral mentions
11 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their charming art style, vibrant color palette, and beautiful visuals that evoke nostalgia for classic platformers. Players appreciate the detailed world design and creative character aesthetics, although some note performance issues and optimization challenges. Overall, the game's visuals contribute significantly to its enjoyable atmosphere and gameplay experience.
- “It has a lovely art style, generally enjoyable gameplay, great characters, and fantastic writing.”
- “Onirism delivers a charming universe, slick graphics, and cool gameplay.”
- “The world design and graphics themselves are way more than enough of a reason to experience this wonderful game yourself.”
- “Word to the wise, turn down the graphics a little or you can expect lag here and there; they went all out with the level detail, and it can get a little overwhelming.”
- “The game is amazingly un-optimized (it runs really badly, pretty much regardless of whatever you do, it's Unreal Engine used poorly) and you can't adjust settings in-game, and you're forced to sit through an opening cutscene (unskippable) if you're just starting the game, and trying to get graphical settings that actually work.”
- “I had very few technical problems playing this, but having a really good config is highly recommended; I could only play with graphics on low since my config wasn't good enough for higher settings.”
music
27 mentions
59 % positive mentions
30 % neutral mentions
11 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its quality and variety, with many reviewers praising the energetic and atmospheric soundtrack that enhances the overall experience. While some noted that certain audio elements, like voiceovers, feel unfinished or mixed, the majority agree that the compositions are captivating and contribute significantly to the game's charm. Overall, players express a strong desire for a downloadable soundtrack to support the developers and enjoy the music outside of gameplay.
- “The music and atmosphere of the game are pretty good!”
- “The soundtrack is whimsical, dynamic, and beautiful.”
- “Fast-paced combat, likable characters, lots of content (and more to come), a completely unhinged heroine, and an absolute banger of a soundtrack, this is a love letter to video games that everyone can enjoy.”
- “As for what I'm hoping to see in the future: fully original audio. Most of the music, sound effects, and in-game dialogue (outside of cutscenes) sounds like it's stock, making it unique would make the game feel much more complete.”
- “From there, the menu music continued during the first drawn cutscene, and when it came time to load the game cutscene, I was stuck with a black screen and nothing happened.”
- “The store page would look prettier with a 'buy the soundtrack' button.”
optimization
20 mentions
15 % positive mentions
45 % neutral mentions
40 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has received significant criticism, with players reporting severe performance issues, frequent bugs, and poor animation quality. While some updates have improved performance slightly, many users still experience frame rate drops and long loading times, particularly on AMD GPUs. As the game is in early access, there is hope for future improvements, but current optimization levels are considered unacceptable by many reviewers.
- “This has gotten better with each update, as well as performance in general.”
- “Update: after the update, the game performance is much better; it runs smoother and faster.”
- “Performance is much better than before and visuals are not as blurry or bloomy.”
- “The game is beautiful but very raw; the animations are terrible, you constantly seem to slide on the ground, strange models, and terrible optimization of the game. I didn't even have Cyberpunk lag like this game.”
- “The game is amazingly unoptimized (it runs really badly, pretty much regardless of whatever you do, it's Unreal Engine used poorly) and you can't adjust settings in-game, and you're forced to sit through an opening cutscene (unskippable) if you're just starting the game, trying to get graphical settings that actually work.”
- “Biggest issue with the game right now is the performance. If you have an AMD GPU, just forget about running the game at an acceptable framerate. Since the game is in early access, I hope that this issue will be fixed as soon as possible; it's the only thing bringing the whole game down.”
stability
12 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The game is widely reported to be quite buggy, with issues ranging from poor camera movement and animation to significant gameplay glitches that can lead to frustrating experiences, such as losing progress and respawning enemies. While the core gameplay has potential, it requires substantial polish to address these stability concerns, especially in cooperative modes. Overall, players acknowledge the game's early access status but express a strong need for improvements in stability and performance.
- “Third, and this is a big one, the game is very buggy, and needs serious polish.”
- “There's a lot of good and great things about it but the combat is really bad, massive amounts of enemies in confined spaces with buggy platforming and a saving system that not just regularly loses you up to half an hour of gameplay but also respawns all the enemies around you so you can instantly die again.”
- “Buggy as all hell, and performance is abysmal.”
atmosphere
7 mentions
86 % positive mentions
14 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is characterized by stunning art and a captivating soundtrack, creating an immersive experience that evokes nostalgia for classic PlayStation titles. Players appreciate the blend of eerie and inviting elements, with vibrant visuals and engaging music that enhance the overall enjoyment. The charming characters and imaginative world contribute to a delightful and magical ambiance.
- “With stunning art, eerie atmospheres, and a story that’ll have you questioning reality, it’s a journey straight out of a forgotten PlayStation classic.”
- “The atmospheres of the game are just gorgeous; levels, characters, music, and the art style of it all!”
- “- A beautiful, magical art style with a vivid color palette, and a gorgeous atmospheric soundtrack.”
replayability
5 mentions
40 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
60 % negative mentions
Players highlight the game's strong replayability, noting a wealth of content available even in early access, including various game modes, extensive weapon and costume customization, and multiple arcade maps. The main campaign is described as engaging and replayable, with secrets to discover, ensuring that players can enjoy many hours of high-quality gameplay. Overall, the combination of exploration and replayable chapters enhances the game's longevity.
- “Lots of exploration, lots of weapons, lots of customization (outfits), a very replayable main campaign, several arcade mode maps...you can get a lot of hours of high-quality content even if you buy it during early access.”
- “I recommend for the chapters/levels to be replayable, especially the bonus levels; I enjoyed them very much.”
- “Even though still in early access, there is already a huge amount of content to enjoy with various game modes that add a lot of replayability long after completing the still-in-development main campaign/story mode.”
- “The first two chapters of the story are playable and it took me around 15 hours to get through; however, there are still secrets I have yet to uncover.”
- “I have yet to experience a bug; I enjoy the boss fights and general combat, the weapon selection is great, the art and costume selection follows suit, and there seems to be a level of replayability even prior to finishing the game for the first time.”
character development
4 mentions
75 % positive mentions
-50 % neutral mentions
75 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is highlighted by the charming and complex portrayal of the main character, Carol, whose bratty demeanor contrasts with moments of genuine empathy, particularly in her interactions with other characters. While the character designs and world-building are praised, some players express a desire for deeper character growth, particularly in Carol's journey towards becoming more compassionate as she progresses in her quest. Overall, the game offers a visually appealing experience with potential for more nuanced character arcs.
- “Great character design, unique level layout, fun local co-op, beautiful music... a shining jewel you don't want to miss.”
- “Charming main character & character designs: Carol is adorable in both her English and French voices, tending to be a bit of a brat who only does the right thing if it helps her own goals.”
- “...wait, no I'm not! But then in the cutscene with the spider mom, she looks like she's risking her life to try and tell her she's sorry. So is she really sorry? Does she actually care about monsters? I thought she was super mean all this time. I would like to see some character development too, just have her be a little bit nicer the closer she gets to rescuing her bunny.”
- “The character development feels inconsistent; one moment they are cruel, and the next they seem to care deeply. It leaves me questioning their true motivations.”
- “I expected more growth from the characters, but they remain static throughout the game, making it hard to connect with them.”
- “The lack of meaningful character development makes it difficult to invest in the story; I wanted to see real changes and growth, but it just didn't happen.”
emotional
2 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Players find the game evokes a sense of nostalgia and warmth, reminiscent of classic titles like Jak and Daxter and Ratchet and Clank. The emotional connection is enhanced by its wholesome visuals, although some technical issues, such as getting stuck in the environment, can detract from the experience.
- “If you still think back fondly on games like Jak and Daxter, Ratchet and Clank, Blinx, Scaler, etc., and the visuals here appeal to you, I think you'll find something wholesome, nostalgic, and enjoyable in this game.”
monetization
1 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Reviewers suggest that the game's monetization could benefit from a model similar to Warframe, potentially incorporating more engaging and rewarding mechanics, such as collectible abilities or items that promote positive behaviors, like healthy eating.