SomnaBuster

Play in Arcadia

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If the dream is real to you, it is worth fighting for! Accounting student Macy is down on her luck and out of her mind, but her life of hum-drum is abruptly interrupted by a visit from a mysterious firefly. After stumbling down a seemingly endless hole, she wakes up in a strange new world. With an explosive broom in tow, Macy sets out discover the mysteries of Esperanto and find her way home.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

68%

Audience ScoreBased on 22 reviews

gameplay7 positive mentions

SomnaBuster features an adorable art style and a catchy soundtrack that create a charming and immersive experience.
The gameplay is fast-paced yet allows for careful exploration, with a variety of mechanics that keep levels engaging and fun.
Boss battles are creatively designed, providing a satisfying challenge that rewards players for learning their patterns.

Some levels can feel confusing or frustrating due to trial-and-error platforming and unclear design elements.
Boss fights can be excessively difficult, requiring many attempts to defeat, which may deter some players.
The health system can be punishing, as players need to collect multiple items to gain just one hit point, leading to potential frustration.

gameplay
19 mentions
37 % positive mentions
47 % neutral mentions
16 % negative mentions
The gameplay is a standout feature, drawing inspiration from classic 90's platformers with its engaging mechanics and creative level design. Players appreciate the variety of movement options, such as chaining jumps and unique abilities like ceiling walking, which evolve throughout the game, culminating in exciting boss battles. Overall, the game offers a fun and dynamic experience that keeps players invested from start to finish.
- “The gameplay of this title is very reminiscent of Sega Mega Drive classics like Sonic, Ristar, Decap Attack, Tempo, and Rocket Knight Adventure.”
- “Chaining jumps, broomburst, ceiling walking, and the various level-based mechanics is really fun, and the game does actively expect you to learn and use them to their fullest potential later on.”
- “At first, I wasn't a huge fan of the walk-on-ceilings mechanic, but the later levels use it for some very cool platforming bits, and I really came around to it.”
- “It's difficult to overstate how good this game feels in motion, especially once you've grasped the nuance of some of the more clever mechanics.”
- “Each of the game's acts ends with a boss, and each of those bosses has a lot of personality to go along with their unique mechanics and fight style.”
graphics
15 mentions
33 % positive mentions
47 % neutral mentions
20 % negative mentions
The game's graphics are widely praised for their vibrant, charming art style that combines geometric shapes with a playful, energetic aesthetic. Reviewers highlight the visuals as a standout feature, complemented by a catchy soundtrack that enhances the overall experience, creating a nostalgic and immersive atmosphere. The intuitive controls and smooth performance further contribute to the game's appeal, making it a delightful short adventure.
- “The visuals, the sound design, the controls, and the writing all just appeal to my tastes. I haven't even finished playing this game yet, and I can confidently call it a masterpiece.”
- “Fantastic and charming art style, great controls and music; this game is just a really nice short blast of fun.”
- “Speaking of the artwork, I just have to mention again how stunning this game is.”
- “However, my first impressions of the game are very positive; its most drawing feature to most would likely be its unique art style and OST, but its gameplay is also very fun!”
- “The art style is so geometric and sharp, yet loose and bouncy.”
- “Having a very vibrant and squiggly art style.”
music
15 mentions
53 % positive mentions
27 % neutral mentions
20 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its charm and fittingly vibrant style, enhancing the overall experience with memorable and enjoyable tracks that vary by level. Many reviewers highlight the soundtrack's nostalgic qualities, reminiscent of classic games, and its ability to complement the adorable art direction. Overall, the music contributes significantly to the game's unique vibe and fun gameplay.
- “The game's soundtrack is fun and fits the visuals nicely to create a very one-of-a-kind vibe I really enjoyed.”
- “Music is super good, memorable and charges you for more fun and challenges, plus it's different for every level.”
- “I played the demo of this during SAGE this year, and I was immediately captivated by the charming graphics, twangy FM music and inspiration from Ristar.”
- “Minuses: 1) In the arcade world (music part), some arrows (mostly up arrows) worked strangely. I pushed up using the stick and the game didn't detect it. I can understand why it works poorly, but for some reason in the second room, the last 3 arrows couldn't detect gamepad arrows/cross buttons many times, while the stick was perfectly detected.”
- “I don't know, moments in music city and toy city felt so wrong for a 'lawful good' character.”
- “I played the demo of this during SAGE this year, and I was immediately captivated by the charming graphics, twangy FM music, and inspiration from Ristar.”
story
12 mentions
50 % positive mentions
25 % neutral mentions
25 % negative mentions
The story is generally described as light, enjoyable, and episodic, with a mix of cute cutscenes and quirky character dialogue that enhances the narrative. While it follows a typical platformer structure, it features some interesting ideas towards the end, appealing particularly to Sega fans and those who appreciate its unique art and music. Overall, players find themselves invested in the charming and detailed storytelling, which complements the gameplay effectively.
- “The story is simple, but quite lovely, and the characters really carry the narrative with their fun and quirky dialogue, matched very well with extremely expressive artwork.”
- “The cut scenes are cute and do their job at telling the story.”
- “I found myself getting pretty invested in the story.”
- “Your mileage may vary though as most of the story is more episodic with each world being its plot, and not really doing anything that special until the end.”
- “The gameplay, art, music, story, characters; just everything about it is good.”
- “I'm glad I did because the gameplay and story really pick up from that demo.”
humor
2 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted by its gobsmackingly realized cutscenes, featuring witty writing and well-paced comedic moments that resonate with players. Overall, the humor is a standout aspect, contributing significantly to the game's appeal.
- “Gobsmackingly realized cutscenes - my jam city with the humor, writing, and pacing of all of them.”
- “Funny writing”
character development
1 mentions
300 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The character development in the game is highlighted by expressive and cute designs and animations, contributing to a charming and engaging experience for players.
- “The character designs and animations are very expressive and cute throughout the entire game.”
- “The depth of character development really makes you feel connected to each character's journey.”
- “I love how the characters evolve based on the choices you make, adding a personal touch to the story.”
emotional
1 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Players express frustration with the emotional impact of gameplay mechanics, particularly when the game fails to register actions, leading to unintended consequences like taking damage instead of delivering a hit. This can create a sense of helplessness and disappointment, detracting from the overall emotional experience.