SomnaBuster
- September 24, 2024
- PD CGT
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Get on itch.io Store"SomnaBuster is a kid-friendly platformer with a compelling plot and innovative gameplay. As accountant-turned-witch Macy, explore the dreamlike world of Esperanto, wielding a broom with explosive abilities to navigate through unique environments. With stunning visuals and immersive music, this 2D platformer offers challenges for players of all speeds and skill levels."
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Reviews
- SomnaBuster features stunning hand-drawn art and a captivating soundtrack that evoke nostalgia for classic platformers, making it visually and audibly delightful.
- The gameplay is fast-paced and fluid, with a variety of mechanics that encourage exploration and skillful movement, providing a satisfying platforming experience.
- The game offers a charming story with quirky characters and engaging cutscenes, enhancing the overall whimsical atmosphere and emotional impact.
- The difficulty spikes, particularly with boss fights, can be frustrating, as some bosses require multiple hits to defeat and may feel overly challenging for casual players.
- The lives system, where falling into pits costs a whole life, can be punishing and detracts from the enjoyment of exploring the beautifully designed levels.
- Some level designs can be confusing, leading to moments of trial and error that may disrupt the otherwise smooth gameplay experience.
- gameplay37 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 49 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The gameplay is praised for its variety and creativity, introducing new mechanics at a satisfying pace that keeps players engaged throughout. The controls are responsive, and the level design encourages exploration and mastery of unique mechanics, culminating in challenging and rewarding experiences, especially in the latter stages. While there are minor flaws, such as occasional ceiling collisions, the overall gameplay is considered fun, expressive, and reminiscent of classic platformers, making it a standout title in the genre.
“The levels present new mechanics at a good pace, giving the game plenty of variety all the way to the end; I was overtaken with sheer joy when I saw a star handle right out of Ristar.”
“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.”
“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.”
“The only gameplay flaw I can think of is that when you're falling while going left/right, you will sometimes catch a ceiling.”
“I could also see defeating all of the enemies in a level or collecting a certain amount of stars being bonus objectives, but nothing like that seems to be tracked or really encouraged through gameplay.”
“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.”
- music31 mentions
- 48 % positive mentions
- 42 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its captivating and unique soundtrack, which features distinct themes for each boss and level, evoking a nostalgic feel reminiscent of classic Genesis titles. Reviewers highlight the emotional depth and catchy nature of the tracks, noting how they enhance the overall gameplay experience and complement the game's charming visuals and art style. Overall, the soundtrack is described as a standout feature that adds to the game's fun and engaging atmosphere.
“The soundtrack is peak Genesis goodness, having unique themes for each boss and nearly every cutscene, while utilizing instrument patches in a way that makes some pieces feel rather emotional.”
“The game's soundtrack is fun and fits the visuals nicely to create a very one-of-a-kind vibe I really enjoyed.”
“The hand-drawn art style is gorgeous, the animations look great, and the soundtrack is very fun and reminiscent of the Genesis.”
“In a game with such a potent, captivating soundtrack, one that doesn’t sound quite like anything I’ve ever heard from a Mega Drive game in spite of its immediately recognizable sound font being echoed through the entirety of it, there’s this one thing that plays when you get a game over.”
“Not the game over theme itself, even if that one is a somberly sweet tune that warms you a bit after you lose your lives… rather, I’m talking about the song that plays when you hit continue.”
“Minuses: 1) In arcade world (music part), some arrows (mostly up arrows) worked strangely; I pushed up using the stick and the game didn't detect it. For some reason, in the second room, the last 3 arrows couldn't detect gamepad arrows/cross buttons many times, but perfectly detected the stick.”
- graphics31 mentions
- 35 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The graphics of Somnabuster are widely praised for their captivating and charming hand-drawn art style, featuring vibrant colors and unique pencil/crayon-like outlines that create a dreamlike atmosphere. Reviewers appreciate the game's striking visuals, smooth animations, and how well they complement the engaging gameplay and soundtrack, although some note that the busy backgrounds can occasionally be overwhelming. Overall, the art direction is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's appeal and nostalgic charm.
“The visuals are a treat.”
“I have always been a strong supporter of high definition 2D art in games, and Somnabuster presents a striking art style with charming pencil/crayon-like outlines and deep color palettes that make the whole world feel dreamlike.”
“The hand-drawn art style is gorgeous, the animations look great, and the soundtrack is very fun and reminiscent of the Genesis.”
“My only real complaints are that the aforementioned trippy background visuals can sometimes make things very visually busy and somewhat hard to understand.”
“I kinda find it hard to talk about it without really stating what’s obvious from simply seeing its beautifully hand-drawn style that feels both strikingly angular and softly round; it nails its ever-changing setting, a dreamscape paradise both weird and wonderful, though it leans far more into the playfulness of the oneiric aesthetics than its bizarreness, even if it still has plenty to offer.”
“Graphics: decent”
- story24 mentions
- 42 % positive mentions
- 46 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The story in the game is generally well-received, featuring a mix of lighthearted humor and deeper themes that resonate with players, particularly towards the end. While the narrative is often described as simple and episodic, with each world presenting its own plot, it culminates in a more impactful conclusion that leaves a lasting impression. Overall, the charming characters, engaging dialogue, and vibrant visuals contribute to a delightful storytelling experience, though some players wished for a more cohesive narrative throughout.
“Sometimes, the cutscenes are humorous and lighthearted, but near the end of the game, the story gets fittingly serious in a way that makes you think, not just about the world of Esperanto, but also about ourselves and how we see the world.”
“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.”
“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.”
“I did come away with a much more positive view of the story because of this, but I just wish the experience felt a little more cohesive and I got more of that type of story leading up to the ending rather than it being backloaded.”
“The story and writing was mostly not really my thing, but doesn't get in the way any more than you want it to.”
- humor5 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by a blend of lighthearted and serious moments, particularly in its well-crafted cutscenes that balance wit with deeper themes. Players appreciate the funny writing and creative expressiveness, noting that the game maintains a consistently humorous tone while also delivering heartfelt messages. Overall, the humor is described as both wild and wondrous, enhancing the game's charm and engagement.
“Sometimes, the cutscenes are humorous and lighthearted, but near the end of the game, the story gets fittingly serious in a way that makes you think, not just about the world of Esperanto, but also about ourselves and how we see the world.”
“Gobsmackingly realized cutscenes - my jam with the humor, writing, and pacing of all of them.”
“It's wild, wondrous, and really funny through its expressiveness (in both memey and pretty ways) and mechanics.”
- emotional4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game features a standout soundtrack that enhances its emotional depth, with unique themes for bosses and cutscenes that evoke strong feelings. Players note that both the surreal and heartfelt cutscenes, along with expressive artwork during gameplay, contribute significantly to the game's emotional impact, making it a creatively engaging experience.
“The soundtrack is peak Genesis goodness, having unique themes for each boss and nearly every cutscene, while utilizing instrument patches in a way that makes some pieces feel rather emotional.”
“A punchy little platformer that's endlessly creative, funny, and heartfelt.”
“It would be obvious to point to the surreal, sometimes silly, sometimes emotional cutscenes for this, but I find that the artwork during gameplay does just as nice of a job, especially for the player character and final boss’ animations.”
- character development2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -150 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
Character development in Somnabuster is highlighted by its expressive and cute character designs and animations, which enhance the game's whimsical dreamscape setting. The engaging plot and creative level theming further contribute to a cohesive and enjoyable experience, reminiscent of classic titles like Sonic Mania and Shovel Knight.
“The character designs and animations are very expressive and cute throughout the entire game.”
“Sombabuster is an absolute blast with a fast and precise movement kit that feels like a combination of Sonic Mania and Shovel Knight: Plague of Shadows, a fun dreamscape setting that is used for creative level theming and trippy visuals accompanied by an equally strange and catchy soundtrack, with solid character designs and a cute plot to tie the whole thing together.”
“The character development feels shallow and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with the characters on a meaningful level.”
“I found the character arcs to be predictable and uninspired, leaving me wanting more complexity and growth.”
“Despite the charming visuals, the characters don't evolve throughout the game, which makes the experience feel stagnant.”
