SomnaBuster
- September 24, 2024
- PD CGT
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.
Reviews
- The game features a charming art style and engaging music that enhance the overall experience.
- Gameplay is fluid and satisfying, with a variety of mechanics that encourage exploration and skillful movement.
- The level design is creative and offers a mix of challenges, making it enjoyable for both casual and experienced players.
- Some bosses can be frustratingly difficult, requiring many hits to defeat and leading to potential player fatigue.
- The health system can be annoying, as players must collect multiple stars to gain a single hit point, which can feel tedious.
- Certain level designs may lead to confusion, with death pits that are hard to identify, making for a trial-and-error experience.
- gameplay36 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The gameplay is highly praised for its creativity and engaging mechanics, such as chaining jumps and unique level designs that evolve throughout the game. Players appreciate the fun and fluid controls, with many noting the nostalgic feel reminiscent of classic platformers. The incorporation of various mechanics, including boss battles with distinct styles, contributes to a dynamic and enjoyable experience that keeps players invested.
“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 level design is so creative, and there are so many cool ideas and mechanics.”
“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.”
“The gameplay of this title is very reminiscent of Sega Mega Drive classics like Sonic, Ristar, Decap Attack, Tempo, and Rocket Knight Adventure.”
“Even if the gameplay wasn't solid, this would still be one of my favorite games of the year, but the gameplay is solid, so that's just awesome.”
- graphics27 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 59 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The game's graphics are widely praised for their vibrant, charming, and unique art style, which combines geometric shapes with a loose, bouncy aesthetic. Players appreciate the expressive artwork and how it complements the engaging gameplay and catchy soundtrack, creating a nostalgic and immersive experience. Overall, the visuals are described as stunning and memorable, contributing significantly to the game's appeal.
“Fantastic and charming art style, great controls and music, this game is just a really nice short blast of fun.”
“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.”
“The art style is so geometric and sharp, yet loose and bouncy.”
“Having a very vibrant and squiggly art style.”
“Speaking of the artwork, I just have to mention again how stunning this game is.”
- music26 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its charm and memorability, with a unique soundtrack that varies by level and evokes nostalgia reminiscent of classic titles like Ristar and Rayman. Reviewers highlight the delightful combination of catchy tunes and beautiful visuals, creating an engaging atmosphere that enhances the overall experience. However, some players noted occasional issues with input detection in specific gameplay sections, which slightly detracted from the enjoyment.
“Music is super good, memorable and charges you for more fun and challenges, plus it's different for every level.”
“The game's soundtrack is fun and fits the visuals nicely to create a very one-of-a-kind vibe I really enjoyed.”
“The adorable art style and instantly iconic music make it an easy recommendation if you're looking for a small, cute game you can finish in a few hours.”
“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, but perfectly detected the stick.”
“I don't know, moments in music city and toy city felt so wrong for a 'lawful good' character.”
“There is even a music world just like Rayman, SNES Sparkster, Ristar, and Tempo.”
- story22 mentions
- 45 % positive mentions
- 41 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The story is described as simple yet charming, featuring quirky characters and engaging dialogue that enhance the narrative experience. While it follows an episodic structure typical of platformers, with each world presenting its own plot, it culminates in some interesting ideas towards the end. Overall, the storytelling is complemented by expressive artwork and enjoyable cutscenes, making it appealing to both Sega fans and newcomers alike.
“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.”
“Even the border during story-sequences is bursting with loving detail.”
“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 cut scenes are cute and do their job at telling the story.”
“I'm glad I did because the gameplay and story really pick up from that demo.”
- humor4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted by its gobsmackingly realized cutscenes, featuring clever writing and well-timed pacing that resonate with players. Overall, the comedic elements are consistently praised for their effectiveness and entertainment value.
“Gobsmackingly realized cutscenes - my jam city with the humor, writing, and pacing of all of them.”
“Funny writing”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is negatively impacted by frustrating mechanics, such as unresponsive controls that can lead to players feeling unfairly punished during boss encounters. This can create a sense of disappointment and irritation, detracting from the overall experience.
- character development1 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 each character's backstory adds layers to their personalities, making them feel real and relatable.”
“I love how the characters evolve based on the choices I make, creating a unique experience every time I play.”