SomnaBuster

About

"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."

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

98%

Audience ScoreBased on 100 reviews

gameplay31 positive mentions

SomnaBuster features a charming art style and captivating soundtrack that enhance the whimsical experience of the game.
The platforming mechanics are fast-paced and precise, allowing for fluid movement and encouraging speedrunning, with well-designed levels that introduce new mechanics at a satisfying pace.
The game offers a delightful mix of creativity in level design and character interactions, making it engaging and enjoyable throughout its runtime.

The lives system can be frustrating, as falling into pits results in losing a whole life, which can detract from the overall enjoyment, especially in later levels.
Some players may find the level design occasionally confusing, with certain mechanics feeling inconsistent or overly punishing.
Boss fights can vary significantly in difficulty, with some being frustratingly hard while others may feel too easy, leading to an inconsistent challenge.

gameplay
73 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
54%
4%
The gameplay is widely praised for its engaging mechanics, reminiscent of classic 90s platformers, with a strong emphasis on exploration and creativity. Players appreciate the variety of level designs and the introduction of unique mechanics, such as ceiling walking and chaining jumps, which enhance the overall experience. While some minor flaws exist, such as occasional ceiling collisions during falls, the game is noted for its responsive controls and rewarding gameplay that encourages experimentation.
- “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.”
- “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.”
music
60 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
48%
47%
5%
The music in the game is widely praised for its catchy, unique, and nostalgic qualities, reminiscent of classic Genesis and Mega Drive soundtracks. Reviewers highlight the soundtrack's ability to enhance the game's whimsical visuals and gameplay, with memorable themes for different levels and bosses that contribute to an overall charming atmosphere. Many consider the music a standout feature, elevating the experience and making it a delightful accompaniment to the game's vibrant art style and engaging mechanics.
- “The soundtrack is an absolute treat, and the difficulty feels well tuned throughout.”
- “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 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.”
graphics
59 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
59%
5%
The graphics of Somnabuster are widely praised for their vibrant, hand-drawn art style that combines playful and surreal elements, creating a dreamlike atmosphere. Reviewers highlight the charming character designs, smooth animations, and a colorful aesthetic that enhances the overall gameplay experience. However, some players note that the trippy backgrounds can occasionally be visually overwhelming, making it difficult to focus on gameplay.
- “The hand-drawn art style is gorgeous, the animations look great, and the soundtrack is very fun and reminiscent of the Genesis.”
- “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.”
- “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”
story
46 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
41%
52%
7%
The story of Somnabuster is described as light and enjoyable, featuring a simple yet charming narrative that unfolds through episodic plots tied to each world. While the writing and character dialogue are praised for their quirkiness and expressiveness, some reviewers noted that the story feels somewhat predictable and backloaded, with a more impactful ending that leaves a lasting impression. Overall, the combination of cute visuals, engaging music, and a whimsical setting enhances the storytelling experience, making it appealing to a broad audience, especially fans of classic platformers.
- “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.”
- “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.”
- “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.”
humor
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's humor is highly praised for its clever writing and engaging cutscenes, blending lightheartedness with deeper themes as the story progresses. Players appreciate the expressiveness and creativity in its comedic elements, making it both funny and heartfelt throughout. Overall, the humor effectively enhances the gaming experience, balancing whimsical moments with thought-provoking undertones.
- “It's wild, wondrous, and really funny through its expressiveness (in both memey and pretty ways) and mechanics.”
- “A punchy little platformer that's endlessly creative, funny and heartfelt.”
- “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.”
emotional
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is praised for its emotional depth, conveyed through surreal and heartfelt cutscenes, as well as expressive artwork during gameplay. The soundtrack enhances this emotional experience with unique themes that resonate with players, contributing to the overall creative and funny atmosphere of the platformer. However, some gameplay mechanics can lead to frustrating moments that detract from the emotional engagement.
- “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.”
- “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.”
character development
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Character development in Somnabuster is highlighted by its expressive and cute character designs and animations, which enhance the game's whimsical dreamscape setting. The combination of a fun plot and creative visuals contributes to a charming overall experience, making the characters memorable and engaging.
- “The character designs and animations are very expressive and cute throughout the entire game.”
- “Somnabuster 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.”

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