YUMENIKKI -DREAM DIARY-
- February 22, 2018
- Active Gaming Media Inc.
- 9h median play time
Get on Steam"Yume Nikki: Dream Diary" is a modern indie title that reimagines the surreal world and characters of the cult classic RPG Maker game in 3D. With six expansive dreams to explore, players will experience gameplay evocative of recent indie classics as they delve into the dream world using items and abilities to uncover its mysteries. The game also features an updated version of the beloved minigame, NASU. 'ALL-NEW OLD' original character included.
Nintendo Switch
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game features beautiful graphics and a stunning atmosphere that captures the essence of the original Yume Nikki.
- The soundtrack is well done, with remixed tracks from the original game that enhance the overall experience.
- The inclusion of concept art and collectibles in the dream diary adds a personal touch and encourages exploration.
- The gameplay is linear and lacks the open exploration that made the original Yume Nikki special, often leading to frustration.
- There are numerous bugs and glitches that can disrupt gameplay, including falling through the floor and unresponsive controls.
- The game has significantly fewer effects and worlds compared to the original, which may disappoint long-time fans.
- gameplay188 mentions
- 15 % positive mentions
- 78 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Yume Nikki: Dream Diary" has received mixed reviews, with many players noting a shift from the original's open exploration to a more linear, puzzle-focused experience. While some appreciate the engaging puzzles and atmospheric design, others criticize the clunky mechanics, lack of polish, and frustrating controls that detract from the overall experience. Overall, the game offers a different take on the original's surrealism, blending platforming and puzzle-solving elements, but may disappoint fans seeking the free-form exploration that defined the first title.
“The gameplay itself is an enchanting dance between exploration and introspection.”
“The focus on puzzle solving makes gameplay a lot more engaging and rewarding, while still staying close to the abstract themes of the original.”
“I quite enjoyed the mixture of familiar sights and new gameplay.”
“The gameplay is unnecessarily frustrating.”
“But I feel there are too many gameplay elements that, over the course, got frustrating.”
“The gameplay sucks, graphics suck, the sandbox environments from the original game are now gone.”
- graphics176 mentions
- 31 % positive mentions
- 61 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the surreal and atmospheric visuals that evoke a dream-like quality, while others criticize the dated graphical fidelity and clunky animations reminiscent of earlier console generations. Many highlight the game's unique art style and the beauty of certain environments, yet express disappointment over technical issues, such as graphical glitches and poor optimization, which detract from the overall experience. Overall, while the visuals can be stunning and atmospheric, they often fall short of expectations, especially for fans of the original title.
“From the moment I delved into the dreamscapes of Yume Nikki - Dream Diary, I was struck by its unique blend of surreal visuals and hauntingly beautiful soundscapes.”
“The art, models, animations, particles, scenery, and scenes are amazing too. The models and textures are really well made, the animations are fluid and a marvel to watch. The ambience, aesthetics, and scenery are breathtakingly well made; every time I enter a world, I just get lost in the visuals.”
“The unique art style and atmospheric soundtrack create an otherworldly ambiance, keeping players engaged throughout their journey.”
“Possibly my biggest gripe in-game were the animations and general visuals.”
“The graphics are bad; you can't move the camera around at all (this especially sucks for block world & snow world).”
“The animations look cheap, the textures look cheap, I found myself clipping through railings, falling through floors, respawning off-screen, and getting stuck wherever I was, and lagging even on the lowest graphical setting.”
- music165 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 48 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The music in "Yume Nikki: Dream Diary" has received widespread acclaim for its atmospheric quality and emotional depth, effectively enhancing the game's surreal visuals and narrative. Many reviewers appreciate the blend of remixed tracks from the original game with new compositions, creating a nostalgic yet fresh auditory experience. While some fans feel it doesn't fully capture the magic of the original soundtrack, the overall consensus is that the music is a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's immersive atmosphere.
“The music in Yume Nikki Dream Diary is an integral part of the narrative, enhancing the emotional impact and serving as a bridge between the player's reality and the endless, mysterious dream worlds within the game.”
“The soundtrack is a lovely mix of new and old and is used effectively in certain areas, adding more than just general ambience.”
“The atmosphere, the music, and sounds create an incredible, surreal experience that I could soak in for hours!”
“Unfortunately, the music has much to be desired....”
“Most of the music sucks, as it's just remixed versions of the OST; my heart sunk hearing the flute room theme completely bastardized in such a manner.”
“I also felt that the music was rather flat; there are no moments which really surprised me music-wise.”
- atmosphere131 mentions
- 49 % positive mentions
- 48 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is a mixed bag, with many praising its surreal visuals and atmospheric soundtrack that evoke a dreamlike quality reminiscent of the original *Yume Nikki*. However, some players feel that the game's shift towards horror elements and linear gameplay detracts from the serene and mysterious ambiance that characterized its predecessor, leading to moments where the atmosphere feels forced or generic. Overall, while the game successfully captures some of the original's essence, it struggles to maintain a consistent tone, resulting in a varied reception regarding its atmospheric execution.
“The atmosphere of the game is incredible; between the soundtrack and surreal visuals, it feels like a 4 CD-ROM installable forgotten dream.”
“The atmosphere, the music, the sounds, the style, and the world are just so incredible, surreal, and something I could soak in for hours!”
“The unique art style and atmospheric soundtrack create an otherworldly ambiance, keeping players engaged throughout their journey.”
“The beauty of the original was the coexistence with these entities, but here, their hostility disrupts the serene atmosphere, leaving players more aggravated than intrigued.”
“It completely lacks the original's perplexing yet calming atmosphere and just feels like a generic horror take on a game that isn't made to be scary.”
“An atmosphere-free charisma void with none of the mystery or dread that made the original special.”
- story81 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 73 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The story of "Yume Nikki - Dream Diary" is a reimagining of the original, offering a more coherent narrative while still maintaining an air of ambiguity and surrealism. Players often find the storytelling to be open to interpretation, with some praising its emotional depth and others criticizing its vagueness and reliance on puzzles for progression. Overall, the game presents a unique blend of familiar themes from the original while introducing new elements that may appeal to both fans and newcomers, though opinions on its execution vary widely.
“I bought this game on sale for $3.00 and am happy with that purchase price and experience because once you do understand the troubling lore, it makes for a compelling story.”
“The art and visuals are gorgeous, the story is engaging and surprisingly powerful, and there are a lot of fun platforming sequences alongside the puzzles and fetch quests that move the story along.”
“It continues the story of Madotsuki, a young dreamer, as she explores her dreams for hidden memories and inner fears, which she must respectively collect and confront in order to take control of her life again.”
“Without a guide or outside help, it is very easy to get lost or not understand your next steps.”
“The story here was altered a bit and it just ruined the main character.”
“There are two much more blatant storylines that you can follow, but outside of that, it just seems like a bunch of arbitrarily weird stuff slapped together with no real reason behind it.”
- stability42 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's stability is frequently criticized for being buggy, with numerous glitches affecting movement, controls, and overall gameplay experience. While some players appreciate the charm and artistic elements, many report significant issues such as clipping, crashes, and unresponsive controls, leading to frustration. Despite ongoing updates aimed at fixing these problems, the consensus is that the game feels unfinished and requires further polishing to enhance stability.
“The game constantly has you clipping through things, game events are always bugging out to where you have to constantly restart, and the gameplay (controls and effects) isn't even free from these bad, buggy, glitchy graphics.”
“I'm at the point of not caring if I finish it or not and just asking for a refund to go buy some better games because of how sick I am of trying to deal with the glitches, the bugs, the clipping, the controls... I'm sick of trying to play a game that doesn't even work half the time.”
“What is majorly putting me off right now is how buggy this game is and I'm hoping that it will get fixed soon.”
- grinding15 mentions
- 7 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 93 % negative mentions
Reviews highlight that grinding in the game often leads to tedious and repetitive gameplay, with many puzzles and platforming sections feeling more like chores than engaging challenges. While the frequent autosaves and checkpoints mitigate some frustration, the overall experience can be marred by linearity and a lack of meaningful exploration, making certain areas feel unnecessarily drawn out. Despite these issues, some players find satisfaction in completing the grind for collectibles, suggesting a mixed reception regarding the grinding aspect.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“This is probably one of the worst, most tedious and boring sections of the game.”
“Progression through this haunted house ride is done through a set of linear paths blocked by simple puzzles, most of which are tedious and exist simply to pad out the length of the game.”
“The side-scrolling levels just weren't fun; solving puzzles felt like a chore, and the platforming was very janky, tedious, and - to put it bluntly - boring.”
- emotional15 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of "Yume Nikki: Dream Diary" is highlighted by its evocative music and narrative, which enhance the player's connection to the dream worlds and elicit a range of feelings from nostalgia to fear. Many players appreciate the game's ability to create touching moments and intense emotional experiences, reminiscent of the original, while some express disappointment over perceived commercial motivations behind the remake. Overall, the game successfully evokes a profound emotional journey, validating personal experiences and fostering a sense of connection.
“The music in Yume Nikki: Dream Diary is an integral part of the narrative, enhancing the emotional impact and serving as a bridge between the player's reality and the endless, mysterious dream worlds within the game.”
“There are some truly touching moments, and the game is actually very fun to explore!”
“This is what made me feel like my pain at the time was validated and I felt like I'm not so alone.”
- optimization12 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 42 % neutral mentions
- 42 % negative mentions
The game suffers from significant optimization issues, with frequent frame drops and erratic performance, particularly during lighting effects. Despite its appealing visuals and atmosphere, it demands more from PCs than expected, leading to a frustrating experience for players. Overall, the lack of optimization detracts from the gameplay, making it feel less polished compared to its predecessors.
“This game shines, once more, in its visuals. Even though the game is not very optimized and can demand a lot from a PC with regular visuals, it really delivers a fantastic atmosphere and aesthetic that's up to the original.”
“The game seems to be relatively unoptimized, and the 3D graphics, generally speaking, look a lot worse than the 16-bit graphics that preceded it by 15 years.”
“The game is poorly optimized, getting frame drops at random points, especially with lighting effects.”
“For this length, quality, and poor optimization, this game absolutely doesn’t deserve to cost $20.”
“Granted, I wasn't expecting it to look spectacular considering how small the team working on this was, though it becomes an issue when the game has some pretty severe optimization issues all throughout.”
- monetization6 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization of the game has drawn mixed reactions, with many users labeling it as a cash grab, suggesting that it was created primarily for profit rather than quality. While some reviewers acknowledge the effort put into the game, they still express disappointment over its perceived lack of originality and depth, leading to a consensus that it may not be worth the investment.
“This game feels like a cash grab.”
“Very obvious cash grab.”
“It is nothing but a cheap cash grab; it doesn't deserve your money or your attention.”
- replayability6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is mixed; while some players appreciate the presence of multiple endings and interesting backtrack events, many feel that the limited content and short playtime result in little to no incentive for replaying.
“The replay value is very, very good.”
“It has some replay value because of two endings and some interesting events if you backtrack to completed areas.”
“The original had a lot of replay value, in my opinion.”
“It has some replay value because of 2 endings, and some interesting events if you backtrack to completed areas, but that’s it.”
“Hell, maybe even just watch a let's play, because there's little to almost no replay value.”
“The game takes about 3 hours to complete, and it has zero replay value.”
- character development4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is visually appealing, with well-designed characters and symbolic elements that enhance the experience. However, many players feel that the depth of character development is lacking, as the designs often feel recycled or superficial, leading to a sense of hollowness in the overall narrative. While the 3D renderings of familiar characters and environments are enjoyable, they do not compensate for the absence of meaningful character growth.
“Viewing the character designs and understanding their symbolism are the highlights for me.”
“From the familiar character designs and new monsters, abstract worlds, and multiple cameos of past images, it's a real joy seeing them all rendered in 3D.”
“Showing early character designs felt like it was just art they used to promote this, and then reused art from the original game but made to look like it was drawn in pencil.”
“From the familiar character designs and new monsters to abstract worlds and multiple cameos of past images, it's a real joy seeing them all rendered in 3D; however, Uboa was surprisingly disappointing though; he's just a face that showed up for one second.”
- humor3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is described as inconsistent, with some players finding amusement in quirky elements like mini-games and the absurdity of certain mechanics, while others feel it lacks a strong comedic identity, making it blend into the background of typical indie horror games. Overall, the humor is seen as hit-or-miss, with moments of charm overshadowed by a general blandness.
“It's like the first Yume Nikki if it was a puzzle platformer, but Mado falls through the floor sometimes and the camera points at the ground if you look at it funny.”
“There are some things that I think are pretty neat, like mini games. Ao Oni made me laugh, and the flute can be played freely, though with only four tones. You need to hold 'Q' to pinch yourself, so no more misclicks.”
