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DREAMS
I
GermanStuckIn YourController– ReplayableChoiceGame
Y W
TheOrnithologist’sPrivateCollection
TheWatergardens
s this what dreams are
made of? There’s
something magical
about this project
which sees you travelling by boat
between a selection of diorama-
like levels – and we’re not just
talking about the serious Ico
vibes it’s giving off.
Dreams is an excellent
sketchpad for exploring ideas, but
sometimes it’s best to take what
you’ve learnt from an unfinished
design and move on to the next
thing. As a result, there are a lot of
half-made Dreams out there.However, this pleasant puzzle
platformer is complete, showing
an impressive level of focus and,
importantly, scope management.
You sail between five rocky
islands, each one littered with
steps, arches, and other features
presenting a pleasingly to-the-
point platforming experience. You
pull levers for items, place quirky
expanding blocks, and collect
primary-coloured shapes tucked
away just out of reach. Collect a
shimmering blue key on the first
island, for example, to unlock the
padlock preventing you fromdocking at the next, called The
Citadel. The puzzles challenge
your noodle just enough, and all
the while there are chill beats
drifting in on the ocean breeze,
with plenty of scenery to soak in.
Speaking of soak, we’ve yet to see
water effects that look this inviting
in any other project.
This little Dream is not only an
excellent showcase of what it’s
possible to achieve visually, but
also a genuinely inspiring effort if
you’re looking for motivation to
create a game; it’s definitely one
you shouldn’t sleep on.Creator:Kluthausen2000 Creator: Mattizzle1
ou may suspect that our German-speaking staff writer has an unfair
advantage when it comes to playing through this mostly text- and
sound-based branching narrative. However, this audio adventure
makes the most of a multilingual audience – even if the English route does
go off on a pretty goofy tangent that involves one of PlayStation’s most
memorable villains. We’re including this one not just because playing it gave
us big silly grins, but because it should inspire potential Dreamers who lack
the confidence to create a visually-led project to try something different.e really wish this one was longer. It’s after dark, and all you want to
do is escape the titular zoologist’s agglomeration while making off
with a few new prized possessions of your own. Featuring the sort
of arcane puzzle logic you’ll appreciate if you’ve played many classic horror
games, plus unsettling music, this is a wonderfully creepy experience. It’s got
plenty of its own visual flair... make no bones about it! (The only thing more
lethal than that pun is this Dream’s jump scares.)Creator: HalfUp