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[h2]志怪者 - Dream Sketcher Review[/h2]
[h1]Nightmares need saving[/h1]
As a dream detective, you can go on missions alone or with a group of four and investigate unfortunate chosen people whose dreams have been overtaken and turned into dangerous nightmares by the villains that are powerful in the dream world.
[h1]The Game of The Play[/h1]
When the player starts the game, they will enter a tutorial campaign. If they were to leave the campaign or close down the game, the next time they start, the player will get the campaign menu opening up.
So the player is available to choose if they want to do the tutorial campaign at any time or if they want to try other campaigns. Under each campaign, there will be information on the maximum to least number of players that are required to play a session. As well as the campaign's difficulty.
If you have the origin language equipped, then the starter cutscene that pops up before the campaign starts will be read out as the text shows up, but if you have selected English as your language, then there will be nothing. Just text and some background noise.
When the cutscene ends, the players will arrive at the session and, from there, make their next move.
Each player has a certain amount of action points per turn. The player's turn ends when their action points go out or they have too little for any usage. When the player's turn ends, they will receive a bad omen, and this happens every turn for the player. The omens stack up until the end of the campaign.
And after each turn, the player gets a player card, which can be used against enemies or when throwing the dice. Using a player card will take action points and will parish after usage. The player can have multiple cards on their hand and only get them in a session. Cards cannot be saved for future sessions but can be recollected or found in a new session.
If a player dies in a campaign and they were playing alone, then the session will end as a failure. But if the player had companions from 1 to 3, then they would be spectating the game until its end.
[h1]Visual & Audio[/h1]
[b]Visuals[/b]
The game is set in a 3D, 3rd-person board game that is viewed from one direction. The angle of the direction isn't available to move, so all players see the game area from the same view.
The visuals and cutscenes are well done and bring enjoyable content to playing the game. The dice rolling, the animations, and the movement.
[b]Audio[/b]
[u]Music[/u]
The music in the game is quite action-oriented. It fits in with the time and place of the game, and it was well done in the first place. It was pleasant to listen to while playing the game and trying to solve the puzzles.
It doesn’t get annoying over time, which is best for these types of games where annoyance can be the end of you. The game needs concentration and clear thinking, as the puzzles aren’t always as easy and can even be hiding in the bright open, directly in front of the players eyes.
[u]Voice overs[/u]
The developers for this game prioritized the language of the place where they are settled and the people living in that country. As a big example, the text bubbles have voice covers on them in the game's origin language, as the English language does not.
When English is selected, the text and chat bubbles are just silent, but when the origin language is selected, the text and chat bubbles come to life with voice actors who voice the texts.
And even when English is selected, sometimes the game can show images of settings or just small tabs where the origin language is showing too.
Meaning that the developers didn’t care much for external players who doesn't not know the origin language.
[u]Sound effect[/u]
The volume of the sound effects in the game makes a large difference. The sound is good and true. But I’ve noticed that when it is on 100%, it sounds as if you were on a call with a friend who doesn’t have noise suppression, and you can just hear their computer kind of loudly in the background.
The sound file for this is on a loop and can clearly be heard when it loops. I first noticed this when entering the sewers in Sig Carlsson’s dream. When I heard it, I felt like I was on a call with someone and even looked over at my discord to check if I was by mistake on any server channel.
And I’ve made sure that it is the sound effects and not my headset.
[h1]Pros and Cons[/h1]
[List][b]Pros[/b]
[*]Interesting stories.
[*]Good quality and detailing in textures.
[b]Cons[/b]
[*]Origin language prioritized; can’t experience games full potential in English.
[*]Sound effect at max volume.
[*]Some players might have image issues with dice rolling in-game.
[*]Too high price for game content. (Again, prioritized language.)
[/List]
[h1]My final little thoughts[/h1]
The time I played this game, I did enjoy it, but with all the small troublesome issues and single-player content, the game is unfortunately Not Recommended. By the price of the game and the fact that it is still prioritized mainly in the origin language show that the developers don’t care for people who do not understand the origin language, lowering the content for all those who can only play with the English language selected.
Rating: 6/10
If life doesn’t kill you, your dreams will.
