We pay others to tell us what they mean, and we beg our friends to tell us if the subconscious we dove into last night when our eyes closed meant anything. We worry about our dreams in the waking world and when we drift asleep every night. It’s tough to tackle a subject happens to everyone every night, but Dream Cycle, developed by Cathuria Games and published by Raw Fury, uses the innate magic of the subconscious with a little action mixed in and quite a bit adventure to make a fantastic beta on the way to what could be a great game.
The Early Access version of Dream Cycle I played only had the first part of the campaign just before the open world aspect of the game opens up. Obviously, there wasn’t a whole lot to play in a V1.3 Beta, but the little that I did get to play of Dream Cycle just left me wanting to play the rest of the game. We start in the depths of the mysterious dream world following Morgan, an arcane apprentice, as she works to discover why she is in the dream world and how to get back. The version I played ends just after Morgan makes it to the god of the dream world’s presence and discovers she has been robbed of her essence by a family member in the real world trapping her in the dream world and sending you on the quest to rid that world of corruption and recapture your essence.
This is the point in the game when the open world aspect will start, and you will have the freedom to discover the dream world and upgrade Morgan’s skills. In a game where you operate in the dream world, it should come as no surprise there is spell casting and magic mechanics to navigate the map and battle the demons you come across. Only one spell had been implemented into the game, but the spell casting controls were easy to pick up and were fantastic for fast paced battles. This was true whether I played Dream Cycle with a controller or a keyboard and mouse. The game itself recommends using a controller, but I found keyboard and mouse to be equally as fun of an experience in Dream Cycle.
In addition to robust battle mechanics and magic, there is also an element of adventure and problem solving as you navigate the map. There’s ledges and alternate paths that change at will with the dark magic that has infected the dream world that you must navigate to progress in the game. Plus, there is a magical aspect to the aesthetic of the game that really works its way into everything from dialogue to the darkness of the villains and the violence of the game mechanics. I can’t wait to see what it ends up looking like when the graphics are done, and the map is complete for players.
It’s early in the game so it’s tough for me to point out anything that was wrong with Dream Cycle since I’m not sure what’s not working and what’s just not done yet. However, it is tough to switch between villains for melee attacks when you are fighting a group of enemies. I know this adds a level of difficulty to the game and forces the player to strike with precision, but it can get a little frustrating when 5 or 6 demons surround you.
Overall, I had a great time playing Dream Cycle and I so look forward to the day I get to play the full game. For those missing the Skyrim style of magical skill building and adventure, you will love the aesthetic and characters of this game. Plus, there’s some fantastic action and fighting that reminds me of some of the early Arkham games. Nevertheless, this game is definitely worth adding to your calendar to buy on Steam for $19.99.
Check Out the Dream Cycle Early Access Trailer – https://youtu.be/ZVM0_R7Ijx0
Dream Cycle is available now on Steam Early Access.
My first console was the original Playstation and I would play Twisted Metal every now and then but games didn't hook me until I played the original Halo at my friend's house. As soon as I picked up that controller, I knew I needed an Xbox and I had to have that game. Since those early Halo days, I've branched out and played any game I could find with a great story and memorable characters but Master Chief is still my favorite. @thenotoriousTGT on Twitter
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