The human mind is fascinating, especially since it can put you in places you’ve never really been before and let you experience things you’ve never experienced before. Dreamscapes: The Sandman explores this side of the human mind, with a focus on the spooky: nightmares.
In other words, we have a pretty girl named Laura who always had the most terrifying nightmares about The Sandman, nightmares that only went away thanks to her trustworthy dreamcatcher. However, things change soon as you will see for yourself and The Sandman manages to lure her into the darkest nightmares, sending her into a deep coma. This is when you step in – as a scientist that has to enter Laura’s mind in the hopes of waking her up. After you face her nightmares. Boo!
And when I say “Boo,” I am already shaking. Dreamscapes: The Sandman is insanely creepy and challenges us to face fears that we all have deep inside our hearts, fears like being buried alive or drowning in a frozen lake. Just thinking at these horrible things sends the chills through my spine – imagine having to play them!
You will have multiple scenarios – aka nightmares – to solve in Dreamscapes and each will have you confront one of these creepy death situations. The game is so beautifully designed that the scenes, together with the storytelling and especially the cutscenes all seem so freakishy real. It’s both a good thing, and a very bad thing: the good thing being the obvious one that we’re dealing with a great game, but the bad thing being that it all feels so creepy.
Fortunately, once you complete an area, it turns into a dream-like setting, with lush graphics, flowers and colors and life oozing from everywhere. Still, you will probably remember for the rest of your life those paper-dolls. Argh!
In terms of gameplay, Dreamscapes: The Sandman is your typical hidden object adventure. It’s not one of the most difficult adventures that I have ever played and it’s on the short side (you will finish the game, probably, in about 4 or 5 hours) but everything that you get is of the highest quality. And it’s better to have a short but extremely valuable experience instead of a long, boring one.
Also, don’t let the first puzzles upset you: they might seem way to easy and repetitive, but the game picks up pace a little later and things get a bit more difficult. Don’t expect anything impossible, though! Instead, focus on the nice story and breathtaking visuals!
All in all, Dreamscapes: The Sandman is a great game and it’s so close to perfection. If the challenge level was a little higher, I would’ve loved it with all my heart (and hate it for being so creepy at the same time). However, despite the fact that it’s a bit easy and on the short side, it’s a must play game, especially for those who are fans of the hidden object adventures!
iTunes link: Dreamscapes: The Sandman
Final rating: 9.1 out of 10
Published: Jul 24, 2013 09:22 am