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The Dream Machine

The Dream Machine

PC
Released

Release Date: December 14, 2010

Adventure, Point-and-click, Indie Games, Episodic, Singleplayer

A traditional point and click adventure game. We play the role of a new resident of a strange block of flats, who slowly discovers its secrets. The graphic design of the title was created by stop motion animation of real models of characters and surroundings, which were made of clay and cardboard.

8.7

Steam

7.3

Users

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Ratings
Screenshot Images: 2
Screenshot

The Dream Machine is a traditional point-and-click adventure game, which is distinguished from other productions of this type by its original graphic design. The producer of the title is a small Swedish studio Cockroach Inc., with a dozen or so PC games, both arcade and logical, made in Flash technology.

The Dream Machine is the first large developer title. In order to reduce production costs, the game was divided into five separate and separately sold episodes, appearing in succession over several months. It is worth mentioning that the adventure right after the premiere was noticed and appreciated by critics, winning prizes at many independent game festivals.

The main character of The Dream Machine is Victor Neff, who together with his newly married wife Alicia moves from village to new apartment in town. Initially everything seems to be perfectly arranged, but soon it turns out that the flat chosen by the couple hides a lot of strange secrets. Victor finds a note guiding him to the track of the title machine, allowing the user to move to the dreams of selected people. With the use of the device one will go on a strange journey to the subconscious of one's neighbours and wife.

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Platforms:

PC Windows

PC Windows

Developer: Cockroach Inc.

Publisher: Cockroach Inc.

Age restrictions: none

Features

Ratings

Game Ratings for The Dream Machine Video Game.

87%

STEAM Score

All Reviews: Very Positive (2,202)

STEAM
User Reviews Summary generated by AI

The main pros of the game

  • Unique Art Style: The game features a distinctive handcrafted aesthetic using materials like clay, cardboard, and surreal designs, creating an engaging visual experience.
  • Atmospheric Storytelling: The narrative is compelling and thought-provoking, exploring deep philosophical themes related to dreams and existence, which resonates emotionally with players.
  • Clever Puzzles: Many players appreciate the creativity and challenge of the puzzles, which are often logical and tied closely to the story, providing a satisfying gameplay experience.
  • Engaging Characters: The characters and their interactions are well-written, making them relatable and adding depth to the story.
  • Emotional Impact: The game effectively evokes a range of emotions, with players noting its ability to make them feel deeply connected to the narrative and characters.

The main cons of the game

  • Technical Issues: Many players report significant performance problems, including lag, FPS drops, and crashes, which detract from the overall experience.
  • Puzzle Clarity: Some puzzles are described as confusing or illogical, leading to frustration. The lack of guidance or hint systems can make it difficult to progress at times.
  • Dialogue and Navigation: The game features lengthy dialogues without an option to skip or quickly exit, which can lead to tedious gameplay. Additionally, the character's movement speed can feel slow, impacting the pacing of the game.
  • Lack of Optimization: The game struggles with optimization, particularly on certain systems, resulting in a less-than-ideal gaming experience.

The features or elements that are missing from the game according to users

  • Hint System: Many players desire a built-in hint system or clearer guidance for solving puzzles, which would alleviate some of the frustration encountered during gameplay.
  • Performance Improvements: Players highlight the need for better optimization and bug fixes to enhance stability and reduce crashes.
  • Skip Dialogue Option: A feature to skip or fast-forward through previously read dialogue would improve the flow of the game, especially during replays.
  • Translation Options: Some users express disappointment over the lack of translations for languages like Spanish, which would make the game more accessible to a broader audience.
  • More Intuitive Navigation: Suggestions for improving navigation mechanics, such as double-click options to exit screens quickly, have been noted to enhance the user experience.

Summary generated on:

7.3

USERS Score

Average score from votes.

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