Yume Nikki: Dream Diary
| Yume Nikki: Dream Diary | |
|---|---|
 Steam artwork | |
| Developer(s) | Kadokawa Games |
| Publisher(s) | Playism |
| Platform(s) | |
| Release |
|
| Genre(s) | Adventure |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
Yume Nikki: Dream Diary is a 2018 adventure horror game developed by Kadokawa Games and published by Playism. The game is a reboot of the 2004 indie game Yume Nikki, and according to Playism, was produced with supervision by the original game's creator Kikiyama. The game borrows basic elements, including some abandoned design concepts, from its predecessor, but also contains significant changes. As in Yume Nikki, the player controls a girl named Madotsuki from a third-person perspective and explores worlds inside her dreams. Dream Diary adds platforming and puzzle gameplay elements, and the game is rendered in 3D.
Dream Diary was released on Windows on February 23, 2018, and received mixed reviews from critics, who complimented the visuals, music, and atmosphere, but criticized its gameplay; in general, they felt that it was an upgrade in some ways but was missing significant factors in the appeal of the original game. It received a release on Nintendo Switch on February 21, 2019.
Gameplay[edit]
In Yume Nikki: Dream Diary, the player controls a hikikomori named Madotsuki (窓付き, lit. windowed) at home in her apartment, the only place she can be when awake. In her apartment, she has a game console which allows players to access a retro-style mini game called Super Nasu.[1] On her desk is a diary which keeps track of all collectible concept art found by the player. After Madotsuki falls to sleep, she begins to dream. The player is then presented with a dream world which resembles the same room Madotsuki lives in. In the dream world, the player is able to leave the room, which will lead to a nexus of 6 doors, half of the 12 in the original game, which lead to surrealist worlds that seem to be twisted versions of the real world, including an abandoned playground and a shopping mall.[1] The objective of the game is to collect five items, known as "effects", to finish the game. The player can choose to wake from the dream world at any time, by causing Madotsuki to pinch her cheek and awaken. This behavior ensures that the player has a way out of the dream world at all times.
There is no way to encounter a game over in the game, though enemies do exist in the form of NPCs that can teleport the player to previous checkpoints, forcing them to redo sections of the game. Such NPCs include bird-like humanoid girls with beaks for mouths, called "Toriningen",[a] who will chase after Madotsuki.
Development and release[edit]
Dream Diary's predecessor, Yume Nikki, was created independently and released as freeware in June 2004 by a Japanese developer using the pseudonym Kikiyama. After 2011, there was no update from Kikiyama until Yume Nikki was published on Steam in January 2018.[2] Coincident with the Steam release, a two-week countdown began on the Kadokawa Corporation website, accompanied by a message indicating an unspecified Yume Nikki project was being produced.[3] At the end of the countdown, Dream Diary was revealed to be in development at Kadokawa Games and a release date was announced.[4] According to the game's publisher, Playism, it was produced with supervision and cooperation from Kikiyama. Dream Diary incorporated influences from contemporary indie games as well as characters from Yume Nikki. The developers also reportedly included abandoned design concepts from the original game.[5] Shortly before the game's release, Playism announced that it would feature a collaboration with Ao Oni, another freeware horror game.[6]
Dream Diary was released for Windows on February 23, 2018,[5][6] and for Nintendo Switch on February 21, 2019.[7]
Reception[edit]
| Aggregator | Score |
|---|---|
| Metacritic | 51/100[8] |
| Publication | Score |
|---|---|
| Adventure Gamers | 2.5/5[9] |
| Hardcore Gamer | 2.5/5[1] |
| DualShockers | 6.5/10[10] |
Yume Nikki: Dream Diary received a score of 51/100 on review aggregate site Metacritic, indicating "mixed or average reviews".[8] Some critics compared the game with its predecessor—Rock Paper Shotgun's Adam Smith felt that Dream Diary had lost the "mysterious horror and charm" of the original game and called it "fan-disservice",[11] and Adventure Gamers' Kevin Lynn said it introduced adventure platformer tropes while discarding the distinct, open-ended design of Yume Nikki.[9] However, Lynn said the game's new 3D visuals were a faithful translation of the original 2D textures.[9] Azario Lopez of DualShockers said that Dream Diary was a "decent attempt" at a reboot.[10]
The game's presentation was generally well received by critics, with Hardcore Gamer's Chris Shive calling the visuals a "major strong point",[1] although reception to the world design was mixed. Lopez said the world was dark and captivating, and he and Shive complimented the creature designs.[1] Smith lambasted the world designs as "bootleg DVD covers" trying to evoke the sense of the original game, and said they were not "dream-like".[11] Shive felt they were unsettling and captured the "chaotic and random" feel of dreams, but criticized them for being too linear.[1] Lopez and Lynn both praised the game's atmosphere, with Lopez calling it a "decent surreal experience".[9][10] The game's music was received positively; Lynn identified it as a strong point, helping contribute to a "lonely, haunting tone", and Lopez thought it was one of the game's best aspects, helping enhance the game's horror.[9][10]
On the other hand, the gameplay was generally criticized. Smith said it was clunky and confusing at points, and Lopez criticized the controls for being somewhat unresponsive, also mentioning he encountered a number of glitches while playing.[11][10] Lynn found the controls mostly responsive, but criticized one section of 3D platforming for its camera and physics.[9] Shive thought that, despite the interesting premise and strong visuals, the game was overall not enjoyable to play, citing linear world layouts and weak puzzles as contributing factors.[1] Lynn also added that, despite the game having a good variety of worlds, they lost their impact due to excessive backtracking and the game's animations became "tiresome".[9]
Notes[edit]
- ^ 鳥人間, lit. Bird People
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d e f g Shive, Chris (April 5, 2018). "Review: Yume Nikki: Dream Diary - Hardcore Gamer". Hardcore Gamer. Archived from the original on November 10, 2021. Retrieved September 17, 2022.
- ^ Muncy, Julie (January 23, 2018). "The Mysterious Japanese Game That Took 14 Years To Officially Come Out". Wired. Archived from the original on January 25, 2018. Retrieved August 7, 2019.
- ^ Frank, Allegra (January 10, 2018). "A disturbing cult classic finally hits Steam, with a follow-up on the way". Polygon. Archived from the original on January 10, 2018. Retrieved January 10, 2018.
- ^ Frank, Allegra (January 25, 2018). "Cult classic Yume Nikki returning with 3D follow-up". Polygon. Archived from the original on October 22, 2018. Retrieved May 21, 2022.
- ^ a b Rad, Chloi (February 27, 2019). "Yume Nikki: Dream Diary Revealed, a 'Reboot' of 2004 Cult Horror Game". IGN (published January 24, 2018). Archived from the original on January 30, 2018. Retrieved January 29, 2018.
- ^ a b Frank, Allegra (February 16, 2018). "The horrifying Yume Nikki looks mundane — until it's absolutely not (update)". Polygon. Retrieved September 24, 2022.
- ^ Rad, Chloi (February 27, 2019). "Yume Nikki: Dream Diary Launching on Nintendo Switch". IGN (published February 15, 2019). Archived from the original on February 18, 2019. Retrieved February 17, 2019.
- ^ a b "YUMENIKKI -DREAM DIARY- for PC Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on November 10, 2021. Retrieved May 25, 2022.
- ^ a b c d e f g Lynn, Kevin (August 12, 2019). "Yume Nikki – Dream Diary review". Adventure Gamers. Archived from the original on November 24, 2021. Retrieved September 17, 2022.
- ^ a b c d e Lopez, Azario (March 6, 2018). "Yume Nikki -Dream Diary- Review -- Now, Wake Up". DualShockers. Archived from the original on November 10, 2021. Retrieved May 21, 2022.
- ^ a b c Smith, Adam (February 26, 2018). "Wot I Think: Yume Nikki - Dream Diary". Rock, Paper, Shotgun. Archived from the original on April 21, 2021. Retrieved May 21, 2022.
External links[edit]
- Official website (in Japanese)