4/5 ★ – Semifreddie's review of Dreamscaper.

I decided that I didn't have enough of Hades and was looking for a substitute for that awesome piece of artistry. Those were big shoes to fill and of course, Dreamscaper, built from the ground up by a handful of people do not fit in that shoes, but nonetheless, it was a breath of fresh air, with inspired art direction and a touching story. The game is split between two realities: the material one when you are awake and the subconscious one when you are sleeping. In the material world, you try to create bonds with people, grow as a person and try to overcome your social anxiety derived from a painful event in your past, while now being stranded in an alienating big city after leaving a small town in the mountains. In the dream world instead is a materialization of your hidden fears, regrets, pain, and dark thoughts which you will be able to fight with a plethora of weapons, magics, and companions. The really interesting thing is that the two realities influence each other. Materials (Inspiration, Intuition, etc.) will help you craft gifts in the waking world as well as upgrade your talents as a lucid dreamer. The bonds you create with the characters in the waking world instead will give you powerful buffs and you will be able to sketch out ideas that will turn into new weapons, objects, and magic when you return to sleep. A great idea for a rogue-lite, if you ask me. Some things were still rough around the edges but I witnessed the first major improvement that completely rebalanced the game, turning it into a more enjoyable experience that really compliments the narration. Overcoming her past, you will aid Cassidy into escaping a dark place in which she cornered herself, thanks to her lucid dreaming and the people you met along the way.