Game: Cavern of Dreams
Genre: Action, Platformer
System: Nintendo Switch (also on Steam (Windows))
Developer|Publisher: Bynine Studio | Super Rare Games
Age Rating: EU 7+ | US Everyone
Price: US $12.99 | UK £9.99 | EU €12,99
Release Date: February 29th, 2024
Review code provided with many thanks to Dead Good Media.
Cavern of Dreams: a Cute Retro Throwback
Cavern of Dreams is a 3D platformer with a charming retro feel. Taking clear inspiration from the N64 era both in terms of its graphical design and gameplay. But don’t let its old looks deter you; Cavern of Dreams finds itself right at home on the Nintendo Switch.
You play as a cute little dragon called Fynn. The little chap is on a quest to rescue his unhatched siblings, who are hidden in the Cavern of Dreams thanks to the misdeeds of a naughty bat. It’s a plot that’s kept nice and simple, barely interfering with gameplay. Small pieces of dialogue are occasionally peppered into the game as you explore the levels, talking to NPCs and helping them out with their little woes.
There isn’t a lot of world-building; you just accept that you’re wandering around forests, flying ships and ice fortresses, locations all perfectly normal for a dragon to explore. Jokes aside, it’s all absolutely fine and very much mimics a narrative seen in platformers from the N64 era, a theme that also bleeds into the game’s graphics and gameplay.
Low Poly
Graphics certainly recapture the low poly retro design. Character models are blocky and simple, and environments make use of low-quality textures. It’s going for a deliberately dated look, which will no doubt tickle nostalgia stings for retro games. But even if you’re not a retro gamer, there are some pretty impressive graphical moments to appreciate.
The main character, Fynn, is instantly likeable with his small red stature and innocent bulging eyes. Fynn actually shows quite a range of emotions, from joy when rescuing an egg to shock when being hit by a hazard to worry in sinister environments. My favourite environment was actually the opening level, which has you explore a forest-like area with leaves falling from trees and the low poly sun beaming down reflections from the sky with a smile. Reminded me of a nice Autumn walk. It delivered an incredible first impression of the game. But for me, that joy and excitement were not maintained throughout my playthrough. But I’ll get to that.
Exploration
Cavern of Dreams gameplay focuses on platforming and exploration. The main objective is to explore the fairly large open levels tracking down the eggs. You can find these by simply exploring the levels, solving puzzles and helping out the local NPCs. As you collect more eggs, you’ll be summoned back to the main hub area to unlock a new ability, which will help you access a new level. There are also plenty of mushrooms to collect, which you’ll need to feed the baby dragons once they hatch to unlock hearts, which will help you access new areas.
It’s a familiar formula if you have played platformers on the N64 like Banjo Kazooie. Cavern of Dreams features no combat or health system, for that matter. There are enemies and hazards in the game, but if you get hit, you just get knocked far off the platform, having to restart the challenge again. The main threat is the bottomless pits, which will send you back to the last door you entered.
I did find you have to work pretty hard to find some of the eggs. Sometimes, solving pretty elaborate puzzles. You really need to take in the environments, read notes on signs and flip the right switches. There were plenty of moments when I wasn’t sure what to do or where to go. Its pacing felt very push-pull as I consistently hit walls.
The game doesn’t give many hints on what exactly you need to do, which will appeal to many players. But for me, it honestly just became frustrating. In my younger days, I would walk away and run back later once the light bulb inspiration hit me. As an older gamer, I just do not really enjoy spending play sessions figuring out what I need to do when my time is increasingly becoming more precious. This will absolutely not be a problem for many gamers.
Controls
Controls are easy to pick up but take a bit of getting used to, and not without frustration in places. Exploring the levels is generally comfortable with movement and jumping. But to get some of the eggs, you will need to really hone your platforming skills.
Often, it feels like you have to jump, dive or glide at just the right moment to reach certain platforms to avoid plummeting to the floor and beginning the platform climb again. You also have a roll move, which has a weight and momentum to it. Sometimes, you’ll need to combine this with jumping and gliding to reach certain eggs, and I just struggled. Thanks to a range of objectives, you can still find eggs through exploration and puzzle-solving alone. But collecting everything may be a stressful endeavour for some.
Conclusion: A Time And Place
Though I seem harsh on Cavern of Dreams in places, I feel this game absolutely achieves what it sets out to do. It is a throwback collectable platformer that feels just like the N64 era of gaming, only at a much cheaper price point. With its focus on exploration, puzzle solving and no combat, it does make it feel familiar but unique compared to other N64 platformers.
The question for you will be, is that an era you want to return to? This is a game that doesn’t hold your hand and leaves you to figure things out for yourself. But at the same time, you do get to play an adorable red dragon. But if you’re looking for a more Zen-like casual experience, this might not be for you. For me, Cavern of Dreams brought me to the conclusion that I am getting old and that my tolerance for games of this design is not as strong as it once was. But I still appreciate what it’s achieved.
Final Verdict: I Like it
