And the Story Continues
Dream Chronicles 2 begins the same way its predecessor did - with the simple line "I had a dream." This dream, however, wasn't about racial integration. It was about something terrible. Faye, the game's leading lady (and the character whose role you play), dreamed that her husband Fidget had been taken and that her daughter Lyla had been put under a sleeping spell by Lilith, the Fairy Queen of Dreams. The worst part is, when Faye woke up, it all turned out to be true!
And such was the premise for the first Dream Chronicles. Unfortunately, the story ended on somewhat of a down note, with Lilith trapping Faye in a forgotten prison with plans to marry herself to Fidget. Now you're back and you can help Faye escape this awful place and rescue her family once and for all! This time you're guided by a friend named Aeval who talks to you through her magical diary.
Puzzles Everywhere
This product seems to mesh the genres of adventure and puzzle. During your quest to stop Lilith's plans, you'll explore countless rooms and solve plenty of mind-bending puzzles along the way. While the first game focused heavily on hidden objects puzzles, the gameplay here seems to be more varied, offering a little something for everyone in an experience that never gets anywhere close to boring and tedious.
The gameplay can be quite challenging, which is probably a relief to hear for some of the more experienced players out there. If you're tired of being spoon-fed victories by exceedingly easier computer games, then you've come to the right place. Simply navigating from room to room requires you to stop and think. Clicking around aimlessly will get you nowhere fast. You have to use your head and sometimes objects in your inventory! It's all logical and doesn't require any special knowledge outside of common sense to figure out.
That all being said, it is difficult. Some puzzles can actually take quite a while to figure out. What's the benefit of this? A satisfying challenge gives a satisfying feeling! Rarely do I feel as rewarded and proud after solving virtual conundrums.
Pretty All Around
The environments look beautiful. Each room sparkles and shines with brilliant color. The music is slow and subtle, yet surprisingly effective. The entire overall feel will have you in a fantastic mood. The animations, even the smaller ones, look great. The reflections on the water are pretty amazing, especially when the water is sloshing about. I have absolutely no complaints in the presentation department.
A Good, Old Fashioned Adventure
Dream Chronicles 2 has it all: great graphics, soothing sounds, an entertaining story, and rewarding gameplay. For fans of the first outing, this should be a no-brainer. If you're new to the series, the opening scene gives you a good recap to bring you up to speed and then you're good to go. Those looking for solid puzzle and adventure action have found just what they need. Highly recommended.
