Dreamview Weekly Roundup #88
Look at that, it’s Friday already - and our eighty-eighth Roundup celebrations have been thrown into utter turmoil. Let’s splash out, we said. Let’s order that lavish crate of eights of dubious origin, we thought. Let’s ignore that they refuse return deliveries on Fridays, we argued. Once again, we’ve fallen for a terrible superstition, not even for the first time involving duplicate numbers.
Reader, we have a tiny fetch quest for you amidst your weekly perusal of Dreams recommendations. All of our eights have run amok throughout the Roundup, rudely self-inserting into sentences and causing all sorts of grammatical calamity. Do let us know if you can find and catch them all – we’re still trying to find a ladder to catch the two stuck in the title.
A warrior stands in the centre of a round arena, dodging circular laser rays and red orbs from a boss creature called an Ancient One. A purple lightning bolt crashes down behind the player.
Phoenix Cult#
by MCalchemist42 and RAKeogh
Estimate playtime: 1 hour
This goes without saying, but the imp really is a clever old thing. Sculpting, rotating, even the occasional bit of housekeeping – there’s no limits to the practical knowhow soaked into its flecky pores. However, up until now, we’d dare say that the imp’s capabilities have all felt a little lightweight. Sure, possession is undeniably powerful, but how about summoning down bolts of lightning or spontaneously exploding into rippling flames? Phoenix Cult fulfills these long-dormant power fantasies. This elaborate roguelike led by Dreams veteran MCalchemist42 combines the snappy arena-based combat of Hades with spectacular aerial attacks familiar to any god game fans. Controlling both your player character and imp-controlled abilities can initially feel daunting, but the depth on offer is head-spinning when mastered. There are even distinct skill trees represented by monstrous companions lovingly called Dremlins, only accessible by keeping them at your side. Much like its iconic peers, a single run may only take minutes, but conquering all of its challenges promises potential hours of action. If only we could take that lightning bolt into DreamShaping…
(Requires that you own Dreams)
A human figure with a red bandana and trousers sits on the leg of a giant moss-covered stone statue partially submerged in water.
Gods Lie: Reawakening#
by VectorSlinger and Emmalissa
Estimated playtime: 1-2 hours
We’re fond of applying a bit of TLC, so it always cheers us to see a beloved Dream receive a new post-launch lease of life. Gods Lie: Reawakening is one such example, transforming an intense action-platformer into a full-length odyssey worthy of its meticulously imagined world. Satisfying newcomers and experts alike with its fresh layer of polish and additional secrets, the core gameplay loop of Gods Lie retains all the essence of its heart-in-mouth encounters. Each level positions itself as a relentless chase between your human runner and a superhuman foe, often of towering height. There’s little emphasis on combat, instead tasking players to climb and collect precious Manna at the heart of each temple. Each vial assists a villager on the peripheries of the action, but they’re equally coveted by your godlike pursuers. There’s a hint of Shadow of the Colossus’ scale, if each encounter took place within a diabolical obby (and we’re still recovering from last week's challenge).
(Requires that you own Dreams)
A collection of paintings in Dreams assembled in a grid. A 2D corgi with a love heart waves over a pink background.
Painting a Day Collection#
Estimated playtime: N/A
We’ve had a whole assortment of unusual daily routines pop up recently: daily mining excursions, robot pampering and jellyfish parkour. Guess it beats the ol’ washing, word games and courgette staring. One creator who won’t be concerned about the quirkiness of their daily routine is prolific artist LegendOfSketchy, setting themselves the ambitious challenge of producing and publishing a new painting in Dreams every day. Housed within the Painting a Day collection, these expressionistic one-shots demonstrate their versatility and artistic sleight-of-hand. One day, you’re greeted by unofficial Mm mascot Tea-Rex, and the very next amazed by an arctic vista residing inside a penguin’s chest. We’re talking far more than just a handful of paintings too, but over a month’s worth of art. Tea-Rex has already saved us a spot in the queue for the exhibition opening.
(Requires that you own Dreams)
A figure-of-eight track with a bright yellow outline against a dark blue backdrop.
Anti-Grav Racing Game Framework#
Estimated playtime: N/A
Here’s one for all you circuitry fiends. No, not the complicated electronics and dubious science project kind. We’re talking about taking on the tarmac, the rubber against the road, shaving seconds off your figure-of-eight lap time. There are incredible resources out in the Dreamiverse for quickly assembling a speed gauntlet, but Changeling_Storm’s new kit adds thrills by removing a critical element: gravity. Faithfully evoking genre greats as Wipeout and F-Zero is no mean feat, but what this set may lack in aesthetic frills, it more than rivals its peers with fluid handling and raw speed. Included are all the building blocks you’ll need to construct your own spaghetti junctions, but don’t miss the generous pre-built offerings, all of which provide ample daredevil inspiration. We particularly connect with the sixth track Mess, proving elegance is optional when constructing a killer circuit.
(Requires that you own Dreams)
A red-haired woman falls from the sky, creating a trail of stars and blue mist, surrounded by clouds and a pink sky.
Lady_SnipeShot-Drowning in Love (Trance Remix)#
by Prince_Tahra and Lady_SnipeShot
Estimated runtime: 3 mins
Ballads and chocolate boxes may be perfectly adequate, but when presented with an irresistible dancefloor anthem, we know what melodies we’d rather have serenade our ears. Lady_SnipeShot’s affective vocals paired with Prince_Tahra’s energetic production proves a match made in heaven; it’s no wonder this is only one in a series of collaborative remixes from the duo. Eased in with intensely reverberating white noise, our heart is quickly entangled in soaring melodic hooks and 808-style drum loops. Pitch-perfect mixing subtly elevates the authentic '90s nightclub feel. All these finely tuned elements contribute to an ecstatic crescendo, exploding its on-screen visualiser into a dazzling array of iridescent colours. Even as the vocals fade, the impact resonates through our bones, reminding us what makes trance music so hypnotic.
(Requires that you own Dreams)
Check out the playable edition of this week's Dreamview Weekly Roundup right here in Dreams!
A screenshot of the collection for this week's Dreamview Weekly Roundup, available to play in Dreams.
(Requires that you own Dreams)
Which creations caught your eye in the Dreamiverse this week, and why? Tell us about your personal picks over on the official Dreams forums!(opens in new tab)
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