Dreamview Weekly Roundup #25

Every Friday - well, apart from when we’re on holiday and accidentally unravelling the fabric of time itself - the coMmunity gathers together to celebrate the Dreamiverse through the power of words with the Dreamview Weekly Roundup. Some of you come from the wild wastes of Twitter. Others journey from the far-off lands of Instagram. This week, a few of you might be joining us from within Dreams itself, thanks to a shiny new section on the Highlights page! (The second we figure out how to beam this directly into your brains via a chip implant, it’s over for you. Kidding! Sort of!)

The one thing we all have in common, however, is our desire for the answer to a simple question: which five creations should we check out in Dreams this weekend, and why? Rest a while, weary travellers, and hear our recommendations. And don’t scratch behind your ear so hard, it’ll be much worse if you disturb it.

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Let Me Dream#

by Gianni_no_Mitaka

A tale as old as time, and no less endearing for it: a robot tires of its life in the factory, and escapes to seek freedom in the countryside. Let Me Dream, our hero finds a saloon and some musical friends, before singing a jaunty Italian tune about its tragic past and hopes for the future. From the set-dressing to the swagger of the animations, down to the delightful character design details (the moustache-like sensors that sprout from S.A.M.’s nose!), this is a charming and assured work whose quality rivals a Pixar short - although a deliciously dark turn in the back half means this would surely have parents yanking kids out of their cinema seats if it were shown before a feature film.

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STARCOASTER VR#

by yken-sao

Hold onto your hat. And your lunch. This VR rollercoaster takes you on a high-speed journey through vast oceans, starry skies and the spires of strange factories springing up from under the ice. With dips, rolls, turns and enough loops to make Kellogg’s consider legal action, this highly improbable thrill ride is absolutely unmissable in VR for those who have a strong stomach (it’s playable outside of VR if you don’t, although your viewing ability is currently limited). The highlight? A moment halfway through the ride where things briefly slow as you travel through a huge glass tunnel, allowing you to gaze at a bioluminescent whale swimming overhead. Magical.

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Dear Michael#

by DerAnder_96

Far away from anywhere, the Alaskan mountains sheltering him from the rest of the world, Walt sits by the fire. In his hand is a letter from the life he once led. This walking sim is steeped in snow-muffled silence and tinged with loneliness, as Walt contemplates long-lost connections and what it means to exist in solitude, as you fetch in wood for the stove. An atmospheric acoustic soundtrack, and the ability to look out at the mountains and hear Walt’s inner monologue for as long as you wish before deciding to head back inside, gives us Life Is Strange vibes. If Dontnod were ever considering a game with an older protagonist, they now know who to call.

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The Cola#

by Lidlig

The spirit of Newgrounds is alive and well in The Cola, the latest interactive animation from comedian and emissary of chaos Lidlig. Following a kerfuffle in an aeroplane, the secret recipe for world-renowned soda The Cola finds its way into the hands of a chancer - who immediately seizes upon the opportunity to make a quick buck. Needless to say, the situation quickly unravels: Lidlig’s distinctive and hilariously choppy animation style, pin-sharp writing, vocal performances and natural sense for comedic timing will have you drinking this in until the very last drop.

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Marble Multiverse#

By Entropy-Tamed

There’s been lots of chat around the concept of the multiverse lately. Let’s be honest: the Dreams coMmunity was doing it way before it was cool. Marble Multiverse is another coMmunity collaboration that looks set for success, challenging creators to build their own collectathon platforming stages for us to steer, roll and hop our marble around - and set up to stitch the results together neatly via portals. Entropy-Tamed’s starting stage is the only one available at time of writing, a golden-hour treetop tumble that sets a wonderful, yet accessible, standard for anyone who wants to submit their own (don’t forget to pick up a few essentials via the Marble Multiverse template). Give it a few weeks, and this dimension-hopping platformer may well be giving our penguin a run for his money.

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Want an easy way to view all of these creations in one convenient collection? Check out the playable edition of this week's Dreamview Weekly Roundup right here in Dreams!