Dreamweb (1994)

Preliminary: Hmmm there definitely is a lot to criticize about this game, especially that it feels primarily like pixel hunting and menu navigation so far. Plus, the game screen is so small comapred to the full screen lol. That being said, I kinda like the simple but eloquent Look; I absolutely love all of the Sound so far (really what is keeping me going); and as much as I see the validity in criticizing the pixel hunting (and normally I hate that), in this case it kinda felt like I was a kid again seeing if I can click on the crack on the floor etc. Plus, the magnification aspect that lets you see things more clearly helps with identifying things compared to many of its contemporaries. That being said, hopefully it's not too long/overstays its welcome, and hopefully it doesn't pull a bunch of RNG-based deaths, because an amazing Sound and Feel can only go so far.

Day 1

Yessss the rain soudns on the garage and then the rain outside. And then another great ambient tune after that! The Sound really is amazing!!!

Yessss the sound effects of the network comptuer interface was exactly the Resident Evil sound ugh the nostalgia

I mean the game is really messy and figuring out these puzzles without a guide probably would've annoyed me, but as it is, I think this is a really neat game. I was taking a screenshot of this neat pool room when I got shot for the first time haha, but that was entirely because I was screenshotting. The death screen and music were great tho!

This is quite gruesom, And tho the "combat" is quite lame, I appreciate its simplicity heh. I also aprpeciate the lack of frustrasting dialog trees. I wish the plotline was clicking with me more tho.

No matter my praises and criticisms, I was undeniably adventure-game hooked from start to finish. Despite being in pain due to COVID/flu shot and despite many reasons I should've gotten up, eg to get water lol, I played it start to finish tonight. (Well, I think I am almost done....)

Dang I just keep having these bullets lol. And the pixel hunting really is quite terrible in this.

Ugh invengtory management has been a non issue this entire game. Now at end game, I just need to drop a couple items to make room for all these Rocks, sure, but noooo you can't drop things in this area... Great. Oh that was a non issue, I could just load some Rocks in the Cart to make room. But my real issue was at the very end, after a very long convo, I had to quickly respond. I had just gotten lulled out haha. I'll quickly reload I guess just to see the true ending :-p This plotline is so absurd and confusing

Welp that was an incredibly absurd ending lol. After reading up on the plotline, I guess I understood all of it: it really was that simple, I kept thinking I was missing something. Despite its faults, and less than stellar ending (could've used a new tune there), this was incredibly addicting for me, had one of the best soundtracks so far in gaming history, and had a very unique Feel.

Look: 8.5/10

Sound: 9.5/10 Very tempted to give this a 10, but on future replays if I still feel that way.

Play: 8.5/10

Feel: 9/10

Attachment: 8.5/10 Some of the tedium for clicking might deter me from fully replaying again, butttt I am quite positive I'd replay it in full some years from now even if just for the music.

Overall: 8.8/10 I think if it weren't for some of the gameplay flaws (tho I really should be acknowledging the hook...), this would be a 9+ and favorite. Maybe on future replays.

NOTE: there is no option for the DOS release but this review is for DOS with the CD audio.

DreamWeb is an ambitious and dark little game that would be much more impressive if it fleshed out its story and improved its frustratingly obtuse/poor puzzles.

The main character is Ryan, a bartender in a cyberpunk city who is asked by mysterious Keepers of an entity called the Dreamweb to kill seven people who are united to destroy the Dreamweb and send humanity into chaos. The game very much implies a descent into psychosis, as Ryan's displays of violence and nature of the Dreamweb are unnerving and horrifying.

The game is a point-and-click adventure with a fairly unique angle - that of a top-down view. The player can click and pick up items as well as use them either in reaction to other elements in a scene or directly from the inventory. Many items serve no purpose (food trays, mugs, etc) while the most important items also look useless (a spare bottle? Rocks??), forcing the player in trial-and-error scenarios where puzzles range from weirdly obtuse with frustratingly specific solutions to plain brute force solutions (a simple tile combination where you end up just testing out 36 combinations for the heck of it).

This is a shame, because DreamWeb is dripping with atmosphere. The music is extremely moody and gorgeous, and the graphics are unique and grimy given the top-down perspective and elements of explicit sexual and violent content that were unheard of in games at the time. The CD audio adds voice tracks that aren't super impressive (some don't even have proper subtitles) but they add a little more to the world.

The game is tragically short, with characters later on who are forgotten or written out in the plot and the main length deriving from the frustrating puzzle gameplay. Dreamweb is a game I wouldn't mind seeing a sequel or spiritual successor to, as there's unique and innovative perspectives and stories at work - it's just not a well designed game and could use some touch-ups (added scope, a hint system maybe?) to make a more satisfying experience.

Completed on emulator (Dosbox). It first I was hooked on the unique UI this game has, and then I really got into the characters and the backstory. On the other hand, I can't really say this game is too much fun. Expect a lot of frustration and annoyances with some of the puzzles.

There are a lot of better adventure games, but if you already played the classics, maybe you should check this one.