If you’ve read my review of Bygone Dreams: Prophecy, the free-to-play prologue of Bygone Dreams, you already know how positive of a first impression this project ultimately left on me. Yes, the game was rough around the edges, and its tutorial, in my opinion, was not a particularly good representation of what the project had to offer. Thankfully, as I progressed further and further in the demo, things began to gradually take shape – the level design was solid, the boss fights were decently challenging, and every nook and cranny oozed creativity, even if the combat mechanics could’ve been more fluid, and the narrative more engaging.
Saving worlds again
But let’s slow down a bit. Let’s say this is your first encounter with Bygone Dreams, and you need a bit of an introduction. What even is this game? I hesitate to call it a soulslike, and will instead settle for… action-adventure with a moderately challenging level of difficulty? Yeah, that works. A few bosses can be tough as nails, but other than that, it’s really not trying to mimic From Software’s illustrious series the way certain other games do, and instead carves its own path, for better or worse. You take on the role of the young amnesiac warrior Wa, who essentially goes on a world-saving quest to gather all the Guardians of the realm and, well… save the world. Look, it’s not a particularly deep or complex story – in fact, its narrative presentation is one of the few things I didn’t personally enjoy all that much about the game. Make no mistake, the voice acting is competent enough, but the actual cutscenes and lines of dialogue felt like something straight out of a shounen anime made primarily for younger audiences – and that’s probably the most diplomatic way I can describe it. Needless to say, it wasn’t really my cup of tea at all, and it might not be yours, either.
Things that worked…
Everything else, though? Pretty snazzy. Imperfect, but snazzy nonetheless. If you’ve read the title of this review, you probably know what I’m going to say next – yes, the game’s a bit janky and unpolished, and there is indeed a distinct feeling of awkwardness with the controls and the combat, but it’s all manageable, really. Just don’t expect things to be as fluid as a AAA action game. This is no Devil May Cry, but it’s got a lot of things you’d expect from a game in this genre. There are multiple weapon types to use, different varieties of spells to master, and passive bonuses to equip. There is item crafting and gear upgrading. Boss fights are tough and varied, with each one providing a different kind of challenge with their unique mechanics – albeit I’ll be the first to admit that some can be more frustrating than others, so those looking for a casual-friendly experience might find themselves discouraged at times. By which I mean, you might have to get used to certain bosses mopping the floor with your face on a regular basis.
…and things that didn’t
There are a handful of things that prospective players should be aware of, however. For starters, the basic gameplay loop of Bygone Dreams consists of finding portals leading to various different zones that need to be completed – usually with a boss fight at the end. Some shortcuts are unlocked here and there, but for the most part, the game gives you no help in this regard: there is no convenient fast travel option, nor do you get a map to help you navigate the world. You have to figure things out on your own and keep your own mental note of things, which can become potentially frustrating if you’re not used to this sort of thing. For the most part, there is no linear progression, either: in fact, you may even discover portals leading to zones that are meant to be completed later. The game rarely gives you clear instructions in terms of where you need to go and what you need to do at a given time, and there is little to no hand-holding at all; you sort of just explore everything and hope for the best, but again, without a map or any fast travel options, this can eventually become a source of annoyance and confusion.
Still worth a try
A few grievances aside, Bygone Dreams is a title I’m more than happy to recommend, provided you’re aware of what you’re getting into, and can jump into it with realistic expectations. If you’re hoping for an action-adventure game with a host of unique, visually striking zones, challenging boss fights and comfy PlayStation 2 vibes supported by a sublime soundtrack, you’re in for a treat. The lack of quality-of-life features such as instant fast travel, as well as the game’s refusal to hold the player’s hand will likely frustrate some; and so will some of the tougher boss encounters, especially with how cumbersome the combat system can feel at times. However, if like me, you don’t mind occasionally getting stuck and can overlook the above issues, you may find Bygone Dreams to be a refreshingly enjoyable experience – a janky little gem of a game that, with some luck, will be fondly remembered in years to come.
Bygone Dreams is available on Steam, and so is Bygone Dreams: Prophecy, a playable demo that contains the first few hours of the adventure for free.
