Every once and a while, a dark adventure is brought forth in a new way. Daydream: Forgotten Sorrow isn’t here to scare you per se, but it does an excellent job of creating an unsettling and moody atmosphere that helps carry its two lead characters forward.
It delivers a child-like wonder of discovery and suspense. Unfortunately, it’s often tied down by several control issues that prevent what is supposed to be a much more immersive experience from shining.
Dark Dreams
Daydream: Forgotten Sorrow wastes no time getting Griffin and Birly (your trusty and loveable teddy bear) on the move. In the opening moments, you can get a hold of the controls and mechanics while also having a hand in maneuvering through one of many chase sequences. These chases became my favourite part of the game as they are presented wonderfully cinematic.
The quick start hooked me, but story-wise, Daydream: Forgotten Sorrow takes a little too long to get going. I spent the first hour having a good time with the puzzles and set pieces, but I had little context for any of the settings or enemies. Once it does get going, the game does an excellent job of weaving a dark but touching tale. I will refrain from spoiling any finer details because I think it’s worth experiencing firsthand.
Daydream: Forgotten Sorrow Fumbles Through The Fun
For the most part, Daydream: Forgotten Sorrow is a puzzle game between two friends that work together to overcome blocked doorways, large chasms, giant nightmare-like enemies, and chase sequences—these elements you may have seen before in games like Limbo or Inside. There’s nothing wrong with pulling from indie classics and making them your own, especially when the setting is as unique and well-designed as this one. But it’s the execution of some (not all) of these areas that prevent the game from being closer to that top tier of dark indie adventures.
Sadly, Daydream: Forgotten Sorrow fumbles through far too many of its sequences. Pushing crates, tossing Birly up to hard-to-reach areas, and various other puzzles work great. They never feel overly challenging and keep the story moving at a good pace. I mostly ran into frustration when I was tasked with controlling Griffin along tight corners or trying to make large jumps. The controls are too floaty and make a quicker, more intense sequence feel like it’s moving through a vat of maple syrup.
I mentioned above that the chase set pieces were my favourite, mainly because they are beautiful and placed perfectly throughout the game. After a few puzzles, the dream world around you crumbles, and it’s time to run! I love this; it breaks up the pace and gave me something more exciting and thrilling. But again, this is where the controls get in the way. One area early on had me running away from the camera as a hallway fell to pieces. The presentation was excellent; the look, sound, lighting, everything. But it took over a dozen times for me to place exactly where I needed to make several leaps of faith because the jumps felt like they were moving at a snail’s pace compared to the environment around me.
I fully admit that mastering sequences can be the whole point of any particular set piece. But I never got the feeling that Daydream: Forgotten Sorrow was trying to be that game. From the beginning, it presented as a more fluid experience that wanted to challenge you, but not to the level of a game like Celeste. I was getting mixed messages, and the controls sometimes made it frustrating.
This is also evident at less chaotic times. I needed to traverse at least a handful of significant gaps with the duo. I’ve seen this before, a running start and a well-timed jump, and I’m off to the next puzzle. But not here. Due to the lighting, camera angle, and frustrating character control, I questioned whether this was where I needed to go next. Twice I made jumps like this and thought, “Was I supposed to do that?” That is not what I wanted to ponder in a game that is largely a linear experience.
Verdict
Daydream: Forgotten Sorrow creates a deliberately chilling story and world. It has a lot going for it in that department, enough that I was compelled to see what would come next. Unfortunately, the gameplay falls too short for me to recommend you dive in wholeheartedly.
It’s a shame because Griffin and Birly are a duo I’d like to see more of. Maybe it will be a tighter and more rewarding game if we do it in the future.
[The publisher provided a copy of the game for review purposes.]
Reviewed on: PC
