The Dream Machine: Chapter 6 Review (Daydreamer)
SPOILERS
I enjoyed the first 5 chapters so much that if the final chapter was just as a good, then I'd call this my favourite game of all time. Each chapter had a great mix between exploring the apartment, interacting with other characters, wandering through dreamscapes, and of course solving puzzles, while all having a strongly unique atmosphere. Unfortunately chapter 6 dropped the ball hard on this. You begin right into the dream, as it should've been since that how chapter 5 leaves you off. However, I would've liked to see some closure back in the real world after the dream, which left me very unsatisfied. You don't interact with any other characters, except other Victors and briefly, the machine, which could've been interesting if elaborated on more. You have to backtrack a lot on previous dreams which overcomplicates finding out what you should do next. The new dreamscape is tedious to look at with its uninspired design (its a forest with trippy colors) and frusturating to navigate as it is a shifting maze. The puzzles are non-existant as interactions from previous chapters are recycled and everything else is progression through stacks of dialogue. The ending is rushed and doesn't resolve anything between the characters, instead just opting for a cheap dark twist.
I'm disappointed because each chapter seemed to gain more and more momemtum but it looks like the developers had their creativity exhausted after the crazy ride that was chapter 5.