hypnagogia |

Publisher: Raptorsoft Games

Developer: sodaraptor

Release Date: 10/29/2021

Available Exclusively On

I am absolutely fascinated with the human psyche and how to brain works being in a dream state. I find vaporwave aesthetics incredibly pleasing, and I can immerse myself all day in the border between retro analog objects and digital dreamscapes. Hypnagogia explores the real-life state of being in between dreams. The trippy PS1 aesthetic visuals mixed with classic platforming and storytelling of yesteryear make for one of the most nostalgic games I’ve played in a long time, but this also comes with its own set of issues.

The game’s goal is to collect nine dream shards for a mysterious bird in this hub world that you enter. Each similar to 32-bit era games like Crash Bandicoot, each shard resides in a unique level. Levels range from basic platforming to puzzle solving, and some levels are more entertaining than others. Some levels are more familiar to gamers who grew up with Banjo Kazooie, with your character meeting weird cartoon-like creatures engaging in simplistic dialogue, retrieving an item for them, and unlocking the next area. These were quite enjoyable, as they didn’t require a lot of brain power. Later levels, like the dreaded forest level, are way too long, have too many labrynthine levels, and have obtuse puzzles that drag the experience down. This particular level took me several days to complete, primarily because I was unaware that there was no save feature during the level. I would quit and have to start all over again from the beginning.

Zelda-like dungeons are present in the aforementioned forest level, but they lack effectiveness and enjoyment. The later levels resemble a walking simulator, involving some backtracking, until the final couple of levels abruptly transform into a terrifying Silent Hill-style experience. The game clearly pays homage to the games that shaped the gaming genre of that era. The floaty platforming can get quite annoying for the more platform-heavy levels, such as the second one, where you are in a giant ocean and need to retrieve keys from various corners of the level. The first half of the game just doesn’t have excellent pacing. While the atmosphere and visuals are fantastic and immersive, the gameplay itself can pull you out or make you quit for good.

That’s not to say the gameplay is inherently bad. It’s quite manageable, but the level design itself is quite atrocious and can even be downright boring. For instance, in the cyber level towards the end of the game, you must float through the air to collect cubes that unlock additional paths. However, this requires a significant amount of backtracking, and the act of floating around can be challenging to control. Many times it was difficult to figure out what the goal of the level was, and I wound up just wandering around talking to all the creatures until something happened.

The visuals are the game’s main attraction, and each level is oozing personality and wonderful texture work that make it feel like a PS1 game. The mall level in particular made me feel something. Being in a closed down mall and having it transform into an abandoned mall is something I enjoy watching UrbEx explorers discover. The reflective water, bright pinks, whites, and blues give it a vaporwave vibe, and a few levels have just enough of the game they are trying to copy to make you smile when you realize it. Overall, Hypnagogia is a fantastic game for those who are seeking this type of visual aesthetic or looking for something to itch their nostaliga. Just don’t expect a compelling story, good controls, or consistent level design.