Smurfs Dreams isn’t a Licensed Nightmare

When it comes to interactive adaptations, The Smurfs have struggled, largely starring in shovelware rather than anything that approached success. But Ocellus, the studio behind the thoroughly enjoyable Marsupilami: Hoobadventure is hoping to change that. At present, The Smurfs – Dreams undoubtedly demonstrates promise, extending an attractive 3D platformer that will evoke comparison to Super Mario Bros. Wonder. If the developer can reduce the feeling of blandness that lingers in certain areas, this just might be the first true blue hit for Peyo’s iconic characters.

At present, Dreams drops players off in Smurf Village, where footpaths cut through lush forests, connecting their mushroom-shaped dwellings. After selecting one of three different skins for your character in the present build, you’ll get to explore the community.

The game’s premise centers around Gargamel putting a curse on most of your fellow Smurfs, causing most of them to fall asleep and setting things up for a journey through twelve main stages. But with most of your buddies snoozing, the hub world can feel a bit lifeless. On the upside, there are some magic orbs hidden about, encouraging a bit of sightseeing.

Smurf-Class Controls

Eventually, your Smurf will encounter a giant pillow, and jumping on the cushion will transport you inside a dream. Here, you’ll find a succession of smaller stages, each connected by a 2.5D rail-riding sequence that lacks rewards and obstacles. But since your Smurf can spin around the top railing, it seems likely that Ocellus will add some tension to these lifeless transitional sections.

However, the developers definitely demonstrate proficiency when it comes to level design. With the ability to leap and hover at the peak of your jump (as well as create a floating bubble), your Smurf has a moveset that feels a bit like controlling Yoshi. And save for the intermittent tumble that feels like it wasn’t entirely your fault, traversing each Smurf dream feels engaging. Undoubtedly, the difficulty skews a bit higher than Nintendo’s approach, extending a satisfying but not overwhelming challenge – especially if you’re hoping to find every last magic orb. Thankfully, generous check-pointing and a mechanic that forgives a single collision with enemies keeps things from feeling fair.

Did Brainy Smurf Help with Level Design?

In the current build, Ocellus shows off a few creative gimmicks, with your Smurf forced to navigate by looking at a mirrored reflection. So, while you’re scampering across invisible walkways on the bottom of the screen, you’ll see platforms on the top of screen, which is just a bit disorienting.

Pleasingly, the developers seize several opportunities to push the gimmick in different directions, prohibiting navigation from getting boring. Hopefully, subsequent dreams will reveal this same type of creativity.

Desolate Dreams

Yet, while the action feels solid, Dreams can occasionally feel vacant. At present, one of the fundamental issues is that the game’s characters don’t speak. Beyond a few basic gestures produced by pressing a trigger button to greet your fellow Smurfs, they barely interact with you. Presumably, Ocellus is pursuing an international release and might not have the budget for voice acting in different languages. So, at present there’s a notable lack of Smurfonality, as if the developers built a solid 3D platformer and added the licensing later. Another uncertainty is whether Dreams will offer dedicated challenges when playing in the game’s optional cooperative mode. Right now, there aren’t any truly collaborative moments – feeling like a missed opportunity.

As review builds go, the Unreal Engine-powered Dreams seems to be pushing the Belgian blue folks in the proper direction. Currently, navigating Dreams is unquestionably enjoyable, flaunting plenty of navigational challenges and some clever environmental gimmicks. Graphically, the game regularly rivals peers like Sackboy: A Big Adventure and Super Mario Bros. Wonder with its vibrant visuals and fluid animation. If the developer can inject some more Smurfishness into Dreams, there’s a strong possibility of this becoming an interactive peak for Peyo’s beloved characters when it arrives on October 24^th.