SomnaBuster is a 2D movement-based platformer that throws the player head-first into the world of Esperanto, a colorful and vibrant dreamscape filled with eccentric characters.
The game features Macy, a burnt-out student who randomly stumbles upon a portal after following a floating wisp. Falling in by accident, she wakes up amnesiac and with a new set of witch powers, determined to get an audience with the king of this mysterious land.
So, how does this game compare to other movement-based platformers? Is it all style and no substance? Find out in our full review for SomnaBuster.
SomnaBuster
Developer: PD_CGT
Publisher: PD_CGT
Platforms: Microsoft Windows (Reviewed)
Release Date: September 24, 2024
Players: 1
Price: $14.99
The first thing players will notice about SomnaBuster is its art style, filled with hand-drawn artwork and gorgeous layered environments, which all look fantastic. Every animation drips with style, and the game is just so fun to look at.
Macy’s animations especially seem to have had a lot of work put into them, as it takes a lot of skill to make “amateur” art look so professional. It’s difficult to explain, but when it comes to its art style, SomnaBuster looks uncompromised, but actually features a lot of talent behind it.
The game’s cutscenes are also done in a similar, more detailed art style, and are possibly the highlight of the game. The random poses that characters will strike are hilarious, and the dialogue matches the dream-like aesthetic that Esperanto follows, walking a fine line between deep and nonsensical.
SomnaBuster also has a pretty good sense of humor despite dealing with somewhat deep topics here and there, and manages to stay in high spirits by featuring unhinged characters and crazy situations. There’s a good bit of humor injected into the way that the game’s characters move, and things like the little dance that Macy does after beating a boss give her a lot of personality.
The game’s stages are all over the place thematically, but artistically they look fantastic. Despite featuring wildly different themes, the environments and backgrounds are all cohesive and masterfully painted, helping accentuate how crazy the world of Esperanto is when you explore its different parts.
There really isn’t enough praise that can do the game’s art style justice, as it tickles just the right parts of the brain. Sadly, the same cannot be said about SomnaBuster‘s gameplay, which is definitely not terrible, but simply doesn’t reach the same heights as its art.
When it comes to its gameplay, SomnaBuster is on the lower end as far as movement-based platformers go. The player has access to a broom, which lets you perform an 8-direction air dash, and lets you pogo jump off of enemies and walls by spinning in the air.
SomnaBuster‘s levels allow for a good degree of movement, but it always feels like you are just mindlessly moving through them. The game never really evolves as far as its gameplay goes, and the levels feel somewhat linear for the most part.
Every level features a new gimmick that the player can interact with, but almost all of them are just on-rails methods of moving you forward, only in visually different ways. Some of these on-rails sections are very fun, but they don’t necessarily demand much from the player.
The game’s stages feature a lot of hidden areas and collectibles, and increase in difficulty exponentially as you progress through the game. There are seven worlds to go through, each ending in a boss fight, as well as an extended ending section.
SomnaBuster‘s boss fights are some of the best parts of the game, as they demand a lot from the player, and are usually started by some petty argument. The last one is an especially interesting (and difficult) mirror match, as the boss fights in the same way the player does for their first phase.
The game’s bosses are all visually stunning, and feature fights that are difficult without feeling cheap. The game also lets you replay any chapters, cutscenes, or fights with a stage selection screen, which is very handy.
SomnaBuster clocks in at around three hours, featuring a good chunk of content and stages for its price. The game might not be groundbreaking as far as movement-based 2D platformers go, but it has a lot of charm and a very fun art style.
The game’s story interludes feature some really funny moments, and tonally, SomnaBuster manages to strike a good balance between its goofy presentation and deeper themes, not leaning too hard either way, while delivering an overall enjoyable experience for the player.
SomnaBuster was reviewed on Microsoft Windows using a game code provided by PD_CGT. You can find additional information about Niche Gamer’s review/ethics policy here. SomnaBuster is available on Microsoft Windows (trough Steam).
