PGC NEWS

The Bad Dream series, developed by Desert Fox, is known for its dark, surreal, and often disturbing point-and-click adventures. Many earlier entries are available for free on Itch.io. Following the success of Bad Dream: Coma on Steam, the latest installment, Bad Dream: Fever, plunges players into a chilling new world ravaged by a mysterious plague.

You awaken in a desolate room, your first encounter a girl wearing a bird mask. An enigmatic blue ink-like substance permeates the environment, a visual representation of the deadly plague gripping humanity. Your objective is simple: survive and find a cure. However, as you explore the decaying world, you quickly realize that things are not as they seem. Is this truly a plague? What are you really facing? Is this world even real? The narrative twists and turns, unraveling a deeper mystery that questions the nature of reality itself.

Bad Dream: Fever retains the signature haunting atmosphere of the series. The enhanced graphics, rendered in a stark palette of yellows and blacks, create a desolate and unsettling world. The somber soundtrack further amplifies the game’s chilling ambiance, immersing you in a world touched by death.

Beyond the chilling atmosphere, Bad Dream: Fever carries a melancholic undertone. Desert Fox, as an independent developer, faced significant financial and time constraints during the development of Bad Dream: Coma. Despite its critical acclaim, the game’s profits, shared with the publisher, didn’t recoup their investment. This experience of struggle and disappointment resonates within Bad Dream: Fever‘s narrative, adding a layer of personal emotion to the game’s surreal world.

Bad Dream Fever

A Simplistic Journey

While Bad Dream: Fever offers a unique and thought-provoking experience, its gameplay mechanics are relatively simple. Item interaction is streamlined, with the cursor changing form when hovering over usable objects. There’s no inventory management; when you have the required item, the cursor automatically displays it when near the correct interaction point. This simplicity, while accessible, reduces the challenge typically associated with point-and-click adventures.

Bad Dream Fever

This streamlined gameplay is further compounded by the game’s linear structure. Unlike its predecessor, Bad Dream: Coma, which offered multiple endings and hidden secrets, Bad Dream: Fever provides a single, straightforward path. This lack of exploration and discovery can be disappointing for fans of the genre. Desert Fox has acknowledged this limitation, attributing it to the financial strain following Bad Dream: Coma‘s development. This explanation is even woven into the narrative of Bad Dream: Fever.

Bad Dream Fever

A Deeper Meaning

Despite its shortcomings, Bad Dream: Fever offers a unique and valuable experience. It’s a game that resonates with the developer’s personal struggles and artistic vision. While it may not offer the same level of gameplay complexity as Bad Dream: Coma, it provides a poignant and thought-provoking narrative that explores themes of loss, disappointment, and the search for meaning in a desolate world.

Bad Dream Fever

Conclusion

Bad Dream: Fever is a haunting and melancholic journey through a plague-ridden world. While its simplified gameplay and linear structure may disappoint some, its unique atmosphere, compelling narrative, and emotional depth offer a rewarding experience for those willing to delve into its dark and surreal world. For players seeking a more complex and challenging point-and-click experience, Bad Dream: Coma might be a better choice. However, Bad Dream: Fever provides a unique perspective into the struggles of independent game development and the emotional resonance that can be achieved through interactive storytelling.

• Developer: Desert Fox

• Publisher: PlayWay S.A., Ultimate Games S.A.

• Genre: Point & Click

• Release Date: November 15, 2018

• Platform: PC

• Minimum System Requirements:

  • Operating System: Windows XP
  • Processor: 2GHz
  • Memory: 1 GB RAM
  • Storage: 500 MB