Picayune Dreams

One of the better VS-likes I've played! It has a style all its own with a cool aesthetic, and the game is actually difficult since it's more than happy to toss some crazy bullet hell bosses at you. It has that all-important feedback when you become practically unstoppable. And the 'Ghost Trick'-esque visuals are really cool! That being said, there are definitely some issues with repetition and originality. Due to how visually similar all your weapons are and how every run tends to progress in a very predictable manner, things get old after a while. I'm not really wanting to return after only 18 hours, despite VS still pulling me in after 200. I was hooked for the hours I played, but after taking a step back, I realized I had no desire to return. Additionally, the game is way too cliché in its 2000s-era, alt, queer presentation. Don't get me wrong, I love queer media, especially when it goes against the norm. But this game falls into a norm of its own by adhering so closely to this somewhat scrappy, anarchic, neon-infused, sci-fi presentation. The narrative is also stereotypical, being about weird, nerdy friends being warped by sci-fi horrors. I just feel like I've seen this done a million times, and this game doesn't have anything particularly novel to add, even if it is executed competently. It's still a hell of a lot better than most VS-likes, and I think it's worth it for the price, but temper your expectations a bit. There's a reason only one game in this niche is ever really talked about. I'd score it 8/10.