The Smurfs – Dreams PC Review

The Smurfs – Dreams is a charming 3D puzzle platformer developed by Ocellus Studio and published by Microids, available now PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One \ Series X|S and Windows PC.

Drawing inspiration from the world of beloved blue characters created by Peyo, the game takes players on a journey through the unpredictable dreamscapes of the Smurfs. Each level is a vivid representation of the Smurfs’ hopes and fears. Everything there is brimming with vibrant colors and endless fun. Designed for players of all ages, the game combines accessible mechanics with a touch of nostalgia for fans of the franchise.

As you guide your Smurf through these dream worlds, you’ll encounter a mix of mini-games, various obstacles and dimensional platformer challenges that aims to keep gameplay fresh and entertaining. However, does The Smurfs – Dreams stand out in the crowded genre of platformers? Let’s explore what it has to offer.

The setup of the game is quite simple. The Smurfs live a joyful and carefree life, gathering smurfberries and preparing for breakfast. However, disaster looms over the Smurf Village as the malicious Gargamel sets his latest evil plan in motion. Every berry within his reach is laced with a potent slumber potion, and it’s only a matter of time before his trap ensnares all the Smurfs. The moment the smurfberry jelly touches their tongues, they fall into a deep sleep.

Taking control over one of the two available smurfs or inviting a friend to smurf together, players start their journey in the Smurf Village. Papa Smurf guides them to a special magical pillow that allows them to plunge straight to the starry dreamscape. Here, constellations represent the unique dreams of different Smurfs, setting the stage for an adventurous quest to save the village.

The first challenge takes place in Chef Smurf’s dream, where he is missing a crucial ingredient for his special dish. He can’t break free from the dream until he completes his cooking, making it your mission to find the final ingredient he needs. But beware—this won’t be a relaxing stroll through a pastry shop!

Isn’t it a dreamworld of every child?

When Chef Smurf is rescued, several smaller constellations appear across the dreamscape map. These dreams are not directly tied to the main storyline, as they primarily consist of elements reused from the larger dreams, but they remain equally engaging with the mini-games they have to offer. Completing these mini-challenges is essential, as freeing more Smurfs is required to unlock the next major dream.

Additionally, liberating Tailor Smurf in one of these mini-dreams grants access to character customization. Players then can use their hard-earned smurfberries and threads to unlock stylish new costumes, adding a personal touch to their Smurf’s appearance.

Another major dream in the storyline belongs to Smurfette. She is having a strange nightmare, where the evil side of her is trying to take over. The dreamscape reflects this inner conflict with dim lighting and dulled colors. Terrible caterpillars spit acid, blocking the way to Smurfette along with thunderclouds and disappearing platforms that make this journey even more difficult. But the Smurfs are not ones to give up easily.

The core of the nightmare

Next, the game’s focus shifts to saving Vanity Smurf. This realm reflects his insecurity and obsession with appearance. The place is quite fancy and beautiful, filled with posh elements and Vanity’s statues. Mirrors scattered around the levels highlight his love for appearance and narcissism, but soon, the player starts to notice the cracks in the façade and fake walls of the area.

The Vanity Smurf dream is the most creative one. While Smurfette and Chef mostly offer a classic platformer experience, this one introduces a whole stealth level.

After several hours of jumping and running, it’s a nice change of pace. The narrative idea behind this part is pretty funny yet strangely personal because it’s easy to empathize with a smurf that lost his pants. Everyone had such a dream at least once in their lives, right?

No one should see a smurf’s undies

When all Smurfs are saved, the game must be approaching the end of the story, right? Wrong. The constellations are but a tiny part of the trapped blue friends. The final battle awaits in the dream of Gargamel himself. This subconscious realm is a delusional world of the twisted man, full of cages and locks, that hold poor smurfs imprisoned.

Here, every skill and tactics learned throughout the game will come in handy. Some parts can be passed only with a wise combination of the tools from other dreams, and the final battle requires the use of all of them to break the final prisoners free.

For the platformer genre, it’s challenging to introduce groundbreaking innovations these days. As a result, the key to creating a great game lies in the clever use of established mechanics. The Smurfs – Dreams excels in combining various genres and gameplay elements into a unique experience. A great example of this is a runner-like level that incorporates a Tetris-inspired mechanic. It might sound unusual, but it works surprisingly well.

The game is highly accommodating to players of various skill levels, ensuring an accessible and frustration-free experience. This is achieved through a range of thoughtful design choices. For example, the visual tutorial is seamlessly integrated into the gameplay, making it easy to get started even if you never played platformers before. The entry threshold is intentionally set low to welcome a wide audience.

Smurf the right shape into the hole

The gameplay also emphasizes its player-friendly nature. A great example is the dream bubble skill, which allows the character to float in the air. While some levels are specifically designed around this ability as a core mechanic, it’s also a helpful tool for moments when players miss the timing for a jump. However, due to the game’s balanced design and responsive controls, such errors are quite infrequent.

It’s nearly impossible to lose progress, even after failing. No matter how many times players fall or are defeated by enemies, the game resumes from the nearest save point without significant setbacks. The same happens with boss levels. The Smurfs – Dreams doesn’t force players to repeat every stage again, but instead restarts the challenge from the specific phase where it had been failed. It’s a considerate touch to keep younger players entertained and not discouraged after a few unsuccessful attempts.

Level design also supports the game’s main focus. Each dream is thoughtfully crafted, with difficulty gradually increasing as players progress. Save points are strategically placed throughout the levels, striking a balance between providing a challenge and avoiding frustrating repetition. More importantly, the level design keeps players engaged and entertained throughout.

Each major dream is built around a unique combination of obstacles and mechanics. From rolling platforms and invisible walls to hostile monsters, the game offers a variety of challenges. Players can also utilize special Smurf tools with unique abilities to overcome these hurdles. Additionally, the Smurf Village, serving as a peaceful hub location, is filled with interactive objects and secrets to discover, making exploration a fun and rewarding experience.

Don’t believe your eyes

However, some levels have design issues related to 3D space management. At certain points, the preset camera angles make it nearly impossible to spot gaps between walls and platforms, or the view is entirely obstructed. When the camera shifts to an isometric perspective, certain jumping puzzles become frustrating, and all you can do is navigate via the character’s shadow.

Another issue with the PC version of the game is the optimization. The game’s cartoonish style and colorful effects are visually stunning. Squishy models and soft colors create a delightful representation of the Smurf world that’s hard to dislike. However, this visual appeal puts significant strain on the graphics processor.

The problem seems to stem from the default setting of an unlimited frame rate, which can cause GPU usage to spike to 99% right from the start of the game. This may be a known issue that could be addressed in future patches. Until then, it’s strongly recommended to monitor your GPU performance before extended gameplay sessions, especially if you’re using an older-generation device than advised by the developer.

Unfortunately, the game is also relatively short. The amount of content it has can keep you entertained for a weekend, maybe two if you aim to complete every challenge in The Smurf world—but that’s about it. Both the levels and the main storyline are brief, and there’s little incentive to replay the game. While a second playthrough in co-op mode might provide some additional fun, the game loses much of its charm once the surprises have been uncovered.

The Smurfs – Dreams is a nice, family-friendly platformer that can also be appealing to fans of the genre and co-op enthusiasts. Despite being short and having some optimization issues, its creative challenges and engaging mechanics make it an enjoyable adventure.