Advice for the day: don’t trust anyone who doesn’t make shadow puppets whenever the opportunity presents itself. In my line of work, no matter how old it gets, when setting up a projector to display presentations, I always make gorilla shapes and butterflies. You’re welcome. Projected Dreams, from Flawberry Studio, is a game for folk like me.
In this unique puzzle game, you have to stack a series of household items to create the same silhouette seen in a family album. Photos are taken from chapters of a child’s life, and memories are recreated. The shadows that are replicated aren’t always clear until completion, where the simple shape now depicts a memory.
Projected Dreams is a little like Unpacking mixed with In My Shadow or The Shape of Things. Starting in the bedroom, you take toy boxes and Game Boy replicas and place them on a table in the foreground with a light to the right. As the items are stacked, a shadow is formed on the back wall, filling a target outline.
Projected Dreams Review
The story begins with Lisa’s photo album, and you will dip into memories of their life in chapters, recreating a shape. For example, there will be a shadow that might look like a kebab (bear with me…). As you experiment with potential objects and struggle against gravity, the shadow is complete, and the photo is developed. On the reveal, it turns out that the kebab is, in fact, a sword from a kids’ show, and Lisa’s parents are simply using their imagination to create some truly wholesome memories.
Like any 3D object manipulation, you can spin each item on its axis, rotating it horizontally, vertically, and in any direction. Then, it is a case of carefully positioning said item on top of or next to another, all the while ‘filling’ the outline of the shape on the wall. The more accurate the shape, the more stars you will be awarded (out of three), enabling you to progress.
Projected Dreams is a fascinating title, not just because of its concept but also because of how the gameplay shifts. At times, Projected Dreams is casual, and some of the puzzles are no-brainers. Moving at a slow pace, the music is relaxing and feels good. At other times, new mechanics are introduced, and you’re either scouring the room for anything logical, or you have a clear idea, but the objects keep falling.
Open For Interpretation
After all, it’s a physics game, so getting sidetracked by the 2D result can be challenging as your eyes are fixated on the back wall, and while you’re rotating an item and lining it up perfectly, as you drop it, the whole thing topples over! It’s not as bad as it sounds and works in the game’s favour as it never really becomes stagnant.
Referring back to the new mechanics, additional lights will be introduced, or the ability to ghost an object. That means you can use another item to prop up others, but make it invisible in the projected shadow. Other factors include hidden items, such as playable cassette tapes or interactive elements that unlock new achievements.
Dipping into Projected Dreams, a few puzzles at a time, was the best approach rather than blitzing it. Although it’s not a frustrating game per se, it can wear thin when you’re stuck for ideas, making it more of a chore than an enjoyable experience. Overall, it’s a charming yet challenging experience that will quench the thirst of most puzzle seekers. My only reservation is, what’s with some of these shapes? They make no sense, and why aren’t they making gorilla or butterfly shapes?
Projected Dreams Review Summary
It’s a lovely, mostly calming, physics-based puzzle game. While some of the shapes you make seem absurd, the process of how you get there is the fun element, highlighting your resourcefulness and patience. At least, that’s what I tell myself.
