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Design Statement
When listening to the theme track, we were struck by the stark shift between its soft, comforting music-box opening and the heavier, eerie mood that creeps in later. It immediately brought to mind a kid trying to fall asleep, where a cozy bedroom slowly turns intimidating as late-night anxieties set in.
We built the core loop around that musical transition. Each round has a calm Preparation phase where you plan out defenses using childhood bedroom staples: blanket forts to route enemies, bedside lamp towers firing star sparks, and teddy bears healing you with heart pulses. When the song turns dark, the room dims into the Survival phase and you have to fight off creeping shadows with your bubblegun alongside your towers.
To emphasize strategy over luck, we went with deterministic upgrades after each wave so players can purposefully patch weaknesses in their build. And win or lose, we kept it gentle: you either wake up peacefully to morning light or startle awake safe under your covers.
Game Instructions (launch steps, controls, and gameplay overview)
DESIGN STATEMENT:
When listening to the theme track, we were struck by the stark shift between its soft, comforting music-box opening and the heavier, eerie mood that creeps in later. It immediately brought to mind a kid trying to fall asleep, where a cozy bedroom slowly turns intimidating as late-night anxieties set in.
We built the core loop around that musical transition. Each round has a calm Preparation phase where you plan out defenses using childhood bedroom staples: blanket forts to route enemies, bedside lamp towers firing star sparks, and teddy bears healing you with heart pulses. When the song turns dark, the room dims into the Survival phase and you have to fight off creeping shadows with your bubblegun alongside your towers.
To emphasize strategy over luck, we went with deterministic upgrades after each wave so players can purposefully patch weaknesses in their build. And win or lose, we kept it gentle: you either wake up peacefully to morning light or startle awake safe under your covers.
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GAME INSTRUCTIONS:
LAUNCH STEPS
- Web (Browser): Play directly on this page. Click the Fullscreen button in the bottom-right corner for the best experience.
- Windows (Standalone): Download and extract SweetDreams_Windows.zip, then open SweetDreams.exe.
CONTROLS
- WASD or Arrow Keys: Move
- Mouse: Aim
- Left-Click: Shoot bubblegun / Place structure
- Right-Click: Cancel placement
- [1]: Blanket Barricade (press 1 again to flip horizontal/vertical)
- [2]: Lamp Tower
- [3]: Teddy Dispenser
- [X]: Demolish Mode (hover and click a structure for a 50% refund)
- Spacebar: Dodge Dash
- Esc: Pause / Sound settings
GAMEPLAY OVERVIEW
- Preparation Phase: You have 30 seconds between rounds to place blanket barricades, towers, and teddy dispensers. Keep an eye on your Thoughts (currency) and Memory (structure cap). Hit "Start Wave >>" in the top-right if you want to jump straight in.
- Survival Phase: The room gets dark and nightmare mobs attack from the walls. Use barricades to funnel enemies, towers to help pick them off, and dispensers to stay healed while shooting and dodging with your bubblegun. Defeated mobs drop dream thoughts.
- Upgrades: Clear a wave to pick upgrades that increase your damage, attack speed, and structure stats.
- Bosses: Watch out for the Tank Boss stomp on Wave 5, and survive the encroaching darkness of The Devourer on Wave 10 to beat the game!
Gameplay walkthrough video
http://youtube.com/watch?v=KdY3brsDq9g&feature=youtu.be
Did your project use any AI tools or assets? If yes, please specify.
No.
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Comments
It's a simple, fun, and appealing game. I liked it a lot! although a bit clunky.
No AI was used, so that's a pretty good thing!
The gameplay loop is incredibly fun, and you absolutely nailed the vibe you were going for! Your itch page is a little unassuming, but once I started playing I had a blast! Made it all the way to wave 9/10!
My only criticism is that the UI felt a little clunky at first, and with the timer between waves I didn't have much time to figure everything out. There were a few moments where I wasn't sure what I could or couldn't place. But once I got the hang of it, I really enjoyed myself! Between all the building options and talents to choose from, there's a surprising amount of depth here. Really fun game, great job!
The title screen and BGM gave me a good first impression! Once I started playing, though, the character’s simple geometric design felt quite different from what I’d expected, which was a little disappointing. The sound effects also felt rather basic and didn’t quite fit the overall atmosphere.
I was a bit unsure what to do at the start, especially during the long wait before the first enemy wave. I actually thought the game had frozen. A countdown or a cue during that wait would help clarify what’s happening.
I really like the graphics and no AI was used!
The gameplay is fun, but not quite original. The Building feature makes it really fun tho!