I have been waiting for the right time to write my review of Picayune Dreams, because it’s a game that I think any Vampire Survivors fan will enjoy. I’ve been dipping in and out of this quirky little sci-fi shooter for months now, and I’ve already written nice things about it in Rogueliker’s guide to the best bullet heavens.
This auto-shooter set in space is a most unique proposition, as it fuses all sorts of interesting elements together. Of course, there’s the influence of Poncle’s genre-defining game in the background, but tonally this is a very different game to pretty much anything else in the space. In that respect, I think I was somewhat reminded of Undertale.
What is Picayune Dreams?
Much like Vampire Survivors, this is a bullet heaven / auto-shooter, but that is where the similarities end. Instead of detailed levels and a huge roster of playable characters, Picayune Dreams opts for some seriously surreal storytelling where you drop into these odd little vignettes before heading back into the main loop of dodging, shooting, and levelling up your abilities.
Playing as a cyborg-looking girl who floats in space, you must blast the strange beings that constantly attack you, grab up the XP that they leave behind, and then upgrade yourself for battle.
It’s a simple enough setup, and you can control your aim or set it fire automatically, depending on your preference (I tried and enjoyed both). I will say that the auto-aiming is particularly useful during the boss battles, wherein you’ll encounter bullet hell enemies who spew out elaborate attacks that you’ll need to evade.
There are loads of different directions you can take a build, either by picking lots of different attack modules, or by upgrading a few key skills and min-maxing your way to glory. While there isn’t a huge range of weapons, it does feel like everything is carefully balanced.
Looking good, kid
One of my favourite things about Picayune Dreams is the way the developers use transmogrification to show you what you’re rocking at any particular moment. It’s a nice little touch that makes a big difference to me personally, as I feel more connected to each build as it evolves.
I also really like the way that your XP gathering is presented. Instead of chips or coins, your foes drop little numbers that float in space, just waiting to be gathered. As you collect more XP, a green frame around the screen draws inwards until it meets in the middle – an elegant expression of your progress towards your next upgrade.
When the time comes to level up, there is a solid range of upgrades to choose from. You get to pick from three, and the jargon-filled ability descriptions can take a little unpicking as you try to make the most informed decision. Some will call that a flaw, but I’m tempted to call it a feature, as the player is urged to think about what they’re doing as they learn the game’s nuances.
The Contamination Update
As I mentioned up top, I’ve been waiting for the right moment to write-up a more substantial review of Picayune Dreams. We’ve known that this latest update has been in the works for some time, and so the release of Contamination seems a good chance to reflect on the whole.
The major update adds new weapons, bosses, enemies, and much more besides (there is a detailed list over here on Steam). There is also a new suit as shown in the newest batch of concept art. There are even new freeplay and monthly challenge modes for players to sink their collective teeth into. In terms of the value proposition: even without the discount that the game has at the time of writing, it’s a steal at less than a fiver.
Overall, Picayune Dreams is a cracking little game that’s quite unlike anything else I’ve ever played – and that’s saying something. While it leans on a few key influences, the game’s creators are making something that feels unique in an over saturated niche. That alone is commendable and makes Picayune Dreams worth checking out if you like this sort of experience, but it is the engaging gameplay loop, the weird storytelling, the bullet hell bosses, and silly-but-fun upgrades that’ll keep you coming back for more.
Picayune Dreams is being developed by Stepford, Andyland, and milkypossum, and it’s out now on Steam PC (Win). I was provided access by the game’s publisher, 2 Left Thumbs – thank you for that!
