The Smurfs — Dreams Preview

While as a child I didn't have a lot of exposure to The Smurfs, I've found a lot of enjoyment in their latest games and looking forward to the next ones! So, when I was looking for the next demo to try out, I was very excited to find out there's a new game: The Smurfs — Dreams. In this upcoming 3D platformer, you play as your own character (you can choose between female or male), and you're tasked with saving the cast from their latest predicament: Gargamel has trapped them in a deep sleep by casting a curse on the sarsaparilla bushes!

After the short story intro, the demo immediately jumps straight into the first dream. I'm going to be honest — my first impression of the game wasn't too great, as I didn't like the control scheme, and it was very sad to see that I couldn't edit it. I have fibromyalgia and tendonitis, so it hurts quite a bit when I'm forced to rely on my thumb to keep the sprint button down; thankfully, that's not going to be much of a problem for those who don't mind editing the controls on Steam or, like me, have the Xbox Elite Pro controller. Still, I hope perhaps there's an update in the future to add customisation.

Additionally, although the first world serves as a tutorial, it felt a tad bland. It paints a boring and A to B picture of the game, where you just run/jump to the next thing and move on, having little to nothing to do in between. Thankfully, once I got past the simple — albeit quite humorous — first world, it felt like the game really opened up!

For starters, I was jubilant to see that there are a few platforming abilities available, such as being able to double jump and also bubble in mid-air. While they don't feel as smooth as those seen in the likes of Mario Odyssey, which offers a complex variety of moves, they make the movement feel smoother, and once you get a grip on it, they're quite fun! But what really got me excited wasn't the platforming but the gameplay itself, as the next dream was Vanity's, and in order to pass it, you'll need to rely on a gimmick: mirrors.

It's not that we haven't seen this in other games before, but this mechanic is usually short-lived and has a lot of unexplored potential, one that Ocellus Studio did a great job at tapping into! I had a lot of fun looking for the collectibles, fighting enemies, and trying to figure out how to pass the world while having to rely on mirrors and shadows. While I'm not the best at platformers or puzzles — as you might notice if you saw my video on the demo — I think there's enough fun and innovation to charm even those who are adept.

Additionally, I was smitten by the overall look of the second world! I thought the first one was charming and funny, what with all the candy that the Smurfs were shoving down their gullets (admittedly, I thought that was very relatable; I love chocolate, too), but Vanity's was downright pretty. The colour scheme, the beautiful clouds, and the mirrors all sucked me into the world's aesthetic! I love how the developer amalgamated the world-building with the character and his quirks; it was all very creative!

While the demo obviously runs a bit short and doesn't showcase the other gameplay elements, at the end, there's a quick trailer that does. From what we get to see, there are some additional abilities that can be used in combat and exploration! One of the most exciting sneak peeks was the adorable outfits you can unlock to customise your character (and your partners’ if you find yourself playing in co-op).

Overall, I went in expecting a good time because of my previous experiences with The Smurfs games and because I love these sorts of platformers, but I was more charmed than I expected! If you'd like to give it a try yourself or have a closer look at the gameplay, you can check out the demo or watch our video of my playthrough!

I look forward to the game's release. The Smurfs — Dreams launches on the 24th of October for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and PC on Steam, GOG, and The Epic Store! Make sure to wishlist on Steam if it sounds like fun.