Yume Nikki · 7:55pm Sep 3rd, 2013
I'll try to avoid straight-up spoilers, but I'd say those who haven't played the game should definitely do so first before reading this. Here's some fan art (not made by me) to act as a pagebreak.
This must be one of the best video games I've played in years*. It is not for impatient people, or those who definitely want to know what to do when they're playing a game. This game is for the inquisitive, those who like to explore and find things out for themselves. The real "fun" of this game is just finding the new places to visit (they're known as "worlds", but since they only exist in Madotsuki's dreams then I don't really think they should be called "worlds") and seeing how the effects can actually be useful to you. The music and art are absolutely central to the game, too. There's no better way of establishing some alien environment than giving it a strange appearance and strange sounds, and believe me when I say that this has some fantastic music and incredibly immersive environments.
As for the ending, my original thought was "well, it's about the journey, not the destination" (almost anti-climatic). But now that I've completed the game, I have to say that my mind is now reeling with ideas. I've been looking up fan-theories of what the game actually means on the Yume Nikki Wikia, and it just shows one other thing that's great about the game: it's abstract. There is no concrete definition to say what it all means, since it seems to be like a jumble of various dark themes. People can interpret it any way they want and they can be just as right as anyone else. I think the "rape theory" is the most plausible explanation, myself, but I also think there are more aspects to it than that. For example, it's probably stretching it to say that the Aztec Rave Monkey and the Hat and Scarf effect are a reference to Cyberia in Serial Experiments Lain, but it's at least something that I've thought up after some speculation. (I only think this because Lain wears very a similar hat when she goes there, the dance music between the two is pretty similar, and Lain and Madotsuki are similar in their loneliness.) It makes great food for thought, which is always something that I love. So if you love something that can bring that out in you, then you should probably play this game. It's totally free to download, too, so what is there to lose?
*But do bear in mind that I don't play video games too often.<-disclaimer
I have but one single question. What's your hi score in NASU?
1326125
Hahaha! I think it was something like 1000 when I was doing very well at it, but I hardly ever went on it. I think it's only included in the overall game to reflect how tedious Madotsuki's life is, which is why she uses the dreams as an escape.
1326145
Haha, well I'm glad you liked it. I'm actually going through a bunch of free, independently made games so I have quiet a few more if you'd like. Yume Nikki was actually the second one I played, Cave Story was the first. Its a game that I like to consider my favorite game. It started as a game made by one person but got really popular and was ported to a lot of different systems. The original one is free though.
Then there's OFF. Which I still haven't beaten or played much of yet. I guess that one is the third one I played though.
Still have a few I haven't played yet.
1326383
Ah yes, I've heard of Cave Story before and heard that it's very good. I may well end up playing that soon as well. I haven't heard of OFF, but I might download that at some point.
I was thinking of downloading the fan sequel, Yume 2kki, but I might go for Cave Story first.
1326417
Haha 2kki...clever! I hadn't heard of this surprisingly so I may have to check it out!
1326467
Yeah, the name made me chuckle when I first read it. It apparently has 4 different endings that you can get, rather than a single set one.
1326487
Awesome! Definitely gonna check that out!