The video game “The Smurfs: Dreams”, from Ocellus Studio, offers a magical and imaginative platform experience based on the world of the Smurfs. The game is available for a wide variety of platforms (PC, XBOX, Playstation and Nintendo Switch), and although it is mainly suitable for children and families, it will surely attract the eye of older gamers like me, who happened to grow up on the stories of Condeson, Smurfs, Gargamel, and Jackal.
The game takes place in a surreal dream world, where the Smurfs are trapped by a spell cast by Garmael on their food. The players take on the role of an unknown Smurf, whose goal is to save his friends and free them from their dreams. The plot combines elements from the mythology of the Smurfs – alongside new stories.
The game is very easy and fluid, so it won’t cause much frustration in children. It combines a platform game with the ability to attack enemies with jumps or collecting special tools such as a hammer, bombs and a glue gun. The game includes solving riddles, puzzles and discovering hidden paths. Among the modes of the game there is also a cooperative mode, which allows you to play with a friend or family member.
During the story, beyond the normal progression of the player in the plot, you can discover secondary dreams, solve short challenges and receive rewards such as unique outfits. In the end, the game manages to balance between a simple approach that is suitable for children, alongside challenges that provide interest for adults who choose to accompany them.
Graphically, the game looks excellent, like a modern TV series – and like the original, it is clear that the visual design, which includes colorful and detailed environments that vary between sweet dreams and gloomy dreams, will catch the eye of the young audience.
The game’s soundtrack was also appreciated for being able to combine a dramatic atmosphere with lightness suitable for a game for the whole family. However, it is important to note two points that quite bothered me in the game. One, and the most important in my opinion, is the lack of dubbing of our main and beloved characters from childhood.
The second is the length of the game – the fact that the challenge in it is not particularly great, means that it can be finished in a relatively short time. However, despite its short length, it offers a unique experience that is recommended for Smurf fans and families looking for a shared game. The copy of the game was received by Adli United, the official importer of the game in Israel.