Melatonin Reviews
"Daydream fuel."
Review in Finnish | Read full review
'Melatonin' takes players through someone's dreams with a wonderful soundtrack.
With catchy & enticing rhythm gameplay through pleasant dreamscapes, Half Asleep's debut title ensures you'll be anything but.
Is it fair to compare indie project Melatonin to the big-studio polish of Rhythm Heaven? Perhaps not. It doesn't quite reach those heights, but what it manages is well-executed.
Cleverly-orchestrated, if sadly a little on the abrupt side due to its short run-time, Melatonin's way with visuals is matched only by its delightful and genuine sense of challenge across its myriad of rhythm encounters.
Despite its lack of musical cues and somewhat varying difficulty levels, Melatonin’s suite of challenges is a delight for rhythm game fans and it’s so satisfying to nail that PERFECT. It doesn’t fill the Rhythm Heaven-shaped hole in the Switch’s portfolio, but instead it creates a dreamy new space filled with cotton candy colour, energy, and, most importantly, fun.
Despite its narrative and audiovisual simplicity, as well as the little content, Melatonin has a well polished and consistent design. There are interesting psychological and social themes subtly brought up, comfortable audiovisual [elements] and a style that combines a dream ambientation and a creative gameplay that's at the same time intuitive and reasonably challenging when it focuses on the rhythmic aspect of the tracks more than their melodic parts. This title is recommended to people who like casual concepts in general, as well as rhythm game fans interested in unconventional mechanics.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
There’s a real good reason that Nintendo’s House of Indies featured Melatonin, and that it reeks of everything that makes a Nintendo game a Nintendo game. It’s taken a simple idea and sharpened it till it can split atoms, and then put it in a visually noticeable package. You could take Melatonin and port it to every platform imaginable, but I’m thrilled that it exists on PC and Switch alone, the sweetest pairing of choice and accessibility.
Calling Melatonin a chillwave Rhythm Heaven is both accurate and not descriptive enough. Its structure is roughly the same, but its pastel palette, soothing soundtrack, and loose-yet-cohesive approach to storytelling give it its own unique flair. Melatonin may only be a 1 – 2 hour romp through dreamland, but if you really savor its playful art style, brain-melting music, and easily-mastered mechanics, it can quickly become a bedtime routine of its own. And, after popping some melatonin myself, a level or two of Melatonin before I snooze sounds lovely to me.
Melatonin is a great entry in the rhythm genre. A good mix of 20 high and low concept levels makes for a tight-knit experience that is short-lived but also doesn't outstay its welcome. The music is undeniably very catchy, with the beats still lingering in my brain following the completion of the game. A better tutorialisation of the custom level creator and easier level section method would've aided the experience just that little bit more but ultimately it doesn't matter. Melatonin is a well-presented rhythm game, featuring concise and gorgeous pastel art and smooth gameplay that will never tire or injure the player. Accessibility options only bolster this further. If subsequent rhythm games follow suit, then the rhythm genre remains in very good and very passionate hands.
The colour palette may look gentle, but Melatonin is not quite one to wind down with before bed, despite being all about imagination. This atypical rhythm game's difficulty can be eased in the settings, although some levels are still hard to conquer for veterans. The clever way the levels are constructed gives this title a quirkiness that definitely sets it apart.
Melatonin is the perfect tonic for those end of year blues, with lovely rhythm gameplay and a gorgeous aesthetic.
Keeping things pretty simple in execution, Melatonin delivers on rhythmic fun and challenges
Melatonin turns the world of dreams into an immersive experience. The mechanics mix puzzle and rhythm in good audiovisual challenges with simple commands, but complex sequences of notes and unusual situations make the stages very interesting. The difficulty is moderate, however there are options to increase or decrease it. The setting captivates with a dreamlike universe drawn by hand with different shades of pink. The stages are very creative and surreal, surprisingly exploring different aspirations of the human mind. A lo-fi soundtrack complements the imaginative atmosphere, although some compositions are a little off. In the end, Melatonin is a worthwhile brief tour of the subconscious.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Melatonin is a short but kind experience, a hint of melancholy and a splash of retro vibes. It's less about the challenge (though it's there for those who seek it) and more about chilling out to some cool tracks across some fun levels, with accessibility that should be applauded.
Melatonin combines colourful art and catchy music to tell a story of how dreams can be an escape from reality. It is the perfect game for those who want a challenge alongside a narrative that runs deep.
You can even edit each of the non-mashup levels to make your own customized version. From both a gameplay and presentation standpoint, what's here is nearly unassailable, and the game serves as an exquisite reminder of just how spoiled we are with the wealth of indie titles on Switch and also how astonishing it is that it took until now to get a flattering facsimile of Rhythm Heaven on Nintendo's latest console. Playing this late at night might not boost your brain's melatonin levels, but it's sure to leave you smiling before bed time.
Melatonin is a dreamy rhythm game that hits all the right notes. It's compelling yet relaxing, with an addictive quality that will have you yearning for more.
Considering just how simple the basic gameplay is, the combination of the stunning art style and the chill lo-fi vibes of the soundtrack make this an incredibly impressive experience. Each meticulously crafted level manages to separate itself from the rest and stand out. Every element of each dream feels impeccably crafted with incredible attention to detail. No detail left unpolished.