There's no doubt that Gamescom 2021 had a lot to offer fans of the industry. The event may not be as big as E3, but considering how many announcements it featured, it certainly felt like an E3 rival this year. Everything from Horizon Forbidden West to LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga and Halo Infinite got acknowledged, alongside tons of new game reveals. One game that first cropped up at Gamescom 2021 is Dream Cycle, a project from Cathuria Games - a young studio aiming to make a name for itself with a title that will supposedly feature many thousands of adventures to keep fans endlessly entertained.
The cryptic fantasy premise of Dream Cycle seems like it could appeal to action-adventure fans of all kinds, especially considering how many combat options players have when controlling protagonist Morgan Carter. However, a major part of what makes Dream Cycle interesting can only be found by looking under its hood. Cathuria Games may be a new studio, but it's owned by Toby Gard, one of the creators of the acclaimed Tomb Raider franchise. Gard sits at the helm of Dream Cycle's development, and if the game's trailer is to be believed, there could be a lot of Tomb Raider influence seeping into Dream Cycle, meaning Tomb Raider fans would be wise to give it a try.
Dream Cycle Has Some Tomb Raider Facets
There's a couple things about Dream Cycle that already make it seem like a magic-heavy spiritual successor to Tomb Raider. The initial concept of Dream Cycle is different; Morgan Carter, a student of magic, gets her powers stolen by a malevolent ancestor and goes on a quest to stop him by clearing the Dream Realms of his influence. Morgan's backstory might be different from Lara Croft's, but they both deal with the supernatural. Much like how Morgan will delve into her once-lost ancestor's plans, Lara Croft is always uncovering ancient history and supernatural schemes, and then saving the world from people pulling the strings.
Although Dream Cycle focuses more heavily on the protagonist's capacity for magic, it might play like Tomb Raider too. The Dream Cycle trailer suggests Morgan isn't limited to using magic to fight through the Dream Realms. On the contrary, Morgan can pick up melee weapons and even guns to take down her enemies. Fans of Lara Croft's signature handguns may yet be able to play Dream Cycle like how they play Tomb Raider, running into danger with guns blazing. On top of that, Dream Cycle's Steam page says the game will feature a soundtrack composed by Nathan McCree, Tomb Raider's first composer.
A Potential Spiritual Successor to Tomb Raider
Gard clearly isn't going into Dream Cycle with the intention of making another version of the Tomb Raider series, in spite of its ancient mysteries and looming temples. Dream Cycle is reportedly inspired by famed horror author H.P. Lovecraft and his short story collection of the same name. In other words, the game is bound to be far more arcane and eldritch than Tomb Raider usually sets out to be, in spite of Tomb Raider's supernatural elements. Morgan Carter's conflict with her sorcerous ancestor sounds like a great new plot to combine with Tomb Raider-style settings and combat.
One exciting thing about Dream Cycle is that it'll be playable in Early Access soon. Although its announcement is fresh, Dream Cycle fans can play the game through Steam in early September. Gard and Cathuria Games must be eager to connect with fans and get feedback on Dream Cycle if the game is heading to Early Access so soon. That's great news for Tomb Raider fans who want to give Gard's next project a try.
Dream Cycle releases for PC via Steam Early Access on September 7, 2021.