With Halo Infinite’s delay, the talk is that Microsoft hasn’t been able to equip Xbox Series X and Series S with exclusive products that boost their next-generation duo’s potential at launch. One of those who could be admitted there went completely unnoticed. It’s The Falconeer, created by Tomas Sala and edited by Wired Productions, which can only be played on Xbox consoles or PCs.
This high-flying adventure challenges the player to take on the role of a falconer, trainer and pilot of gigantic falcon-shaped fighting birds. Your mission is to end the differences between sky and sea by force. There is a fantasy world with factions and alliances that Sala has clearly built with care, but it’s difficult to get too immersed in the story he is telling. Follow a very simple path, with an ancient empire on one side and small groups on the other, and when asked to take down the imperial fleet after the empire and little else, interest wanes. See that the opportunity to choose one side or the other has opened a good rift, but only those who know this universe by heart will take advantage of it.
From the gameplay you can save some positive factors. Flying over these rough seas and flying over the cliffs is very relaxing and enjoyable. The battles are reminiscent of the Dragoon tank, something under control and proximity that goes very well with the design of missions for all audiences that it offers. Shooting a ship before dodging an enemy Falconeer’s fire has its crumb, it’s not bad as a base mechanic, but it’s repeated here. Due to the monotony that the missions and scenarios are so similar, I couldn’t play games longer than an hour.
Much of the problem lies in the lack of variety and the other in the pace of the game. Although these are very short goals, they are too similar to each other: fly to a certain point, take out those enemies, pick up an object, and come back. Additionally, there are some missions that are a little difficult to overcome at the beginning, and it isn’t that kind of title that itches the second or third time you try to overcome them with a good face. There are several upgrades for the bird in the form of weapons or tonics too, but getting these depends on an internal currency earned through other, even more boring missions.
Control is too regularbut at least you get used to it quickly. You can change the flow of the camera so that the movements are a little slower and it is recommended that you adjust all parameters to your liking. The peephole also needs a freshening up as it is now (a small white cross) easily confused with the paler colors of other elements of the scene like clouds and the enemy’s life bar. It is common that you have set the target and lose it due to a visibility problem.
The best thing about The Falconeer, and what was fascinating before playing it, is its looks. The line is simple but manages to bring so much life to life that it is a joy to watch. It has a multitude of details, such as the rays of the sun reflecting off the twisted waves. And when the rays dance across the blackened sea of night, you’ll want to grip the controller tighter. The music is very beautiful too, with lots of religiously inspired choruses that will take you from one situation to another. Everything is calm and serene, and suddenly there is a crescendo to accompany the gravity of the mission. The musical work, unlike the voice actors, deserves a mention alongside the rest of the game as it’s a mix of levels and quality that doesn’t favor the whole thing. There’s a fair bit of play, but there are others who seem to have got someone to read a sheet of the script and record it.
I don’t want to make it feel like the game is bad because it isn’t. It has several flaws and there are some display and playability flaws that are in a bad position under the scrutiny of being a launching title for a new console. Thanks to the originality of his world and his representation, however, he manages to put his own stamp on a very simple concept. I don’t regret playing it in full, there are only a few parts left.
Sala laid the foundation for something that can make a lot of sense, and hopefully something more can come out of this universe, perhaps along with a study that can provide more insights and more hands than a lone worker like him. For now, however, there are other titles that are more interesting than The Falconeer on Xbox Series X.
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