The Falconeer review
A beautifully realised world housing an enjoyable and original, but limited 3D aerial combat game.
Developer: Tomas Sala
Publisher: Wired Productions
Release: Out now
On: Windows 10
From: Steam, GOG
Price: £25/$30/€30
A bit of imagination can go a long way. Shooty games about wandering a somewhat living area of outer space doing odd jobs in between a chain of story missions are their own subgenre, to the point where even the good ones can blur together. There are only so many laser cannons and thrusters and made-up space minerals I can keep track of, y’know?
The Falconeer is, broadly speaking, one of those games, but in a much more novel and colourful setting. Instead of space, you fly over a vast ocean. Instead of ships, you ride a giant falcon, and fight flying dinosaurs, semi-mechanical (I think?) insects, and huge undulating serpents covered with gun banks. Instead of lasers, you fly into storms to charge up your lightning guns. Its world is so fresh that I’ve found myself rating it above games that, on reflection, have a lot more in them. It’s just now occurred to me that there isn’t any trading in it, for one thing.
What it loses in capital-F features it gains in originality and atmosphere. Whether that’s enough for you will vary.