TL;DR
Embark on a unique aerial adventure in The Falconeer, a visually stunning open-world game where you pilot a giant war falcon through a richly imagined universe. Initially planned as a dragon-riding game, it evolved into a thrilling experience blending elements of pirates, fantasy, and WWI. Explore a compelling story, take on side-quests and bounties, upgrade your falcon, and even switch to different characters and classes. With beautiful graphics, a captivating soundtrack, and intuitive controls, The Falconeer offers a polished experience, even if some repetitive flights and limited mobility are present. Discover if this indie gem is your next obsession.
Dutch developer Tomas Sala initially envisioned dragon riding in The Falconeer. However, with the popularity of dragon riders already established by works such as Game of Thrones, the decision was made to explore a different aerial mount.
Ultimately, the choice settled on a falcon. Players pilot a giant war falcon within an alternate universe, drawing inspiration from a diverse range of sources, including elements reminiscent of Pirates, Lord of the Rings, and even World War I. The game begins with a tutorial, which culminates in an attack on the player’s homeland, setting the stage for a mission to restore order.
The Falconeer offers an open-world experience where players can choose to pursue the main storyline or engage in optional side-quests. Bounty hunter missions are also available. In-game currency can be used to upgrade the falcon’s weaponry and the falcon itself. Furthermore, players can acquire new falcons and assume the roles of different characters, each associated with unique game classes.
The game features clean and well-executed graphics, complemented by polished animation. Experiencing the aerial environments on the Xbox One X in 4K at 30fps is visually appealing, with lighting effects and other details rendered effectively. The game is also compatible with the Xbox Series X/S, offering 4K resolution at 60fps, or 120fps in 1800p.
The core narrative is compelling, enhanced by quality voice acting. While not all characters feature recorded dialogue, with some interactions presented solely through text, the overall experience is positive. This limitation is understandable, given the smaller budget and the fact that The Falconeer was primarily developed by Tomas Sala with limited assistance.
The soundtrack, composed by Benedict Nichols, complements the gameplay effectively, creating an appropriate atmosphere for aerial combat scenarios involving ships and other armored flying units. The controls are intuitive and easy to master. However, the absence of a boost function or fast travel option is noticeable. While the visuals are appealing, prolonged flights can become somewhat repetitive. The lack of a quick-turn maneuver also presents a minor drawback. While restricted turning might be acceptable in airplane simulations, a bird should theoretically possess greater aerial agility.
In conclusion, The Falconeer is a polished and visually engaging game. Despite minor shortcomings, it is a worthwhile title and receives a strong recommendation.
