Falcon Age

While some will tout Falcon Age as the next great VR game, it is much more than that. I recommend it even for those without a PSVR headset. It is charming, compelling, and most of all enjoyable. I loved my time in this world and I look forward to whatever the team at Outerloop does next. This is a showpiece for many reason, but let’s be fair, it is mostly for the falcon. Now I want one in real life.

Falcon Age offers a rich and refreshing experience that focuses on a few key elements and nails them precisely. While the experience certainly feels more tailored to VR, it's still a wonderful journey on a normal TV screen. A wonderful world and egregious art style make for an engaging playthrough, despite some overly-simple combat mechanics.

The highest compliment I can think to pay Falcon Age is that it evoked the same feeling I get caring for my real-life pets--including the real wince of bone-deep alarm I felt anytime my bird was at risk of injury. This is about much more than a cute animal. It's about a bond, and one Falcon Age nails.

In the end, players will have made an adorable bird friend, but the bond with a forgotten culture is even more memorable.

Falcon Age’s charming adventure made me care more for a virtual pet than I ever thought I could, and it shines in VR.

Falcon Age is a genuinely impressive achievement in the VR space. The unprecedented amount of interactivity between you and the bird plays host to the build-up of a worthy friendship, as well as an essential partner once the going gets tough. Alongside a deep and meaningful narrative, this is yet another PlayStation VR experience that belongs among the elite.

Outerloop Games can be really proud of its first video game: Falcon Age isn’t perfect, but it boasts a unique and undeniable charisma.

Falcon Age is a good accomplishment for Outerloop Games: it’s a nice adventure that uses VR in a clever way, but some shortcomings prevent it from being a must-buy.

Falcon Age is a fun and interesting exploration of what happens to people being exploited by a megacorporation and how they can fight back. With the added twist of the faithful Falcon companion, this single-player game often feels like it is a co-op regardless if you are playing in VR or not. It's well worth the time for anyone who wants an interesting story with a lovable feathery sidekick.

A bit short but a really enjoyable adventure game that´s highly recommendable to play with PSVR. It has its faults, but overall is one of the best games of its type available for PSVR.

Falcon Age was a joy to play, I loved looking after and interacting with my new found friend. Its design and personality made it feel real, especially in VR. The VR implementation was flawless and I would even go as far to say that this is definitely the way to play the game. The combat could be more involved but it was fun if not a bit shallow. The farming and hunting, even though they were basic were nice and served a purpose to the overall game. I did fell the ending was a bit weird but I will let you decide what you think of that.If you have PSVR headset then this is an experience like no other, however, it's nowhere near as immersive on a normal TV and the experience does suffer.

Falcon Age makes good use of the unique features of VR and conveys a very special feeling thanks to the relationship with the falcon, but the gameplay has more shadows than lights.

Although it is not a "VR only" game, Falcon Age truly shines when played in VR mode with the use of Move Controllers. By playing like that you are immersed in an exotic world and really feel the bond with your falcon. Some problems do exist and we believe that the battle system is quite broken, but overall this is an experience that worth your time.

Falcon Age is a solid adventure, particularly in VR, thanks to the relationship it builds between the player and the hawk. However, the combat, some technical issues and minor bugs get in the way every now and then, and even if they don’t ruin the experience, prevent it from achieving something bigger.

It’s true that Falcon Age is burdened with its share of annoyances, but it overcomes them through the strength of its sense of companionship. By the end, you feel both as if the falcon is a trusted partner and a part of who you are. Even though the story may not have a satisfying payoff, it’s effective at putting you in the main character’s shoes and allowing you to identify with her struggles. There’s a greater sense of meaning here as well as a heartfelt connection that’s well worth exploring.

There’s still a magic here, but it’s weighed down by unnecessary baggage that feels disconnected and separate from the central conceit of the game.

Falcon Age nurtures a soft spot inside of you, one big enough to overlook many of its technical shortcomings. It’s a sentimental game, one that knows VR’s ability to build relationships is as compelling as and additive to any other feature. It never fully capitalizes on that connection in the way you might expect, but it’s a spark of companionship to be cherished all the same. That’s something the industry could use a little more of.

For tackling such a large real-life issue, Falcon Age doesn’t add enough gravity to its story.

Falcon Age tells an admirable story in a careful and considerate way, but Ara’s virtual world is simply too sparse to engage you for long, no matter how hard you fall for that fabulous falcon. [Issue#162, p.94]

Falcon Age is built on a great concept that doesn’t go very far. There isn’t enough meat on its bones to satiate an appetite for bird-based adventure gaming. VR is nonessential and if you really do want to play the game, I’d advise leaving the headset tucked away. I liked having the bird around as a partner and changing how it looks with a fun assortment of bandannas, hats, and toys. It’s also fun to watch it lift robots off the ground and giving me the opening needed to bash their heads in with my baton. The thrill wears out quickly, though, and the lack of depth made Ara’s home a place I struggled to care about. And that feels wrong.

A great wasted opportunity.

Falcon Age has some extremely interesting ideas at its core, but never gives them the chance to shine. It tells the story of an indigenous woman fighting back against colonial oppression by training a falcon in line with her cultural traditions, but hides the best parts of its premise behind repetitive combat and boring presentation. There are moments when Falcon Age let me feel the bond between my character and her bird or see the culture she was fighting for, but never enough to be satisfying.

Ultimately, Falcon Age feels undercooked and under-developed. While the basic mechanics mostly work (when using a controller) and the setting carries a bit of charm, it’s clear that the experience lives and dies on the connection the player has with the bird. Without that, there’s little reason to care about the bird, little reason to care about the rest.

Nice adventure-game with an optimal VR visual capture, but it doesn't show original gameplay-elements.