A Bird Story

I wrote a full review that you can see here: http://rgz.ca/gaming/a-bird-story-review-a-touching-interactive-short-story/ tl;dr for character limit: You just have to be patient and read into it a bit. If you manage to, it’s a rewarding experience. So little actually happens but it is an emotional roller coaster, nonetheless. It is one of those games that is worth making it through solely because it has the ability to make you feel for the characters in ways that other games rarely do. It’s the story of two souls that come together because they are alike in a way and what comes of their friendship. While that may be distilling it a bit much, it really is one of those stories you rarely find anywhere else. Just don’t go into it expecting much interactivity. Occasionally, you will have to walk around or interact with something but it is not often and, when you do, there is very little that you actually have to do. It’s largely an interactive movie and the story will go on regardless of what you attempt to do. Sitting at about an hour, it is the perfect length for what it is. There are a lot of surrealistic time compression techniques at play, as well, done in ways that add to the feeling of narrative mastery the game displays. So long as you do not expect a wholly interactive experience, and you are not opposed to games that might make you cry, this is one that is worth experiencing.

Not much I can say about this one without spoiling its short story. I can say that in my opinion, it is not really a game in the traditional sense. Like To The Moon, a game by the same people, this is more of an interactive story. I sense it's creator is really a story teller who just happens to use the medium of computer game creation to tell his stories. Unlike To The Moon, there are no puzzles; there is no dialog. You just move with the arrow keys and interact with ENTER or SPACE. Your moving and interacting with it's world is simply a means of getting to the next part of the story whilst absorbing the charming gestures and animations that convey brilliantly the little boy's strengthening bond with his new bird buddy :) The graphics are gorgeous: a mix of top down retro-style 2D sprites and foreground graphics, merged with Studio Ghibli-esque painted backdrops. The music is wonderful and emotive and changes cinematically to match what's happening in the story at that point; familiar to anyone who's seen Raymond Brigg's 'The Snowman' or some Studio Ghibli films. The visuals and sound are as much a part of the experience as the interactive elements (I won't call them gameplay) - if not more so. Anyone familiar with To The Moon will know what to expect with A Bird Story; however, it's worth noting that this is a "SHORT STORY" - as billed - and I would advise playing through it in one sitting preferably :) On that note: I bought it in the sale; it was worth every penny. However, maaaybe the RRP is arguably a bit steep for what you get if you're the kind of person who equates value to gameplay, depth and longevity. Personally, I doubt I would have regretted this purchase had I paid full price, but that's just me. Game/Art/Interactive animation... whatever you want to call this.. Who cares? Who cares for labels anyway. Whatever, I enjoyed it for what it is and loved every moment of this short lived, but sweet experience. Charming game.. oops! I mean...

I loved to the Moon, sadly the story of this game not managed to enthral me. And without the story to keep one going all the is left is a complet linare game that not give a single choice till the point I stoped to play it. I'm not even sure one should call something that is 50% scripet Scenes and at the rest force you to only walk the given way with no options given a game.

It looks very sweet and I'd like to love it more. Was I too insensitive to be touched by the story of the paper plane kid ? + It was too much a non-interactive game for me for any immersion, I watched the clock.