Overall most helpful review

Posted on: November 14, 2020

8BitChris

Games: 1119 Reviews: 34

A beautiful gem with some rough edges

The Falconeer fascinated me ever since I saw the first screenshot. Giant Warbirds shooting lighting and fire on the backdrop of a vast ocean–this is the essence of why I love video games! And when the game finally released, I was not disappointed. It takes the gameplay of space shooters I love so much and puts it into a unique and mysterious fantasy world that is riddled with amazing set pieces that invite you to explore. But that isn't to say that I didn't experience some initial turbulence when taking off (pun intended). While the controls are similar to games like Freelancer or Everspace, the rather organic and "weighty" movement of your majestic mount takes some time to get used to. And that can lead to some deaths upon your first few missions which in turn make you realize that missions don't come with checkpoints. However I do forgive a lot of that considering that The Falconeer has been the work of largely a single developer–Tomas Sala–who has been very listening to feedback and implemented improvements within just the first week of release. That said, once you get used to the controls, it becomes a real joy to play with Gamepad or Keyboard & Mouse. Both work great in my opinion and once a mission does become a problem, there is always new side quests that can help you to get the funds for a weapon upgrade or certain Mutagens and Chants that increase certain abilities of your Warbird. Eventually I got completely immersed in this fantastic world, its factions and the many mysteries the Ursee might hold. The stylized visuals and the great music generate a wonderful atmosphere that greatly contribute to the aforementioned immersion. I really enjoyed my time with The Falconeer so far and I cannot wait to dive back in!

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Posted on: November 14, 2020

greyhat

Verified owner

Games: 1434 Reviews: 16

Fun game after the leaning curve.

I had much the same thoughts as Reglisse at first! The controls, indeed. seem clunky at first. M and KB especially. I switched to controller and it still felt awkward. However, after a while you get used to the maneuvering, handling, and how to use the auto lock and combat actually starts to feel good. I made a post at Steam about the auto saves being a problem just as is mentioned in the aforementioned review. The game would not save midway between missions. I think this is still the case. However, the developer responded and increased the frequency of the saves to auto save at every store interaction and every time you land or take off from a settlement. Once you get used to the combat it becomes less of an issue with the current save system. Hopefully it is something the developer addresses more over time. What we have here is mechanics that take some getting used to before it becomes enjoyable. The tutorial mission/ prologue needs to be rethought out I feel. It does not do a very good job of teaching you the combat. That comes later. In short, the game is good, has a very nicely designed world with an interesting story, but the player just needs to be patient with the mechanics learning curve. At which point it all comes together nicely.

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Posted on: April 26, 2021

Rusharn

Verified owner

Games: 555 Reviews: 11

Zen fantasy fighter combat, But...

If you are looking for an arcade style fantasy flight sim where you ride on the back of a giant eagle or with the DLC a dragon, then the Falconeer might be the game for you. The flight mechanics are simple with the primary flight concern being that you need to keep flight energy in your energy bar. You can get energy boosts from updrafts, diving from altitude, or if you have picked up the item from killing enemies. If your energy bar drains out, your mounts slows to a crawl and you can't engage evasive and quick turning rolls. This is enough to keep the flight combat from being brain dead but not so complicated that it keeps you from zenning out, relaxing and enjoy flying and combat. Combat is fairly simple, you have an energy weapon that fires forward and in third person arcade style you turn, dive, climb or roll to get your enemy in your cross hair and then riddle them with energy bolts until they take a dive into the sea below. There are a few ammo types but they don't really make much of a difference. There are some boosts you can purchase for you and your mount but there really isn't much customization. Missions are a bit repetitive and lack verity, and there isn't much of a range of enemies. The story is told in a past tense, so you are playing through memories of people of the past thus have no control over the story. In each chapter you play as a different rider from a different faction so you learn their view on the events that unfold. However the story ends when you finally reach the present. And this choice is why I can't give the game a fifth star, because the game stops the story at what should be leading into a climactic war, where you feel like you should then get to choose a side, and then fight in an open world war campaign. But instead the game stops and you never learn how things are resolved. That puts a drag on an otherwise good game. However if that isn't a deal breaker for you then the Falconeer could be the game for you.

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Posted on: November 14, 2020

MarurabaATX

Verified owner

Games: 415 Reviews: 1

Game is good.

I baught based on concept alone, huge birds shooting lightning, im in. The controls take a sec to get use to, but after the tutorial i was into it, i really like the combat cam/lock on. The style in the game is great and its almost steampunk but not, birdpunk? Graphics are not bad, they fit with the style. The game is graphically optimized which allows for great load times and 60fps+ gameplay no problem. even on my GTX 970 from 2016. No crashes so far!! Overall 8.5/10. not perfect but really cool and does everything it wants to, plus huge birds you ride on.

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Posted on: December 2, 2020

Krschkr

Verified owner

Games: Reviews: 3

Enjoyable Flight Simulator

Review for game version 1.0.5.0 (german localization) deluxe edition Sadly GOG imposes an abysmally tiny character limit on reviews, so this is just a summary. For the full review, check the game's release thread: https://www.gog.com/forum/general/release_the_falconeer_438e9/post17 The Falconeer is a flight simulator with some RPG elements. Progression occurs naturally and despite changing characters throughout the game any progress is permanent and will carry over to your future adventures. I played the game with mouse-only and found the controls intuitive and well-working (however, this was my first flight game, I can't do comparisons here). The graphics appear a bit simple in some regards, but are over all fitting and well-done, making flights and exploration visually appealing. I found this game enjoyable and can recommend it. The german localization has a few flaws but convinces with good voice acting quality. The deluxe edition contains the soundtrack in .mp3 and .flac format and includes 29 tracks. Warning: These include spoilers! I haven't played the game enough to tell whether this soundtrack contains 100% of the ingame tracks. Game size: ~1GB Loading times: Hardly noticeable. Of course this depends on one's individual hardware, but this game did a good job. There are no loading screens ingame. I think some loading screens are hidden in cutscenes, though, so maybe one would notice them when skipping cutscenes. FPS options: 60 and 120 Volume sliders: Master and voices. Music, ambience and SFX aren't separate. UI is scalable. Bugs: I only encountered a single bug. Pausing the game and accessing the options (escape key) is often unresponsive when you're in or very near a town. When you want to access the map, options or return to your home city, get some distance to the nearest settlement first. Stability: I did not have a single crash when playing the game. Alt+Tab works without issues.

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Highlights

Featured

Close, but not an exact hit

The Falconeer

FROM THE CLOUDS THEY DIVE, THE SCREAMS OF BATTLE IN THEIR LUNGS…

EXPLORE AND FLY

FAST, BRUTAL DOGFIGHTING

FACTIONS

MULTIPLE EPIC STORYLINES

UPGRADED WINGS

Introducing The Kraken

ABOUT TOMAS SALA

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