Fer.al
By Erin Brereton,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Online adventure provides player confusion, lots of bugs.

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Fer.al
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Based on 2 parent reviews
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Good Game for Those Out Growing Animal Jam
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What’s It About?
Players create a mythical creature and explore an alternate universe in FER.AL. Using an on-screen joystick, players can move their creature around six worlds, speak with game characters, go on quests, and play games that involve actions like matching tiles on a board. They'll collect ingredients to create things like dyes -- or lockpicks to open chests. Players can also customize their sanctuary home base, creature’s look, and chat and trade items with other players.
Is It Any Good?
While this game's visually beautiful, the lack of instruction and direction, as well as its bugs, makes this a very confusing game to play. Fer.al sports impressive graphics, with varied scenery that includes villages, meadows, and other settings. Characters can gallop across fields, climb hills, and trek through snow. Generally, players will find a lot to explore in Fer.al -- yet not too much direction. After a rundown of the controls and other basics, they're essentially left on their own to figure out where to go and what to do. A map provides some information, such as which worlds contain games. They may still need to find where to access the games once they get there, though.
The developers made an effort to include activities that will keep players engaged, such as picking up ingredients and other items by holding down a button that appears near them, trying out games, and performing other tasks. Since the app doesn't offer a linear, structured experience, players can end up wandering around aimlessly, trying to determine what they can interact with. There are a lot of elements to wrap your head around, ranging from where to find ingredients to how to later craft dyes or accessories with them. In some instances, players may need to backtrack if they get stuck -- after realizing, for example, they can't climb out of the other side of a lake they've jumped into. That's less of an issue, though, than the game crashing, which may happen periodically -- and can require you to have to log in again. As such, the current overall game experience can be a toss-up. Not being under any time pressure to meet defined goals may delight players who enjoy games that feature an exploration aspect. Others, though, may find Fer.al's lack of direction somewhat frustrating.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how players can figure out what to do in Fer.al. What steps can you take when you're not sure how to start or continue something?
Do you enjoy games that aren't timed -- and don't require you to meet certain goals in a specific order? Are there some ways that time management skills can help you cope when you're stressed in real life?
How can you prepare to meet short- and long-term goals in the game and real life? What planning and tracking elements may be involved to help you accomplish these tasks?
App Details
- Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Android
- Pricing structure: Free
- Release date: May 27, 2021
- Category: Role-Playing Games
- Topics: Magic and Fantasy
- Publisher: Wildworks, Inc.
- Version: 0.15.0
- Minimum software requirements: Requires iOS 13.0 or later or Android 10.0 or higher.
- Last updated: June 1, 2021
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