Falcon Age

Since the dawn of time, there's been a distinct divide between "dog person" and "cat person." But after spending time in the world of Falcon Age caring for, training, and even pampering your own virtual pet falcon, you might just wind up being more of a "bird person." The story is a compelling tale of fighting back against oppression while preserving your heritage and culture, and it's a story that's both relevant and engrossing. But it's impossible to deny that it's your avian ally who steals the spotlight in every way. From its generally playful nature when given toys to its steadfast loyalty in the heat of battle, your falcon always feels like more than just a tool in your bag of tricks. And the more time you spend in the game, especially in the more immersive VR environment on PC or PlayStation VR, the more you find yourself truly bonding with your feathered sidekick.

As much fun as it is to simply spend time petting and playing with your falcon, there's actually a lot more to the game. But take away the virtual pet aspect, and you're left with an adventure that, while linked to a compelling plot, can get a little stale from a gameplay perspective. The various puzzles that block your progress aren't very challenging and feel more like a chore than anything else, especially after having come across a similar puzzle two or three times already. In fact, one big gripe is that Falcon Age's main story falls on the shorter end of the spectrum, and a lot of that time, it feels like you're replaying the same bits over and over. There were also a few minor visual hiccups that popped up (missing textures, stuttering frame rates, etc.). Despite this, the connection you build between yourself and your falcon remains strong, and gives more than enough reason to keep revisiting the Falcon Age world -- and learning a little something about humanity in the process. It's great that more people are getting a chance to explore this game, now that it's soaring on new platforms.