Some games task you with killing everyone that you see on the screen, be it by jumping on their heads or blasting them with a gun. Some games have you sneaking about with a wire to silently whisk away a body as you steal their clothes and hide them. Some games have you cowering in fear as the unknown stalks you around each corner. And then you have games where you’ll simply exist, exploring a world and progressing at your own pace.

When you first start playing AER, you may be reminded of something like Journey. But that’s not what it is, for many reasons including the way you approach the title. You are on a pilgrimage, and are able to shape shift into a bird to move about the world and its many floating islands. There is a distinct difference between the journey in the beginning part of the world and the end, being bright and cheery to dark and gloomy. However, even if you haven’t completed the beginning, you can visit what will serve as the end for many and even finish that portion first. Quite honestly, the game can be bird simulator if you want, exploring the islands in whatever order you desire, but the game does have a story if you choose to follow it.

This is a game that started out as a student project, as so many seem to these days. It grew beyond that, and is now a full-fledged adventure. The low poly models come off as charming and very fitting for the world. The environment itself contains many secrets for you to discover, and the story is told in snippets as you come across tablets, scrolls, and memories telling the diaries of the past. There are some people near the beginning of the game that will give you directions, and should you choose to follow them, you’ll start to learn more about the world that you are exploring in the correct order.

The game is, in a word, relaxing. Having the music up loud while flying through clouds and above an island of never-ending waterfalls, it’s hard to feel anything but calm. Even when you’re trying to decipher what the clues are that you read, you may be upset for a moment when what seems obvious actually isn’t (just don’t over think it – you’ll know it when you see it), but after taking in the beauty and the sounds, you reclaim that quiet sense of calm. It’s as if your stress melts away as you play it. But that’s not the only reason to play this game.

The story you find during your pilgrimage, learning about what happened to the world, is deep and beautiful. Reading about the spirit animals that once helped the people of the past, seeing the memories of those that lived, and seeing what has resulted are all immensely satisfying. You won’t be getting into any fights, nor will you have a chance to die – yes, you can fall indefinitely if you choose not to spread your wings, but you’ll only be respawned at a nearby shrine. Of course you can be much more stylish and turn into a bird and soar back into the heavens if you ever fall unintentionally.

While the majority of your exploration around the world will involve flight, you’ll also come across “temples” where you will be faced with more traditional platforming. This works about as well as you’d expect, utilizing your lantern that you receive near the beginning to make any secrets show up for your viewing. However, try to platform like this around the map where you can fly, and things become a bit more difficult. While there are parts for you to explore, you’ll often end up turning into a bird as you miss a jump because you propel yourself too far. And when you transform, you’re thrust forward even further, meaning if you were trying to do something specific, you’ll likely have to circle around and come back. And because of the way the flight paths are, it’s possible the game won’t let you do what you’re attempting. Often times when you collide with something, you’ll turn back into a biped, although other times you’ll simply be redirected. Also, the camera will fight with you on occasion, but it’s a lot better than most games with these mechanics.

With several hours of content to explore based on your skill level and what you want out of the game, this is a fun romp, if not just to relax from the normal offerings in the gaming space. This isn’t for those that want something fast paced and violent, but is a great game to sink some time into if you’re looking for something out of the ordinary, and an experience unlike most available. My best advice: just fly, and let your intrigue guide you.

8 out of 10

Pros

• Freedom of Exploration
• Flight
• Low-Poly Aesthetic
• Beautiful Soundtrack

Cons

• Occasional Camera Issues
• Some Wonky Platforming/Controls

AER: Memories of Old was developed by Forgotten Key and published by Daedalic Entertainment. It was released on PS4, X1, and PC October 25th, 2017 for $14.99. The game was provided to us for review on PS4. For more on AER: Memories of Old, visit its official site.

 

Here at GBG we use a rating method that you are more than likely familiar with – a scale of 1 to 10. For clarification, we intend on using the entire scale: 1-4 is something you should probably avoid paying for; 5-7 is something that is worth playing, but probably not at full price; 8-10 is a great title that you can feel confident about buying. If you have any questions or comments about how we rate a game, please let us know.

Check out OpenCritic for a better idea of how our review stacks against others.