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The Falconeer

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Not to be confused withThe Falconer.
The Falconeer
Developer(s)Tomas Sala
Publisher(s)Wired Productions
Composer(s)Benedict Nichols
EngineUnity
Platform(s)
Release
  • Microsoft Windows,Xbox One,Xbox Series X/S
  • November 10, 2020
  • Amazon Luna
  • June 17, 2021
  • Warrior Edition
  • PlayStation 4,PlayStation 5,Nintendo Switch
  • August 5, 2021
  • Stadia
  • October 5, 2021
Genre(s)Aerial combat
Mode(s)Single-player

The Falconeeris a 2020aerial combatvideo gamedeveloped by Tomas Sala and published byWired Productions.It was released on November 10, 2020 forWindows,Xbox Oneand as alaunch titleforXbox Series X/S.A version forAmazon Lunawas made available on June 17, 2021. It received both good and mixed reviews upon release, with outlets praising its uncompromising vision and homage to the niche dogfighting genre, while the same elements were looked upon less kindly by other reviewers.

An enhanced version of the game, titledThe Falconeer: Warrior Editionwas released forPlayStation 4,PlayStation 5andNintendo Switchon August 5, 2021, receiving positive reviews. It was later ported toStadiaon October 5, 2021.

Gameplay[edit]

Set in a nautical /scifi backdrop named the Great Ursee,The Falconeeris athird-personarcade flightvideo game in which the player assumes control of a pilot commandeering a massive warbird.[1]In the game, the player needs to shoot down rival enemies while dodging hostile attacks. Players need to manage the warbird'sstaminawhile performing various moves and maneuvers.[2]In addition to completing the narrative campaign, the player can freely explore theopen worldand finish differentside missionssuch as completing bounties and delivering items.[3]As players progress in the game, they can purchase new weapons.[4]The player can also acquiremutagensthat can be used to improve the Warbird's basic attributes such as agility andhealth.[5]In different chapters, which can be completed in any order, the player will control pilots from different factions and command a new warbird.[6]

Development[edit]

The Falconeeris the debut title for solo developer Tomas Sala. Sala co-founded a work-for-hire studio inAmsterdam, Netherlandsnamed Little Chicken Game Company before he embarked on a solo career. He worked on amodforThe Elder Scrolls: SkyrimnamedMoonpath to Elsweyras a side project, though the mod received positive reactions from the community, which encouraged him to commence work on an original project. He started working on a title namedOberon's Courtin 2013. However, it was cancelled because the game was deemed too dark. Commenting on its cancellation, Sala added that "I couldn't finish it, because it was too dark, it was too confronting". Using the assets and the codes ofOberon's Court,Sala quickly built a prototype for a new game, inspired by aerial combat games he used to enjoy during his childhood, such asStar Wars: TIE Fighter,Secret Weapons of the Luftwaffe,Aces of the Pacific,Red Baron,andCrimson Skies.The prototype soon became the foundation forThe Falconeer.[7]

The Falconeerfeatures a highly technical art style that does away with the accepted practice of using textures. This means that instead of using image files to give 3D models material properties and depth, everything inThe Falconeerfrom the user interfaces to the 3D world and characters utilize techniques that replace textures with math based generated colors and definitions. Examples range from the ocean and cloud effects to the NPC portraits which are generated off random seeds. Procedural and generative visuals are said to have been essential for Tomas Sala to be able to develop the game largely by himself.[8]While Sala made the game on his own, Benedict Nichols served as the game's composer.

Release[edit]

Wired Productionsagreed to publish the game in early 2019.[7]A beta for the game was released for PC players in October 2020.[9]The game was released on November 10, 2020 forWindows,Xbox One,and as alaunch titlefor Xbox Series X and Series S.[10]

On December 22, 2020 a named update was released called the Kraken,[11]which addressed some of the criticisms regarding difficulty and open world activities, adding exploration missions and wreck dive missions that included monstrous events. It was made available forXbox Game Passsubscribers on February 4, 2021. On the same day, Sala released adownloadable contentpack named The Hunter, which adds additional outfits, a new weapon, and a dragon into the game.[12]The game was released forAmazon Lunaon June 17, 2021.[13]

An enhanced version of the game, titledThe Falconeer: Warrior Editionwas announced in May 2021 and was released forPlayStation 4,PlayStation 5andNintendo Switchon August 5, 2021.[14]

Reception[edit]

The game initially received mixed or average reviews upon release according toreview aggregatorMetacritic.[17][18][19]Critics generally liked the game's setting, lore and graphics.[27][3][4]However, criticisms were directed at the game's combat[3][6]and the lack of meaningful activities in its open world.[28][4]The Warrior Edition which was launched August 5 and included major improvements, all previous DLC and new DLC titled 'Edge of the World' was received much more favourably with the Switch release reaching aMetacriticscore of 80/100.[19]

The game received aBAFTA game awardnomination for Best Debut Game in March 2021.

Spin-off[edit]

Aspin-offgame titledBulwark: Falconeer Chronicleswas released on March 26, 2024. UnlikeThe Falconeer,Bulwarkis acity-builderand anexploration gamewhich tasks players to journey across a post-apocalyptic waterworld named the "Great Ursee" and rebuild a fallen civilization.[29]

References[edit]

  1. ^Cork, Jeff (July 23, 2020)."Take To The Skies As A Falcon In Upcoming Air-Combat Fantasy The Falconeer".Game Informer.Archivedfrom the original on April 21, 2021.RetrievedFebruary 22,2021.
  2. ^McCaffery, Ryan (November 5, 2020)."The Falconeer on Xbox Series X: Hands-On at 120fps".IGN.Archivedfrom the original on January 18, 2021.RetrievedFebruary 22,2021.
  3. ^abcPurchese, Robert (November 20, 2020)."The Falconeer review - I love that we live in a world where there's a launch title like this".Eurogamer.Archivedfrom the original on February 21, 2021.RetrievedFebruary 22,2021.
  4. ^abcKing, Andrew (November 6, 2020)."The Falconeer Review: Taking Flight Above An Empty World".GamesRadar.Archivedfrom the original on November 16, 2020.RetrievedFebruary 22,2021.
  5. ^Sala, Tomas (November 10, 2020)."Six Tips to Start Your Adventure in The Falconeer, Out Today on Xbox Series X/S".Xbox Wire.Archivedfrom the original on February 12, 2021.RetrievedFebruary 22,2021.
  6. ^abc"The Falconeer review – soaring combat on the wings of giant warbirds | Aces high".The Guardian.12 November 2020.Archivedfrom the original on 18 August 2021.Retrieved23 September2021.
  7. ^abHandrahan, Matthew (November 12, 2020)."The Falconeer: An unexpected jewel in the Xbox launch line-up".Gameindustry.biz.Archivedfrom the original on April 15, 2021.RetrievedFebruary 22,2021.
  8. ^Salas, Tomas (November 19, 2020)."The Falconeer Tech Talk: Creating with Textureless Art".Unity.Archivedfrom the original on January 29, 2022.RetrievedMarch 27,2022.
  9. ^Phillips, Tom (September 3, 2020)."Promising aerial combat indie The Falconeer has a PC beta".Eurogamer.Archivedfrom the original on October 29, 2020.RetrievedFebruary 22,2021.
  10. ^Fisher, Christine (July 23, 2020)."'The Falconeer' will be an Xbox Series X launch title ".Engadget.Archivedfrom the original on April 19, 2021.RetrievedFebruary 22,2021.
  11. ^Purchese, Robert (2020-12-22)."The Falconeer gets new content and many improvements today".Eurogamer.Archivedfrom the original on 2021-01-26.Retrieved2021-03-02.
  12. ^Nunneley, Stephany (February 4, 2021)."The Falconeer arrives on Xbox Game Pass today alongside dragon DLC".VG 247.Archivedfrom the original on February 24, 2021.RetrievedFebruary 22,2021.
  13. ^New on Luna+: The Falconeer,17 June 2021,archivedfrom the original on 2022-12-18,retrieved2022-12-18
  14. ^"The Falconeer: Warrior Edition coming to PS5, PS4, and Switch on August 5 worldwide".Gematsu.May 19, 2021.Archivedfrom the original on May 19, 2021.RetrievedMay 19,2021.
  15. ^"The Falconeer: Warrior Edition for PlayStation 5 Reviews".Metacritic.Red Ventures.RetrievedAugust 6,2021.
  16. ^"The Falconeer for Switch Reviews".Metacritic.Red Ventures.RetrievedAugust 6,2021.
  17. ^ab"The Falconeer for PC Reviews".Metacritic.Red Ventures.RetrievedAugust 6,2021.
  18. ^ab"The Falconeer for Xbox One Reviews".Metacritic.Red Ventures.Archivedfrom the original on March 23, 2024.RetrievedAugust 6,2021.
  19. ^abc"The Falconeer for Xbox Series X Reviews".Metacritic.Red Ventures.Archivedfrom the original on March 23, 2024.RetrievedAugust 6,2021.
  20. ^Kemp, Luke (6 November 2020)."The Falconeer review".PC Gamer.Archivedfrom the original on 3 November 2021.Retrieved23 September2021.
  21. ^Purchese, Robert (20 November 2020)."The Falconeer review - I love that we live in a world where there's a launch title like this".Eurogamer.Archivedfrom the original on 30 August 2021.Retrieved23 September2021.
  22. ^"The Falconeer review:" Taking flight above an empty world "| Aces high".GamesRadar.6 November 2020.Archivedfrom the original on 27 July 2021.Retrieved23 September2021.
  23. ^Watts, Steve (17 November 2020)."The Falconeer (Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One) Review".Computer Games Magazine.Archivedfrom the original on 23 March 2024.Retrieved23 September2021.
  24. ^"Mini Review: The Falconeer: Warrior Edition (PS5) - Bird Is the Word in Fun Flight Sim | Aces high".Push Square.2 August 2021.Archivedfrom the original on 19 September 2021.Retrieved23 September2021.
  25. ^Rairdin, John (2 August 2021)."The Falconeer: Warrior Edition (Switch) Review".Nintendo World Report.Archivedfrom the original on 20 October 2021.Retrieved23 September2021.
  26. ^Carter, Chris (13 November 2020)."Review: The Falconeer".Destructoid.Archivedfrom the original on 7 December 2021.Retrieved23 September2021.
  27. ^Watts, Rachel (September 25, 2020)."The Falconeer is a rich fantasy adventure in a flooded world with giant weaponized birds".PC Gamer.Archivedfrom the original on October 29, 2020.RetrievedFebruary 22,2021.
  28. ^Vega, Sin (November 16, 2020)."The Falconeer review".Rock, Paper, Shotgun.Archivedfrom the original on February 6, 2021.RetrievedFebruary 22,2021.
  29. ^Chalk, Andy (January 18, 2024)."Open-world city builder-exploration game Bulwark: Falconeer Chronicles shows off 30 minutes of all new gameplay".PC Gamer.Archivedfrom the original on January 19, 2024.RetrievedMarch 23,2024.

External links[edit]

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