As a toddler, I owned somewhat encyclopedia of Pokémon. Every web page of this handbook contained an entry for one of many many fictional creatures and shared details about its persona, sort, and distinctive traits. I pored over its many factoids and scribbled them on lined binder paper with my quantity two pencil. Within the early days, I gravitated to Pokémon video games not simply due to the fight, however as a result of I appreciated to study concerning the collection’ many creatures. Now, by taking part in Flock, I’ve discovered a recreation that basically scratches that itch.
The premise of Flock is comparatively easy: I play as an individual who rides a large hen. This colourful, bulbous hen permits me to glide round a floating sky island, and use its chirping to appeal the native critters. There’s only one downside: The whistles that practice the hen to study the calls of every creature — and unlock my hen’s capacity to recruit them — have been stolen. Now it’s as much as me to discover every biome and discover the whistles that may permit me to befriend the native fauna and acquire extra info on the critters.
Builders Hole Ponds and Richard Hogg deliver to life a vibrant, nearly cartoony world; the artwork fashion pairs brightly-colored, low-poly character fashions with environments illustrated in patterned brush strokes. The graphics lend a way of levity and whimsicality to the world, creating the right setting for Flock’s many creatures and curiosities. As I dart across the biomes, I see floating creatures that take inspiration from all ends of the animal kingdom like lovely bug-eyed fireflies, creatures that seem like porpoises with out dorsal fins and tails, and others that resemble glorified larvae.
Turning into an professional naturalist of all these foolish guys has been surprisingly enjoyable. After I see a critter for the primary time, I can establish which household it belongs to based mostly on brief, in-game descriptions — except it’s the primary time I’m observing a creature in a selected household. In that state of affairs, I would like to determine which species it’s by way of somewhat textual content quiz.
Some identifications are simple as pie. Creatures within the Cosmets household, for instance, all look tremendous comparable and have curved boomerang-esque our bodies; from there, I can simply select every particular person species within the household due to the daring and ranging patterns on their our bodies. Nonetheless, some identifications require a bit extra thought. I struggled with the Male Painted Skyfish due to the distinction in barbels between members of its household.
As soon as I discover the corresponding whistle for a household of creatures, the hen I trip can partake in a flamboyant wooing ritual. In it, I play somewhat minigame the place I navigate my hen in direction of the opposite creature because it flies round; I then strive my greatest to line up these brackets that pop up on the display that point out if the whistle’s name will successfully appeal the creature. The trick is to get the space between the creature and my character proper as I fireplace off a hen name. It seems foolish, but it surely by no means feels awkward, and it’s simply the kind of interplay I’d need to see narrated by David Attenborough.
Even with all of the quizzes and studying, Flock makes for a laid-back time. The sport doesn’t punish you all that a lot for getting the solutions flawed, and the gameplay jogs my memory of Abzu and even Journey, the place the motion has a clean, flowing feeling to it. It may be exhausting to seek out new creatures, but it surely’s enjoyable gliding round as you search for cool-looking guys. (This won’t be right here nor there, however I additionally do imagine the builders have stumbled upon what could be the very best recreation of all time for weed-enjoyers.)
Even with its many goofball moments, Flock brings a mandatory flourish to a creature-collecting recreation. Earlier than the sport asks you to specify the household and species based mostly on temporary textual content descriptions, you’ll be able to watch the creature within the wild. That is essential as a result of figuring out info won’t be visible, however will as a substitute hinge on the habitat you discover the creature in, its peculiar flying sample, or one other figuring out habits. Like birdwatching, the sport incentivizes every participant to cease and simply discover the totally different traits of the animals. As soon as I’ve recognized a creature, I can search out the native researcher to show me extra about it — thus solidifying my naturalist instincts.
The straightforward act of stopping to watch, after which considering considerably critically concerning the creature, is what makes Flock so particular to me. When taking part in, I wasn’t preventing these creatures or going as much as them and assaulting them like I might in a Pokémon recreation. As a substitute, I used to be discovering a method to study them, and solely then would they glide round and vibe with me. Equal elements whimsical and considerate, Flock is a must-play for anybody who loves creatures, being a naturalist, or in my case, gathering enjoyable little guys.
Flock was launched July 16 on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Home windows PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Collection X. The sport was reviewed on a Steam Deck utilizing a obtain code offered by Annapurna Interactive. Vox Media has affiliate partnerships. These don’t affect editorial content material, although Vox Media could earn commissions for merchandise bought by way of affiliate hyperlinks. You will discover extra details about epicgamejourney’s ethics coverage right here.
