I’m within the fifth stage of Aery. There could also be extra. The primary stage was Curiosity, as I couldn’t work out how this bird-centred sequence could possibly be so long-running. Then it was Relaxed as I performed a pair and instantly keyed into the laid again tempo. Then it was Bemused as, after every launch, I obtained a way of deja vu that I had performed ranges earlier than. Lastly it was Boredom as, yep, I used to be positively enjoying ranges I had performed earlier than, and Anger – the place I’m now – on the audacity of releasing the identical recreation each month.
The Aery video games aren’t going to cease, so – as somebody who has performed all of them – I ought to most likely take a vacation from them. In the event that they’re not going to have a break, maybe I ought to, for my very own sanity. However the completionist in me can’t cease. I’ve obtained to play all of them, indignant or not.
First impressions have been good. Aery – Cyber Metropolis is identical bird-soaring simulator as all the opposite video games (it was by no means going to vary that a lot), however the first ranges felt new. Taking inspiration from Cyberpunk 2077, it explores a neuromantic metropolis at numerous ranges of zoom. We might be gliding via industrial warehouses after which on to On line casino Metropolis-like landscapes, feeling like a flying taxi in Blade Runner. We’ve been to loads of futuristic cities in Aery, however not fairly so neon, and never fairly so thick with element.
Whereas the artwork continues to be moderately tough and polygonal, there’s simply a lot richness in every scene that it begins coming collectively successfully. CD Projekt Purple gained’t lose any sleep, however for an indie title that’s south of a tenner, it’s effectively finished.
We will’t be one-hundred p.c sure, however we expect one thing dramatic has modified on the engine facet, too. Aery usually has a number of the worst pop-in in gaming, as whole mountainsides can seem and punch you within the face mid-swoop. However we barely observed any pop-in in any respect. That’s partially right down to the smog, darkness and chromatic aberration that’s sneakily utilized, however we expect there’s one thing beneath the hood, too. The odd area degree even manages to really feel sprawling.
After which there’s a whole lack of bugs. We expect that makes two Aery releases in a row the place we have been capable of attain the tip of the sport. Reward the parrot! It shouldn’t want celebrating, however we’ve been pissed off by Aery so usually prior to now that we will’t assist however elevate a glass to it.
Which is all slightly optimistic. It will be an indication of potential enchancment, a way that Aery may be turning a nook, if Aery – Cyber Metropolis didn’t regress in a special class. As a result of Aery – Cyber Metropolis is an enemy of enjoyable. It’s forgotten outdated guidelines, issues it has discovered over the previous bazillion entries, and is poorer for it.
Aery, if you happen to’re not acquainted, desires you to glide a fowl round an atmosphere seeking feathers. As one feather is discovered, the following within the chain seems, and also you’re meant to comply with them in succession till the ultimate one is gathered. It’s a comfortable expertise that hardly strays into thought. You may completely change off and bumble from collectible to collectible.
Besides Aery – Cyber Metropolis doesn’t allow you to change off. Fairly than go away a path of breadcrumbs, like an aerial Hansel and Gretel, it throws the breadcrumbs into the air and lets them fall the place they could. Accumulate a feather and the following seems, nevertheless it could possibly be anyplace. It doesn’t seem someplace inside your viewpoint: it could possibly be sharply up, down and even behind you. Typically, which means backtracking to outdated areas again and again.
It’s completely attainable to discover a feather in Aery – Cyber Metropolis, sigh, after which carry out a full 360 within the seek for the following one. After which, as a result of it’s a 3D area, you dip your nostril and lift it to see if it’s above or beneath. You then swoop round within the hope {that a} twinkly feather will seem on a distant horizon. At the very least 4 or 5 occasions in a degree, we might head in a course merely out of hope.
There’s one feather particularly that had us cursing the devs. Feather 23 on degree 5 required us to go via a Stargate-like ring for 5 entire minutes, via but one other Stargate ring, after which – simply as we have been about to surrender and head the opposite method – the feather appeared. When Aery is so sluggish and painful to backtrack, this strategy of conserving feathers distant from one another is lower than useful. It’s an strategy we thought Aery had lengthy ditched.
The impact is {that a} laid again recreation stops being laid again. We have been continuously sulking and crabbing at Aery – Cyber Metropolis, as we couldn’t get snug as a result of one more feather was a few miles from the final one. It’s like being laid down for a therapeutic massage, stress-free the muscle mass, solely to be jabbed within the ribs at random intervals. You may’t calm down when there’s the specter of frustration at each nook.
Aery – Cyber Metropolis grew to become one thing of a combined bag. We appreciated the artwork and tech enhancements, flying round with out the nagging sensation that we had been there earlier than. That’s new. We don’t take that without any consideration in any respect. Except for a very unclear final degree (you’ll be able to have too a lot chromatic aberration, EpiXR) this has a a lot greater share of recent, readable and even engaging ranges.
If solely we might have appreciated them with out being royally peeved. Flying from feather to feather simply isn’t enjoyable or relaxed when these feathers appear positioned at random. In pure gameplay phrases, we expect Aery – Cyber Metropolis may be the least pleasing of all Aery video games.
Which ends up in the inevitable query: if you’ve launched dozens of Aery video games, how can the newest one be arguably the least pleasing? That’s a particular form of achievement.