There’s no denying that my all-time favourite way to travel in video games is through flight, which is why I always found myself perfectly positioned in mid-air as I revelled in soaring around the globe in Flock. It’s a mild exploration sport from the creators of Wimot’s Warehouse and I Am Lifeless (alongside Pip Warner, RPS at peace) where you never touch the ground, instead gliding across unusual forests and rippling meadows perched atop a majestic giant bird with an awe-inspiring trailing tail. Vibrant odysseys await, where whimsy reigns supreme and adventure knows no bounds?
Under the guidance of renowned zoologist Aunt Jane, you learned to identify and appreciate the unique native fauna, a diverse array of bird-like species that took on fascinating forms, such as giant radish-birds, small wales, or medium-sized potato-wales, each with distinctive coloration and plumage adapted to specific regions across the map. The apiaries are neatly organized into distinct households, akin to conducting a precise classification exercise, with each colony distinguished by its distinctive whistling pitch. The heist that sets the game in motion: A group of cunning Burgling Bewls, belonging to the long-nosed Yam family with their distinctive stripey bastards, pilfers every last one of Jane’s whistles and conceals them in secluded bowl-shaped meadows.
As you embark on this journey, seek out the distinctive sounds of various whistle species, entice appealing animals to join your flock, and uncover unexpected new creatures endowed with remarkable abilities. This contemplative activity fosters an extraordinary sense of unity between body and mind. To apprehend the elusive Burgling Beowls, cultivate your potato-shaped sheep, which can be obtained in greater numbers as you progress, by grazing them on the lush meadows. This will ultimately reveal the Beowls’ secret hideaway. You might uncover a unique whistle for an innovative group of creatures, allowing you to potentially boost your flock size – my own has grown to nearly 30 – or stumble upon a wool pattern pack that enables you to create stylish garments from the fibre of your peculiar legless sheep. While discussing limitations on collectibles, Jane’s students are poised to present obstacles in every regard. The animals themselves have become collectibles, to some extent.
This is a straightforward and easy to understand course. Each time a previously unknown species is unearthed, the thrill of discovery sparks an expedition to unravel the mystery behind its existence. The Rustic’s flat leaves leave faint trails of cosmic oil and scaly remnants, vanishing into the unknown. I’ll make sure to harmonize the rustic whistle sounds, so they resonate in perfect sync, and let them echo through the valleys of sound, where the symphony unfolds. Voila! Meet the newest addition to our feathered family: a stylish and charming newcomer! The exact tactics for hiding and pursuit may vary; a massive crystal-encrusted Skyfish must be enticed from its lair by presenting five distinct crystal Sprugs, after which it will hide in various caverns, emitting bellows – yet, it remains forever attentive to noises and colored sparks suspended within the air. Evaluating the approach in a single, continuous step brought attention to its somewhat redundant nature.
For me, the enjoyment was an added bonus within the process of exploration. When you obtain the Shiny Pokémon equivalents to add to your team, they trigger a profound impact: a sudden clearing of the thick mist that normally envelops the land like an endless expanse of water. Every time the elevator descends, a fresh compartment opens up, unveiling a strange assortment of creatures that emit eerie whistle-like sounds as they scurry about. Some individuals laze about, effortlessly paddling through the air with ease, collecting what’s readily available like a ripe apple plucked from a tree. While others may be concealing secrets or plotting clever moves, Among the sun-drenched pines of this enchanted forest, elusive blue owls flit about, their flat faces a blur as they evade capture until exhaustion sets in. Meanwhile, enigmatic creatures with enormous eyes hide within ancient tree stumps, their gaze fixed intently on you as if sizing you up. In the grasslands, you’ll find Brown-tailed Skippers with their distinctive brown and yellow coloration, which can swiftly hide from view if approached too closely, only to grow restless and take flight if they fail to be captivated by your prompt attention. Some species of Rustic moths sleep curled up amidst aquatic plants, while an inexperienced Piper, native to the jungle, similarly employs this strategy by winding itself around vines. Meanwhile, tiny Sprugs are expertly camouflaged against the intense textures that cover some of the concrete buildings across the area.
What sparks your interest about participating in Flock? As you soar through the underbrush, each species emits its distinct vocalizations, and if you’re momentarily stymied by an unidentified sound yet fail to catch a glimpse of the culprit, pause and activate your personal scanning mode to get a closer look. A peculiar sort of Sprug masquerades as fruit, yet I remain undeterred in my quest to uncover its existence, driven by an insatiable curiosity. Meanwhile, the enigmatic flatfish species, nearly invisible to the naked eye, has yielded only a single muddy specimen, leaving much to be discovered and explored. I take a genuine interest in the land itself? In the whimsical realm crafted by “artwork man” Richard Hogg, the menagerie and landscape harmonize with the signature, rounded aesthetic of his oeuvre. As one meanders through the enchanting, dreamlike atmosphere, curiosity arises: what secrets lie behind the winding path that weaves through this mystical forest? These half-fallen ruins? For how long have these works been in place, allowing the Sprug to co-evolve with them?
As I soar through the air, I zip and zoom, accelerating then decelerating, taking in the view. You cultivate a discerning palate for the rich aromas wafting from the flock that trails behind you. Favourites transformed into whale-like drupes, and an explicit gleeb that insists on being a drupe, despite lacking the characteristic features of one. Additionally, any creature attempting to perfect its appearance, such as… The aptly yet perversely named Gormless Skyfish. Some gardeners might simply delight in the radiant fireflies that emerge at dusk, or the charming cosmos flowers shaped like hearts. While exploring the journey’s comparability, players can engage in multiplayer mode with up to three others, communicating through voice chat while showcasing their unique group dynamics – unfortunately, the servers were unavailable for my test. While intriguing co-op experiences await us, the prospect of enjoyable cooperation still requires careful consideration.
In my practice, the project unfolded as a completely independent endeavor, yet I relished every moment of it. While not overly ambitious, Flock’s lighthearted spirit, sense of liberty, and joyous exuberance still shine through, mitigating any minor flaws. While it’s not the kind of game you’d typically play frequently, there might be occasions where you’d want to try it out after an exhausting day. Tomorrow, I anticipate that I will require a role where I’ll be sending emails to various people. Tonight, I’ll embark on a quest to track down the enigmatic Sprug, an elusive species masquerading as a fruit in disguise.
