The Indie Informer

While part of my Day of the Devs coverage, I didn’t actually play Flock on-site in LA. I’d been keeping an eye on the colorful, spirit-lifting title for some time — its trailer at publisher Annapurna’s showcase was magnificent — and so I had the sense it would demo better at home with no time constraints.

I was right. Demo time-slots for press usually run about thirty minutes at preview events like this, and I eventually managed to spend over an hour in the game’s limited offering. And I would have put in more if I hadn’t accidentally triggered the ending. I am so entranced by this game.

Soaring above a shifting world of cloud, I discover who I am. The character creator is limited and vaguely muppet-like, corresponding nicely with the game’s fanciful nature. At first, I put this restricted range of choices down to this being an early demo, but I’m not so sure after playing — but I’ll get back to that later.

Soon, my character shown with the blues and oranges found on The Indie Informer’s logo and rode atop a magnificently sky-plumed bird. My destination, it seems, is my aunt Jane’s village. She needs help, though exactly what kind is unknown. However, my skills as a Bird Rider seem to be key.

In the distance, a small settlement shimmers into view about the billowing clouds. It’s some ways off, so I take time to delight in the gentle soaring traversal and push every possible button to discover what they do. It turns out, the directional buttons are emotes. That makes sense, considering Flock is designed to be a co-op experience. And though you may not be interested in verbalizing with those in the world, you always have the option to wordlessly throw out a quick wave, applaud a good catch, or revel in the feeling of flight.

The music manages to be both upbeat and meditative, making it all the more comforting alongside the game’s serene, fanciful visuals. And after taking this all in, I land on the perch just outside my aunt’s house. Here, I start to get a grasp on the gameplay.

It’s misleading to say that Flock is simply a Pokémon-like. But y’all, the similarities are uncanny. My aunt Jane is actually a professor studying the creatures native to this mist-laden world. She needs my help studying and cataloguing each one in her new, and as yet unfilled, Creatures Guide. It’s a familiar setup, but the game’s unfolding runs a bit differently.

First, there’s no combat. Filling out the Guide is much more in line with the habits of a naturalist than a creature-catcher. I have no pressure pushing my observations along. I simply open up the book, watch the creature in question for its behaviours, coloring, preferences, etc. before assigning it a category. Getting a correct guess comes along with celebratory dings and cheerful tunes. Though, I can’t say what happens if I were to guess something wrong because the demo, and the offered clues, made this part pretty straightforward. Still, I felt accomplished as my book filled up.

Then the bees attacked.

Okay, so they weren’t really bees. Rather, they were a striped, thieving type of Bewl that snatched my aunt’s charming whistles right from under her nose. These are the tools that allow me to gather my titular flock, and, without them, I won’t be able to make any more progress in my quest. Luckly, my shepherd uncle steps in with the cutest, wooliest solution possible.

He lends me a levitating sheep with which to sniff out the culprits. By herding it to a patch of grass, and letting it graze on the grass the Bewl is hiding in, I can recover the whistles — one-by-one. At this point, I’m basically given free reign of a small area. Gliding over the glossy landscape, looking for creatures to identify, and exploring the landscape are exactly what I was hoping for from this relaxing title.

And there were a few surprises that made me want to play even more. Like being able to shear my sheep — who look hilarious without their fluffy coverings — for wool. This wool acts as a trading commodity, allowing me to expand my wardrobe with fun new option. This points back to the restricted character creation offerings in the beginning, as stopping by traders will allow me to change my look at any time. I’m also intrigued by the idea that a creature I charm early in the demo helps to reveal a world consumed by clouds.

My only real disappointment is that I wasn’t able to try out the game’s multiplayer, but I’m sure that will come in time. I won’t know exactly how well the game runs without having tested out this central mechanic, but what I’ve played so far has me hopeful for a soaring experience when Flock releases in 2024.