Invisibility, the power to heal, pausing time, and being able to teleport are just some of the more popular requests for a superpower, but flight is probably the most commonplace. Well, before getting burnt like Icarus, maybe you could spread your wings in narrative-driven VORON: Raven’s Story.
It all begins from your family nest, and after a couple of cycles, you evolve into a young raven that sets out to explore its surroundings. With a base set in a large tree with a portal-like entrance/exit, your parents and siblings show you the ropes on how to fly and communicate with one another.
As expected, flight isn’t such an easy feat, even if you’re equipped with wings. Within a few minutes of getting to grips with the mechanics, I was soon emulating Tony Hawk-like ragdolling; hitting the deck at minute intervals, or hitting an overpowering tree, only to struggle with getting back up in the air. When flying works in VORON: Raven’s Story, it’s quite elegant and enjoyable. However, it was also inconsistent.
In fear that my interest was waning, I presented the game to my daughter to try and observe whether there was something fundamental missing. There was: skill. A natural in the air, my daughter got to grips with the flight, albeit with a fair share of crashes. The difference with her experience was the investment in the talk.
In VORON: Raven’s Story, you can squawk at your family, because that’s what kids like to do, but also as a sort of sonar to locate them when they are out and about, making it feel a little more interactive and somewhat wholesome. With a few more flaps, she’s now locating glowing orbs that carry with them an ancient language that translates on screen, in a mock Futurama type of way, allowing for further exploration.
As an older gamer, I’ve grown up enjoying playing games rather than watching others (unless it was to entice a family member to play a game and see what all the fuss is about). I never watch streams or other gamers playing games, but watching her play this was so much better than playing it. She’d effortlessly dive into the sea, grab a fish for her fam, drop it, but then with laser precision, pick it back up again.
I’m not entirely sure who Merk Games’ VORON: Raven’s Story is aimed at, as it has a wholesome, casual feel to it, but I personally couldn’t get on with the feel of the controls. Any, while I’m a narrative-driven player, the family connection here resonated more with my little girl than it did with me. So, VORON: Raven’s Story isn’t something I can see myself playing, though when watching her play this, I think this is actually quite a charming experience. Keep an eye out for a demo to see if you can get on with the controls, as once you get a better grasp of the mechanics, the explorative element kicks in, giving you wings.
