AER: Memories of Old

There's a moment right at the start of AER: Memories of Old where we finally get a glimpse of the mysterious world for the very first time. It's a bright and colorful series of islands floating high up in the air next to the clouds, completely untouched by modern technology and commercialism. From the first moment, I knew I wanted to live in this tranquil world. And not just walk around and explore, but actually fly through the endless skies like a bird. And that's exactly what I did, loving every second of it.

This is the story of a young woman who has the uncanny ability to transform into a bird. As one of the last few shapeshifters, she has been sent to the Land of Gods to better understand her heritage and, most importantly, stop evil from once again invading the world. She's not entirely sure what to expect, knowing only that this once-peaceful land has been shattered by an outside force and left floating in the sky, far away from anybody's reach. It's our job to put all the pieces together and make sure no more harm comes to the Land of Gods.

Simply put, this is a non-violent adventure game that is equal parts exploration and puzzle solving. Although it's not immediately clear at first, the spirits want you to unlock the three temples, solve their increasingly convoluted puzzles and then collect the pieces of the crest to bring order back to the Land of Gods. Along the way, our hero will run across a series of scrolls that will fill in the history and shed light on what happened to the world and the people that lived there. There's a deep story that isn't forced on you, yet I always wanted to find out what happened next.

Aside from locating the scrolls and taking on a few minor side quests, there is really only one mission in AER -- puzzle your way out of the temples. The nice thing is that you can tackle them in any order, though you'll still need to find the keys to unlock each entrance. Once inside, the game takes away your shapeshifting powers and becomes more about lining up objects and stepping on triggers. Each temple has a bunch of small puzzles that end up working together to create a bigger brain-teaser. Once you figure out the solutions and unlock the exit, it's off to discover a new part of the map and take down another temple.

If what I'm describing sounds a little short, that's because it is. With only a few temples to complete, the game will only take a couple hours to beat. There is some incentive to explore each island and find all the scrolls, but there aren't enough side quests to keep you going for long. I hate to say it, but it often feels like they haven't done enough with the beautiful world they've created.

I also wish the puzzles were a little more challenging. I like how large and elaborate the temples are, but the puzzles themselves are lacking. They'll want you to match an object on the floor or simply interact with the right switches to unlock doors. Even if you're absolutely terrible at solving puzzles, you'll whip through these with little to no problem. That's disappointing, because every other part of these puzzle temples is pretty cool.

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For as much as I wished there was more to do, there is something to be said about getting the gameplay right. I had so much fun flying through the air as a bird, dive-bombing the islands and exploring every inch of the Land of Gods. There really is a freedom to swooping through the air and going wherever you want, and AER handles this perfectly. It's easily the most relaxing part of the game, and most likely the one reason I would go back to it now that I've seen the ending.

I also like the simple, low-polygon look of the visuals. I know this style isn't for everybody, but I love the way it's used here. And it's not all tropical settings, as we spend quite a bit of time in the snow-covered mountains and dimly-lit temples. The ambient music and sound effects are also good. The story, on the other hand, while compelling, feels a bit derivative of other games. It's told in an interesting way, but you already know all the beats.

From the moment I first laid eyes on the Land of Gods, I knew I wanted to spend as much time as possible flying through the skies and exploring the ruins. The rest of the game is fun, but can't stack up against that initial impression. The problem is that it's too short, doesn't have enough to do and is filled with puzzles that are much too easy. AER: Memories of Old is good, but doesn't fly as high as it should have.