[PAX East 2016] AER preview: Low poly, high altitudes

In a PAX full of VR and shooters and adventure games, it was perhaps an indie creation that made me feel the most like I was somewhere — or something — else.

AER, the upcoming game from developers Forgotten Key, has one central important mechanic: flight. And for all intents and purposes it’s one of the most exhilarating ways I’ve ever flown in a digital experience in my life, and in a crowded, loud expo floor no less.

In the game’s demo we’re in control of the character Auk, a mysterious girl with the ability to transform into a bird. We’re tasked with flying from sky island to sky island in an ethereal world, way above clouds and the earth below, to understand why this place seems to be falling apart. The islands are cracked, shattered, as if some titans ripped them apart. That makes the Land of Gods all that more aptly named: no one remembers them or their effect, and that’s leading to the end of the world.

The demo drops us right into the open world, with human settlements strewn across the islands. As we begin moving with Auk we’re instantly struck by the gorgeous low-poly design of the environment. Bright colors and the soft glow of sunlight make the environments and inhabitants look like watercolor paintings, and as traversal through them seems like brush strokes come to life.

The islands are large and devoid of action but strangely full of life, tempting us to view each corner. The serenity of the scenery adds to the strange, eerie calmness, as we question the minuscule details we come across. From strange rock shapes, to fences keeping in odd blue deer, to the faceless people that shuffle about, it causes curiosity levels to pique.

Making our way to other islands requires us to fly, and this is where the magic of the game truly takes hold. With just the push of a button or leap off of a cliff, Auk leaps into the air and transforms into a great bird, catching the air currents on her way up or down. To gain speed we press buttons and flap our wings; the harder we flap the faster we go, making flight speedy but precarious. I crash into trees or walls, much like a baby bird would on its first jumps, until I master the subtle dance between glide – flap – tilt. I feel like a bird, soaring high in this strange world, buzzing people and animals as I scout the land below. The air resistance pushes back against me and gravity is both my enemy and my friend, as I’m half inclined to play the game with my arms outstretched to the sides.

The blank slate of exploration is what guides us forward, and by listening to the various stories and finding caves with their own “memories” of the Gods — indicated by visible notifications in the environment — I’m able to begin piecing together the real mystery of this land.

And though the demo is short and the task to uncover information straightforward, I thoroughly enjoy just flying around the world so much, flying over things, flying through things, flying under things, that I lose track of time and nearly miss my next appointment.

AER may end up being a very special experience when it launches this September for PS4, Xbox One and PC.