To start off, I completely understand the negative reviews for this game. The ending is borderline nonsensical and the gameplay can be frustrating, particularly when you are mobbed by 4 or more creatures and are fighting the controls at the same time.

However, I got into a real flow state with this game. At first glance I thought the controls were sluggish and uncompromising, but as I progressed through the game they began to click. You don't always experience that with games, and I will say I recommend a controller over keyboard and mouse for this. This becomes important because once you get the hang of flapping, diving, grabbing, and coasting, it becomes easier to get yourself out of sticky situations.

Gameplay consists of exploring each screen, finding triangle shards to fit into these giant contraptions which then unlock more parts of the map or give you a golden key that you then take back to a central area. Essentialy, a collectible search and fetch quest with metroidvania undertones. Once all the keys are collected...well the aforementioned poor ending occurs. Along the way you will run into vicious creatures, wind drafts, bodies of water and other obstacles. The world seems overwhelming in scope at first, but eventually it becomes quite manageable, and at one point it loops back on itself, which is always a fun revelation in games like this.

Special mention to the art which is made up of prominent geometric shapes which gives it a unique look I haven't often seen. The sound effects are excellent as well. The music is unobtrusive at best, and none of it really stands out.

At the end of the day this game is very much about the journey and mastering the controls, because you will be disappointed by the cryptic runic messages and the surface-level philosophical ending. I don't regret playing it at all, and I found myself wanting to come back to it to find that last hidden area, but I don't think I'll be playing it again.