Feather | Nintendo Switch Review
As a sufferer of generalized anxiety disorder, calming games (a la Journey) always pique my interest. As soon as I saw the trailer for Samurai Punk’s Feather, I was intrigued. I wanted to experience the sensation of being a bird, flying free without a care in the world. It’s the perfect game to have on your Switch, since it’s so easily accessible on the go and can provide comfort and distraction during a short time period. Should you dive into Feather, though? That depends on your taste for “games as experiences”.
Taking Flight
As soon as you start Feather, you are immediately set free to explore a mysterious island. A quick tutorial explains how to fly, and then you’re free to do whatever you please. Want to just cruise around? Go ahead! How about collecting fruit? You can do that as well. There are also hidden portals that let you view the world in a different way, but that’s about it as far as content goes. There is no story, no objectives to fulfill, and no risk of dying. If you collide with a tree, mountain, etc., the game rewinds a few seconds so you can change your flight course to avoid another collision.
The controls are intuitive and easy to master, and the environments look absolutely stunning. As you fly, you can see leaves rustle as you brush against them and water ripple as you skim it. There is a day/night cycle that changes how the island looks, and the serene soundtrack perfectly complements your journey. A fellow player may also manifest in the world as another bird, which was an absolute delight. Tweeting at and racing them is a joy and brings a feeling of camaraderie to a mostly solitary adventure.
Leaving the Nest
I did have a few quibbles with the game. There is only one island to explore, and the inclusion of more environments would have elevated the experience. You can explore the island to its fullest in about an hour, which lowers the replayability factor. I also experienced a glitch after colliding with a rock that sent me into a continual rewind loop until I exited the game completely. Overall, I was left wanting more and felt a little dissatisfied with the lack of content.
Feather Final Verdict
This is a wonderfully relaxing game with gorgeous visuals, great controls, and a soothing soundtrack. It could have benefitted from more content to experience, and the replay value is low, but if you’re looking for a meditative adventure you can take on the go, Feather may just be something you want to sink your claws into. Just be aware that this is more of an experience than a game.This won’t be for everyone, but it’s comforting for those who are willing to immerse themselves in the zen-like atmosphere.
This review is based on a Nintendo Switch copy of the game provided by Super Indie Games for coverage purposes and is also available on PC.
Feather
$9.99
Pros
- Beautiful graphics
- Serene soundtrack
- Intuitive controls
- Incredibly immersive
Cons
- Extremely short
- Very little content
