AER: Memories of Old Reviews
AER - Memories of Old does what it set out to do. Its world does feed one’s curiosity, to an extent, it flows well, putting no obstacles in the player’s way, and makes for a serene experience fans of exploration titles should have on their radar.
Transforming into a bird and soaring through skies and between the floating islands of AER Memories of Old is simply fantastic, and you'll be easily drawn in by its vibrant yet minimalist art style. It doesn't quite make the best use of the shattered world they've created, but for a few hours, it's a gorgeous game and an intriguing story to explore.
AER: Memories of Old completely fails as a traditional adventure game. The thing is, though, that it never wanted to be one, as it mainly throws its weight in atmosphere and storytelling - in other words, it wants to be a captivatingly emotive journey. Sadly, it fails at that, too.
Up there with the likes of Journey and ABZU, AER: Memories of Old is simple, elegant, and impactful. It's a heartfelt game that's a joy to play, and although its storytelling does feel like it gets in the way at times, your worries will evaporate when you're soaring effortlessly from one floating island to the next.
AER is trying so hard to look like those beloved games from which it is being inspired, but fails to do so. The game is filled with bugs and do not tell us an interesting story all along. Even though some aerial moments are quite a delight, the total lack of wind is incomprehensible, as the rest of the gameplay. Why would you want to play this ? We are still looking for an answer.
Review in French | Read full review
Aer Memories of Old is a beatiful game. A place to come back from time to time to enjoy a flight. Forgotten Key has created a complex tiniy world explained well and full of little secret but, at the end it feels small and we want more and more.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
AER: Memories of old is perfectly fine, but it could have been something wonderful.
This game offers an amazing feeling of freedom and puzzles that are intertwined with the settings. Some vague objectives at the beginning can be a nuisance, but it features an amazing visual style.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
AER: Memories of Old is definitely the most delightful adventure of this year. The soothing atmosphere and caring world of the game will entertain you very well. Sometimes there could be a bit more interaction with the world and some challenges but if you can live with that you'll get a well made Indie-Adventure.
Review in German | Read full review
In a month full to the brim with humongous, time-sinking, big-budget games, it's a welcome break to experience a brief but calming game like AER: Memories of Old. With gentle music, appealing visuals and a majestically simple flight mechanic, AER is as pleasant a journey as I first expected it to be and makes for a great break between the huge October releases.
At its core, I understand what AER: Memories of Old was trying to do. AER has a deep story to tell and it has a beautiful way that it wants to do it, but it never manages to marry those ideas. Wanton exploration with little-to-no real payoff becomes a chore—a beautiful chore sure, but a chore nonetheless. There are only so many times I can shift back and forth between bird and human midair before I need something else to drive my engagement. Telling the story through environment, providing better direction, and rewarding extensive exploration are just a few things that could have really helped AER to escape the high res, low poly shell that it is, but AER: Memories of Old is simply too empty to feel like anything more.
I very much enjoyed my time with AER Memories of Old. It's not perfect; it's a little on the short side, its puzzles are a bit lacklustre, and it has an overt religious message — although if anything, that it adds to the world that AER creates.
This game isn’t action packed or filled to the brim with quests to follow, but offers you a profound story accompanied by a breathtaking score and moving visuals. Forgotten Key’s AER Memories of Old is an unmissable Indie game of 2017.
When AER: Memories of Old is focused on soaring through the skies, or tackling a multi-room temple puzzle, it's at its best. The rest of the time it fails to register much interest in its lackluster story and world.
Despite its length, the journey in AER: Memories of Old is highly enjoyable and easy to recommend to all fans of adventure games. Kudos to publisher Daedalic Entertainment for releasing another gorgeous game that joins Silence and Pillars of the Earth on my hidden gems list.
This title is so particular that it is difficult to evaluate it with the usual meters of judgment. The complete lack of difficulty can annoy you, but the game does not want to be, as already written, a challenge: it turns out to be a carefree iter and the few enigmatic platform phases will never take the lead role on this travel factor. The perfect and accurate soundtrack and good graphic style help the player to immerse themselves in this adventure, alas I must say, too short for my taste. The secrets are indeed, but a longer and deep story would surely have benefited a title that has to offer an experience that sometimes really makes the shivers. Recommended to anyone who wants to experience new emotions in a title that, more than a video game, would call an interactive and engaging fairy tale. Finally, note of merit, the title is entirely localized in Italian!
Review in Italian | Read full review
Ironically, AER Memories of Old doesn't leave much of a lasting impression. It feels like a prototype you might show a publisher to convince them to fund a full game. What's here is charming, but it feels underbaked compared to the games it patterns itself after. If you're looking for a laid-back Zelda-like adventure and don't mind spending $15 for a single play session, AER Memories of Old is a pleasant-enough distraction, just don't expect to be swept off your feet.
AER: Memories od Old is a relaxing, heavily atmospheric title you can enjoy in your own pace. It can be a nice break from more action-oriented games.
Review in Polish | Read full review
The three hours I had playing AER were fun, but I won’t have any everlasting memories of this game, and neither will I probably remember what even happened a few days from now. A forgettable experience that had plenty of opportunities to be more.
Aer: Memories of Old is essentially a love letter to The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, utilising the same formula which made the sixteenth edition to the Zelda franchise so successful. On a cluster of islands floating in the sky we meet our protagonist, Auk, a shape shifter who can transform into a bird to traverse the various shrines and temples scattered amongst the clouds.