Soar the skies as a falcon in this Unreal Engine project
The gaming community on Reddit is always buzzing with exciting projects, and recently a user named 'DuckBilledPlato' caught the attention of many with a work-in-progress video of their game. The project, developed in Unreal Engine, offers a fresh and unique perspective as players take on the role of a falcon as the main character. With future plans to have a First World War-driven narrative, the game promises to be an exciting development.
'DuckBilledPlato' has ambitions for the game to revolve around a captivating narrative set against the backdrop of the First World War. Players could potentially assume the role of a falcon whose primary task is to intercept carrier pigeons carrying messages between various characters on both sides of the conflict. The open-world nature of the game allows players to explore their surroundings freely while fulfilling their mission. One intriguing aspect suggested is that players can influence the narrative themselves by choosing whom to deliver the letters to, thereby impacting the course of events within the game.
The flight mechanics of the game are based on a hand glider model, derived from the landscape example in Unreal Engine. The player controller tracks two crucial aspects: the current forward velocity and the momentum of the player, which is determined by the pitch of the falcon. When the player pitches down, the momentum increases, resulting in an increase in velocity, and vice versa. Additionally, the game incorporates a roll mechanic that adjusts the yaw of the falcon based on the angle of the roll.
Originally, the bird was modeled purely on a hand glider energy model, where losing altitude translated into gaining speed and vice versa. However, the developer found this to be quite challenging for players and decided to make some adjustments. Birds seldom stall in mid-air; they can regain speed by flapping their wings. Taking this into account, the developer made the flight mechanics more forgiving, allowing players to maintain energy for a longer duration. Moreover, players can regain some energy by flapping their wings while flying in a straight line below a certain speed. This compromise strikes a balance between realism and accessibility, ensuring a smoother and enjoyable flight experience.
'DuckBilledPlato' acknowledges that their strengths lie in creating a narrative-driven, relaxing, and visually stunning gameplay experience rather than an intense dogfight simulation. The primary focus of the game is to immerse players in a captivating story and provide them with a tranquil and beautiful environment to explore. While the game doesn't aim to be a realistic dogfight simulator, the developer plans to introduce hunting mechanics that will add depth and variety to the gameplay.
The game's unique perspective, where players embody a falcon during the First World War, combined with its narrative-driven gameplay and relaxing flight mechanics, promise an intriguing and enjoyable experience. As development progresses, it will be fascinating to see how this project evolves and whether it accomplishes its goal of delivering a compelling story set amidst the chaos of war.
You can keep up to date with the progress of the unnamed falcon game on their Reddit profile here.
