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“In the midnight hour, I can feel a power, just like a prayer, you know I’ll take you there” sang a young Madonna back in the day. Whether this lyric inspired the latest Aery game is hard to tell.
As you might have guessed from my opening, writing an original review for the Aery series is becoming increasingly difficult, as new entries seem to appear on the Xbox Store every couple of months. While I secretly enjoy the Aery series, I’ve recently been critical of the reuse of assets in some games. Thankfully, Aery – Midnight Hour addresses this with its spooky Halloween tale.
The storytelling follows the series’ established pattern. Each of the ten chapters begins with a text passage read aloud by a narrator. This time, you play as a raven who overhears Dracula discussing a Halloween party in hell. Curiosity piqued, the little bird embarks on a journey to find this party. Along the way, you soar through diverse landscapes, from Dracula’s castle to eerie circuses and, of course, the fiery depths of hell itself.
After the more abstract and historical themes of previous entries, this horror-themed narrative offers a refreshing change of pace. It’s tongue-in-cheek and entertaining.
The gameplay remains consistent with the series. You control a bird in third-person, guiding it through various environments using standard flight mechanics, which can be inverted for preferred control. The objective is to fly across the map and collect memory shards floating in the air. These serve as checkpoints, and their presentation varies between levels: sometimes appearing one at a time, sometimes scattered throughout the world.
The series is known for its relaxing gameplay and calm atmosphere. However, Aery – Midnight Hour introduces a slightly higher level of challenge compared to recent instalments. I welcome this addition, as some levels feel larger and more complex, making the search for memory shards more rewarding.
Visually, the game stands out with its fresh level design and I’m not sure any of the assets appear recycled from previous games. We have dark castles perched on hillsides, spooky crypts, a macabre circus, and a hellish landscape suspended in a void. The vibrant colours and effective lighting are visually appealing, and the bird’s animations are well-done.
Unfortunately, the soundtrack is a disappointment. It feels entirely inappropriate for the midnight hour and Halloween theme. I recommend turning it off and creating your own spooky playlist to accompany your playthrough.
I first encountered the Aery games back in 2019, and since then, the franchise has grown significantly. It’s impressive for a small indie series to maintain such a consistent release schedule. However, Midnight Hour stands out as one of the best due to its horror theme and engaging narrative about a bird seeking a party in hell. The gameplay is more challenging, and the level design is more captivating. If you’re looking for a spooky and relaxing experience, turn off the soundtrack and enjoy a creepy flight through the world of Aery – Midnight Hour.
Aery – Midnight Hour Takes Flight: A Spooky Sojourn for the Bird-Brained – https://www.thexboxhub.com/aery-midnight-hour-takes-flight-a-spooky-sojourn-for-the-bird-brained/
Buy Aery – Midnight Hour on Xbox – https://www.xbox.com/en-gb/games/store/aery—midnight-hour/9NG293JM8HFJ