birdsong

birdsong is a little platformer that’s a bit out of the box when compared to others. Not necessarily in terms of gameplay, but because it comes with a rather interesting way of viewing the character and navigating around the maze.

That thing which sets birdsong apart is the fisheye effect that is used when moving around the map. The bird always stays in the center of it all but as you move and jump, space around you is warped and distorted to a point where it can get a bit confusing.

You can see the entire maze in front of your eyes but when it comes to seeing what’s coming your way in the next steps, it gets a bit tricky. It’s a really nice feature to birdsong and since you have plenty of traps along the way, it considerably boots the difficulty level.

The term ‘basic’ is in no way meant to discredit the work put into making the game. Its retro look, the choice of a cold color pallet and the somewhat eerie background music makes birdsong a bit more captivating than you would normally expect. Definitely a win.

As far as platformers go, this one is just right. It has the exact amount of difficulty to make it enjoyable and yet still challenging. Throughout the game you will find a few powerups that increase the bird’s capability to jump, you can use the nests you create as checkpoints and there are also a few gems to collect.

On a closing note, birdsong is that kind of game that you start playing and can’t simply put away until you finish it. There aren’t hours of gameplay in it but the amount you do spend relaxes.