Review: Fledgling Heroes (Nintendo Switch)

by Jim Smale · May 13, 2020

Leap from the nest into a fun-filled adventure! Meet cute feathered friends, each with their own wondrous story to tell, as they dodge dastardly pirate lizARRrds, dash through frozen forests, dive under sunken temples, and flap their way from fledglings to a fully-fledged heroes

Pros:

Nice hand-drawn graphic style.
293mb download size.
Full touchscreen support.
Pop up tutorials as you play.
Flappy Bird style gameplay.
Controls-tap to move up and momentum will always drag you down, you can bounce off flat surfaces.
3 worlds to unlock (in any order you wish).
Can replay levels.
Fast travel between worlds at any point.
World map level select.
Six birds to unlock with each handling different and capable of other abilities.
Levels have missions with rewards.
Checkpoints in levels.
Levels have multiple routes.
A lot of replay value.
Can play with touchscreen or buttons.
Boss fights.
Level editor-powerful level creator set out in the same way as Mario Maker games.
Collectibles-level editor items/bird colours/coins/feathers.
A lot of fun to play.
Very accessible with progress being made despite failing missions or missing feathers.
Feathers-used to unlock levels.
Didn’t need Nintendo online to share levels.
Can share levels online and each created level has a unique code.
Customise your birds.
Defeat enemies by landing on them.
Power-ups and speed traps in level to help take out enemies.

Cons:

Coins are pointless as they do nothing of note.
Levels can feel claustrophobic.
Hard to see ahead of you.
One trick pony gameplay.
Infuriating puzzle parts.
Feels like a mobile game.
Forgettable story.

8/10

Graphics - 8/10
7/10

Sound - 7/10
8/10

Accessibility - 8/10
7/10

Length - 7/10
8/10

Fun Factor - 8/10

7.6/10

Summary

Fledgling Heroes is a full-on assault of your reflex skills as it attempts to make a full game out of the Flappy Bird genre. Taking the controls of Flappy Bird, where you tap to go up and let go to go down, Fledgling Heroes as you play as one of six birds and make your way through the bright colourful levels collecting feathers and coins. Each level is well designed and has multiple routes and secrets to find to encourage replayability. For me the game is good and an excellent time-waster of a game you play for a quick go. The progress is simple and short, each bird plays differently and for those that want more of a challenge or variety can make and share their own levels. The level creator is lifted straight from Mario Maker and is surprisingly powerful. Touchscreen means all tasks and even playing is made even easier. Yeah it’s a one-trick pony but to be honest it’s just a fun game that delights in its short bursts.