Developer Subtle Boom may not be a household name, but its debut title, Fledgling Heroes, is one that parents of younger gamers will want to be sure to check out on Nintendo Switch.
The premise of Fledgling Heroes is pretty simple. It’s a side-scrolling flap ‘em up runner, but what separates the game from the other countless runner titles available on mobile devices is that it features a beautifully hand-crafted storybook-style art design with a story that any young gamer can follow along with and enjoy (bonus points for the delightfully rhyming narrative).
Controls are also easy to pick up and master, allowing players to use the Joy-Con buttons or the Switch’s touchscreen as they avoid obstacles and the lizARRed pirates that have taken up residence among the birds’ islands. Players play as different types of birds, such as a parrot, toucan, quail, and penguin, each with its own special ability based on what skill is needed for each level. For instance, unlike the birds who can fly, Penny the Penguin can zip through the water while launching out of the water to snag the coins - also known as ‘Feathers’ - that can be collected throughout each level and used to unlock special levels.
Along the way, players can customize their birds in The Lab, where they can use a paint-by-numbers sort of system to color various sections of their birds. The Lab is also where players can customize their own levels to challenge other local players or share their creations online for other players around the world.
What’s nice about the online feature is that parents can set the permission level as to how much online access their kids are allowed, keeping their status set as private or public, the latter of which allows for online play and accessing others’ created levels.
After playing, it’s clear that Subtle Heroes had family-oriented gameplay at the forefront of its mind. As Brendan Watts, co-founder of Subtle Boom, put it:
“Switch seemed like the natural place to bring Fledgling Heroes. Growing up with Nintendo consoles, it was always a dream to one day make a game for one. We’ve dedicated a lot of time and care making sure the game meets the expectations the Nintendo audience has enjoyed from high-quality family titles.”
Fledgling Heroes is a perfect title for a family game night, taking in the beautiful sights and relaxing sounds of the isles. Fledgling Heroes is available now on Nintendo Switch.
