Sons of the Forest review - a buggy but beautiful timebomb of potential
Sons of the Forest is one of the most popular and talked about games on Steam right now, but what's the big deal? Is the game truly worth the 30 bucks its asking for this early in EA? Lets find out!
You Single?
This game is a *chefs kiss* BEAUTY. The water looks so real you'll want to go for a swim in the ocean (don't because a shark might bite you), the lighting is straight-up amazing, and all the little details make the game so realistic that you might end up wondering if you're not just stuck in a trip in an actual forest.
Anti Bug Spray
But, before you subject your pc and sanity to this game, there are a few things you should know.
The optimization is horrendous and might just set your computer on fire. Yes, you read that correctly; keep a fire extinguisher nearby, even on low.
Furthermore, the game has more bugs than a tropical rainforest. It's a jungle out there, from loot respawning every time you reload to sentient logs and energy not regenerating when you sleep. But don't worry, there are no huge game-breaking bugs, so you won't fall through the world, and some of the duplicate glitches are only relevant if you use them.
I WANT TO NUKE THIS ISLAND
This game's atmosphere is akin to a horror film on steroids. It's terrifying when it's pitch black outside and you hear cannibals leaping through the trees.
You'll be grateful for any light you can get given the way the lighting works with your weak flashlight and the moon. It's like navigating through a haunted forest, except instead of ghosts, you're up against Barry the cannibal and his tree-jumping friends that are out to kill you.
They are everywhere
These enemies are dynamic and full of surprises; they don't just sit around waiting for you to come to them. The cannibals will surround you and jump at you like they're auditioning for the Olympic high jump team, while the mutants eat bullets and Molotov cocktails like they are vodka shots on a Friday night. To take them down, you'll need to bring enough weapons to supply a small army and possibly some divine intervention
There goes ya leg
The combat in Sons of the Forest is satisfying. The fights are intense and provide a constant challenge and stream of entertainment. From dismembering cannibals and watching them fall to the ground screeching, to dodging monster attacks and setting them ablaze, it feels like a great upgrade from the original.
WHY THE END
The story is mysterious and keeps you on edge, it confuses you but in a good way, it makes you want more the whole time, and every note you come across just adds to the mystery factor, but that's mostly on the surface, as the ending feels really rushed and is underwhelming, to say the least.
I'm hoping that the developers will work some real magic into the story during Early Access, because it's currently pretty bad.
You and me
The multiplayer is enjoyable and functional. It's like playing your own twisted version of Survivor with your friends. Setting up the server is simple, as is joining; there are no unnecessary paths to navigate. And, to be honest, the other players' animations are quite nice.
Legos and logs
This game's building system is similar to a Lego set for adults, and it's fantastic! It's unlike any other survival game and also unlike its predecessor; it's fresh and original, and I'm all for it, but be prepared to spend some serious time chopping down trees and carrying logs because there is no other way to transport your logs than to painstakingly carry them 2 by 2... or, well, there is one little help, which brings me to the next point.
KELVIN, MY LOVE
Having an AI teammate in the game is like having a personal butler who is always ready to serve you, even if he is slightly brain-damaged (both figuratively and literally) and forgets the task you gave him.
Kelvin is the ideal companion for all of your log-gathering and danger-alerting requirements. In multiplayer, however, you might as well leave him behind because you already have friends who are equally as dim-witted.
Conclusion
To summarize, Sons of the Forest is a game with enormous potential that is enjoyable even in its early access state. The stunning graphics, thrilling combat, one-of-a-kind building system, and terrifying enemies make it a must-play for survival fans.
The game, however, is not without flaws. The optimization issues and numerous bugs can make for a frustrating experience, and some players may be disappointed by the very incomplete feeling story. As a result, if these things are important to you, it may be best to wait until Sons of the Forest is more complete before purchasing it.
But, if you can look past these flaws and enjoy the game as it is right now, you'll have a great time. Despite its flaws, I give Sons of the Forest an 8.4 out of 10 and recommend it to anyone who enjoyed the original the forest and is looking for more.
We received 2 review keys from Endnight, this however didn’t impact our review in any way