The Forest Review (ToiletGater)
I want to start out by saying I'm terrible at this game and I'm also playing solo when I'm fairly sure this game is not designed to be played solo, because of these two things I don't think I've really got too far into the nooks and crannies of the game yet. I figure 30 hours though, might be time to make an initial review.
When I first played this I decided "it's too hard I don't like it" and stopped for ages, now I'm getting back into it I kind of like the challenge because it feels like an actual survival game. This isn't a game where you're the main character so fighting off a gang of ten attackers is as simple as hitting a button, you will have to out-think you enemies or outrun them. There's a good little adrenaline boost when it's been multiple hours since you last saved and it's pitch black and you hear those tell-tale footsteps of multiple enemies encircling you while you stumble through the trees back to your camp.
Huddling by the fire while the rain pelts down, the air is freezing and the locals are beating on your walls is immersive af. Exploring the map is fun and while it isn't huge there's plenty to see, I've spent a good portion of time seeing the sights and that's without even having delved too deep into the caves yet. Watching the locals go about their daily lives is interesting, seeing how they interact with the world around them and what they make of your effect on their environment (they are NOT pleased about me making a big fort right on one of their patrol routes, for instance) is, for me, just as much fun as fighting them or escaping from them.
There ARE some issues with the game, things that seem unfinished and bugs and glitches that will annoy the crap out of you but so far I've not found anything gamebreaking and have been able to adapt to every issue.
If you're looking at this game and thinking "I dunno if I should buy it, I don't think my friends will play it, it looks too difficult to me" I'm gonna say you know what, just try it. Just dive on in. You'll most likely find yourself tired, hungry and dehydrated irl because you've spent the last 6 hours making your base look pretty and that's a sign of a good game.