In revisiting the forest I felt it necessary to make changes to my previous review. The new version was an incredible improvement over the game released on launch and I felt it worth going over the pro's and con's of the current version..


Pro's
- The additional free content they've added is more than most AAA titles have included in their DLC. The videos on updates don't do the game justice, it's just the tip of the iceberg of what they've added over time.
- Great graphics
- Very satisfying shooting cannibals
- It has a large crafting system.
- Daytime is good and long meaning you can really get a lot done as if you were really spending a day surviving. Some games get this wrong and spend too long in night time which can be very frustrating.
- It is an enjoyable game to spend 40+hrs on with friends and the environments underground are great if a little empty at times.
- The traps are great.
- The environments you explore are very interesting!


Cons

- While the story and content has been worked on, it still leaves the player in a rather clueless state regarding the origin or goings on of it all.
- The map is very big but the areas all looked so similar, it lacked good landmarks around the place that would make it as easy to navigate like the original forest game where there was huge variation in it's areas. The game still lacks the kind of visual variation that lets you know your in a different section of the island, There could be much more wildlife on a secluded island.
- Despite the ability to leave markers you can't really ever get a full view of the map at any time, leaving you always frustrated in where you are going or need to go. And no ability to leave notes on your own map means you will re-explore the same cave a hundred times.
- Base building is still incredibly resource demanding. as in it will require you to cut down hundreds of trees or collect thousands of rocks to get to build what you'd want. it's a huge time commitment and while your building the game ramps up in difficulty possibly beyond what a builder is able to scavenge weapon and armor wise for themselves.
- The game is certainly hard for solo players.
- If you are in your inventory and get attacked it won't knock you out of it, this means if your halfway through crafting something you can get murdered rather than dealing with the situation at hand.
- Despite the updates and mini-camps everywhere for a luxury retreat island it doesn't seem like it would ever of housed the wealthy, with all the complex's hidden in caves? there are no above ground buildings of interest.
- We searched all ponds and waterfalls and never found anything in them, there was no hidden caves under the water and only one pond might of had some loot in it or golf carts it was really disappointing, we never really found a reason to use the diving suit other than to get from A to B.
- The seasons fly by a bit too fast for my liking and you don't really have to build anything to survive better in either of them it's kind of one-base-suits-all weather conditions. Building fires in the winter buffs disappear as soon as you leave the fire and you can't really make any huge log fires either to help dry out an area.
- Flares are pointless = little to no light and gone fast.
- The Torch is pointless it offers less lighting than if everyone uses their lighter and it drains batteries faster than the chainsaw, you could literally chainsaw a forest down with the same amount of batteries that last in a dim torch for 5mins.
- The players arms are bent weird and never really have a human pose to them. It just makes it awkward looking at anything you do the entire game, holding an axe or pistol just looks like a crudely drawn robot would imaging how a humans arms look from player perspective.



While the game has made significant improvements the biggest issue for me is there's nothing keeping you ''living in the game'' as soon as it's completed the ability to gold your stuff is limited, there's no events, monthly goals or changes to game play that would make you want to re-explore the island. and while

There's no horde day, no mutated random strain of cannibal., the number of resources in the game you need to collect are limited, there's no special spawns you need to harness for rare items, no unique or legendary items you could randomly find somewhere. no special grave loot. the enemies in caves don't change over time, it feels the cannibals get destroyed by the mutants as time goes on which is a shame. No good native faction that you would care to guard or look after.

Essentially the game lacks a lot of modern mechanics that would be used to keep you engaged with the game long after you complete it, which is a shame, as it's something myself and others would like to have a reason to keep building new bases in etc.

The ending still needs work.

it'd be nice to have a few more recipes for realistic things you could cook.

The fire-torch would be nice to hold in the left hand. The other light sources are all more or less useless still.

In revisiting the forest I felt it necessary to make changes to my previous review. The new version was an incredible improvement over the game released on launch and I felt it worth going over the pro's and con's of the current version.. Pro's - The additional free content they've added is more than most AAA titles have included in their DLC. The videos on updates don't do the game justice, it's just the tip of the iceberg of what they've added over time. - Great graphics - Very satisfying shooting cannibals - It has a large crafting system. - Daytime is good and long meaning you can really get a lot done as if you were really spending a day surviving. Some games get this wrong and spend too long in night time which can be very frustrating. - It is an enjoyable game to spend 40+hrs on with friends and the environments underground are great if a little empty at times. - The traps are great. - The environments you explore are very interesting! Cons - While the story and content has been worked on, it still leaves the player in a rather clueless state regarding the origin or goings on of it all. - The map is very big but the areas all looked so similar, it lacked good landmarks around the place that would make it as easy to navigate like the original forest game where there was huge variation in it's areas. The game still lacks the kind of visual variation that lets you know your in a different section of the island, There could be much more wildlife on a secluded island. - Despite the ability to leave markers you can't really ever get a full view of the map at any time, leaving you always frustrated in where you are going or need to go. And no ability to leave notes on your own map means you will re-explore the same cave a hundred times. - Base building is still incredibly resource demanding. as in it will require you to cut down hundreds of trees or collect thousands of rocks to get to build what you'd want. it's a huge time commitment and while your building the game ramps up in difficulty possibly beyond what a builder is able to scavenge weapon and armor wise for themselves. - The game is certainly hard for solo players. - If you are in your inventory and get attacked it won't knock you out of it, this means if your halfway through crafting something you can get murdered rather than dealing with the situation at hand. - Despite the updates and mini-camps everywhere for a luxury retreat island it doesn't seem like it would ever of housed the wealthy, with all the complex's hidden in caves? there are no above ground buildings of interest. - We searched all ponds and waterfalls and never found anything in them, there was no hidden caves under the water and only one pond might of had some loot in it or golf carts it was really disappointing, we never really found a reason to use the diving suit other than to get from A to B. - The seasons fly by a bit too fast for my liking and you don't really have to build anything to survive better in either of them it's kind of one-base-suits-all weather conditions. Building fires in the winter buffs disappear as soon as you leave the fire and you can't really make any huge log fires either to help dry out an area. - Flares are pointless = little to no light and gone fast. - The Torch is pointless it offers less lighting than if everyone uses their lighter and it drains batteries faster than the chainsaw, you could literally chainsaw a forest down with the same amount of batteries that last in a dim torch for 5mins. - The players arms are bent weird and never really have a human pose to them. It just makes it awkward looking at anything you do the entire game, holding an axe or pistol just looks like a crudely drawn robot would imaging how a humans arms look from player perspective. While the game has made significant improvements the biggest issue for me is there's nothing keeping you ''living in the game'' as soon as it's completed the ability to gold your stuff is limited, there's no events, monthly goals or changes to game play that would make you want to re-explore the island. and while There's no horde day, no mutated random strain of cannibal., the number of resources in the game you need to collect are limited, there's no special spawns you need to harness for rare items, no unique or legendary items you could randomly find somewhere. no special grave loot. the enemies in caves don't change over time, it feels the cannibals get destroyed by the mutants as time goes on which is a shame. No good native faction that you would care to guard or look after. Essentially the game lacks a lot of modern mechanics that would be used to keep you engaged with the game long after you complete it, which is a shame, as it's something myself and others would like to have a reason to keep building new bases in etc. The ending still needs work. it'd be nice to have a few more recipes for realistic things you could cook. The fire-torch would be nice to hold in the left hand. The other light sources are all more or less useless still.