ReStory has a brilliant gameplay core that’s worth the price of admission; the electronic repairs. With a huge range of electronics and their parts, and each having its satisfying way of disassembling and repairing, it’s as much a puzzle as it is a zen activity. Everything around that core is a big mix of okay ideas and frustrating experiences. The narrative has good hooks but meanders a lot before falling off; the character writing ranges from mediocre to frustrating, and the plot hints at something bigger that doesn’t leave much impact. There is grinding to obtain licenses, and tedium sets in fast, so it is best to play in small sessions. You will be playing this for the solid gameplay and hilarious knockoff brand electronic names and references, and not much else.
Despite a steeper-than-usual learning curve, some balance issues, and dealing with bad RNG at the start, Forestrike is one of the few games where you feel like mastering a martial arts skill. There is a depth of tactics game, mixed with the reflexes of a fighting game and the innovative “Forsight mechanic”, making its gameplay stand out among its peers, and it should be commended. Those MA philosophies get corporate well into a story whose writing punches well above its weight compared to similar rogue-lites. This will certainly not be for everyone, but those with patience and a desire for mastery are sure to find a worthwhile experience.