FOX n FORESTS Reviews
Fox n Forests is a great game, but does wind up being slotted a bit below something like Shovel Knight. The core platforming and action-oriented combat work well, as does the seasonal shifting mechanic.
Fox n Forests can't be faulted for its fantastically accurate portrayal of 16-bit platforming; very few indie games have managed to nail the look and sound of the SNES so well. Its season-changing gimmick also makes for some inventive moments. Where it lets itself down is in its fiddly controls and its short length, which combine to make a game that's merely good when it could have been great.
Fox n Forests is a really enjoyable throwback to its 16-bit inspirations. It takes the style, gameplay, and mechanics of early platformers and produces a game that both feels like a lost classic and remains fun and involving to play. Its main negative is perhaps an inevitable result of its close adherence to historical precedence as it is fairly short.
It is a shame the game doesn't end on a better note, but I definitely had a good time with Fox n Forests. It may not be the second coming of retro platformers, but it certainly feels like a lost gem.
Whether you're looking for something that'll provide a hearty challenge, something that will get you nostalgic or a game with plenty to do and plenty more to explore, then Fox n Forests is for you.
With old-school design comes both nostalgia and frustration. It knows that and it's surprisingly proud of that. It's clearly made with a lot of love for the genre. If you're nostalgic for such games too, there's really not much to dislike, but neither is there anything new to behold.
People looking to scratch that 16-bit platformer itch will have a good time with it, and people looking to find nice 16-bit recreation will get something well done here.
Slavish adherents to modern sensibilities may wish to look elsewhere. However, if you're looking for a blend of fast-paced fun and familiar flaws, you can't go wrong with this game.
Chock full of an overwhelming supply of retro-gaming goodness, FOX n FORESTS will take retro fans back to a happier time with an all new adventure to experience. Though challenging, it is done in all the right ways, and the story presented like a fairy tale will leave a smile on your face long after the rage face has dissipated.
FOX n FORESTS brings a classic 16-bit platformer environment to the Nintendo Switch with a very good audiovisual environment and an interesting gameplay mechanic when it comes to changing weather seasons. The experience ends up getting harmed by controls that feel too heavy at times and the repetitiveness that is imposed on the player to finish the level goes too far, making this a too short adventure for its own good.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Fox n Forests is still a fun platformer in the end, even if it does hold itself well short of greatness.
Fox n Forests delivers a religious hommage to the 16-bit era platformers, with satisfying big sprites, pixelart backgrounds, but also loose collisions and a mad respawn system. Its numerous upgrades add a nice touch to the adventure, but serves as a weak excuse to revisit the same stages over and over. This is particularly infortunate, because Fox n Forests still has nice aces up its sleeve, like specific controls and shoot'em up stages.
Review in French | Read full review
Fox n Forests is not a bad game by any means. But, it's a game whose flaws drag it down, creating something entirely pedestrian.
Fox n Forests delivers on all angles for anyone who's been in love with the new renaissance of retro platforming games. The beautiful artwork, exploration, and combat makes this a game that Nintendo Switch owners should welcome with open arms.
Any initial excitement is washed away within the first hour or two, giving way to repetition, boredom and often complete frustration. Extinction had great potential but sadly comes up way short.
Fox n Forests is an authentic retro-inspired love letter to 16-bit era platformers, and I dig that. The game does include some modern touches, and a bit of Metroidvania style progression, but the look and feel is straight out of the SNES. I didn't quite enjoy having to replay levels to collect the magic seeds to proceed as it creates an artificial progression barrier. You also won't be able to replay boss encounters, which is some of the best moments in the game.
Fox n Forests isn't for everyone – it feels more like a game development experiment that resulted in a nice bite-size nostalgia trip and was released just for fun.
The reality is not many games are going to capture that nostalgic magic like Shovel Knight did, and this is a decent if unexceptional attempt at doing so.
A lovingly crafted 16-bit platformer for fans of Wonderboy and Ghouls 'n' Ghosts, Fox n Forests has enough style and addictive side-scrolling gameplay to ultimately outweigh its structural flaws.