FOX n FORESTS

Fox n Forests did what I wanted it to. It reminded me of what it was like to sit in my room as a kid on my Sega Genesis for hours mastering jumps and attacks as I mashed away my controller in Vectorman or Altered Beast. I remember feeling frustration at those games but that was tied to mounting difficulty and a game over screen. The frustration with Fox n Forests comes from boring repetition and a lazy approach to progression.

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. There’s a natural flow to the levels and exploration is rewarded — resulting in stages that are usually fun to play through again. The RPG mechanics are a bit too girnd-heavy for a platformer, but allow you to extend your skills beyond most games in the genre while the rich graphics and robust sound deliver a satisfying experience for the eyes and ears.

The length is also perfect, clocking in around five hours for your first playthrough. This isn’t dissimilar to a lot of SNES games from back in the day, but it has the added bonus of not overstaying its welcome. 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.