Fox n Forests is a retro-inspired game that is inspired by the likes of The Legend of Zelda and Super Ghouls ‘n Ghosts, so my expectations were reasonably high going into this 16-bit adventure. Our protagonist, Rick, is far from heroic, but he has the power to change seasons and sometimes that’s all you really need.
More Than A Throwback
Fox n Forests plays with aforementioned unique ideas, such as being able to switch between seasons at will as you search for the elusive fifth season. This mechanic is vital to your progression. Waterfalls can be frozen, plants can be grown to climb on, and some enemies such as beehives offer no threat in the winter. As retro games often are, Fox n Forests can sometimes be nail-bitingly difficult, and being armed with primarily only a bow means that distance often plays a key part in battling. The game’s season-switching mechanic means that you need to think about your next month because often you’ll have to switch seasons quickly to move on. I’ve been a bit trigger-happy with the mechanic, fallen into an enemy, and died a couple of times, but thankfully you’re unlikely to find yourself stalled because of this. Some sections or enemies are more likely to do you in, especially if you need to jump a lot. Sadly, your bow cannot be used in the air, leaving you with only a short-length dagger.
You can purchase and upgrade skills to make things a bit easier on yourself, and to access paths you can’t i...