I think SOtF is truly an incredible sequel to The Forest. The graphics and physics are immersive and breathtaking, and the AI is remarkable and realistic, learning and adapting to the player's behavior. However, there are issues that I've noticed, and will comment on in this review.

Firstly, as aforementioned, the graphics are stellar! I play on the "ULTRA" graphical preset and it's absolutely incredible. However, the optimization isn't entirely great. My RTX 2060 GPU struggles to run SOtF at above 40-50 FPS. Numerous visual glitches will, ideally, be fixed before the early-access phase is over.

The building and crafting are one of the best aspects of SOtF...the crafting and building animations are pleasing to watch, and the building features enable creativity and freedom when building, even with pre-built options!

Again, the AI is REMARKABLE. The cannibals on the island learn the player's behavior and adapt accordingly. They are capable of wearing camouflage and are often "charming" in their interactions, You may genuinely feel guilty for killing cannibals because of how real and human-like they behave. Kelvin, the deaf NPC companion, unfortunately, behaves strangely, chopping down player-built structures and getting stuck in areas that he can easily move out of, yet he is still lovable and I've found him to be useful for more mundane tasks such as fishing and collecting sticks or logs.

Secondly, I will iterate on the issues I have with SOtF...and the features that I believe can be improved and worked upon.

One of my biggest gripes is the seasonal rotation. I didn't find anything particularly unique differentiating each season, asides from the visuals. I wish Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall had their challenges. I prepared for Winter, stocking up on food and materials, only realizing that this wasn't necessary due to the abundance of moose, the cold wasn't too debilitating either and I found it easy to just ignore. The most irritating problem in the Winter season was only being able to drink from flowing water sources.

Additionally, I explored EVERY cave in the tundra/mountains area, and nearly everyone was a small, immediately dead-ended cave with barely any materials. It was a worthless waste of time, and I wish that they would be expanded or removed from the GPS map to avoid wasting time trying to explore them. It was frustrating, to say the least!

Overall, I would recommend purchasing and playing SOtF, despite the problems I've encountered, it's been fun and exciting, and I can't wait to beat it! I prefer the slow burn of exploring, building, crafting, and fighting- but you may play it in the style that you prefer.

I think SOtF is truly an incredible sequel to The Forest. The graphics and physics are immersive and breathtaking, and the AI is remarkable and realistic, learning and adapting to the player's behavior. However, there are issues that I've noticed, and will comment on in this review. Firstly, as aforementioned, the graphics are stellar! I play on the "ULTRA" graphical preset and it's absolutely incredible. However, the optimization isn't entirely great. My RTX 2060 GPU struggles to run SOtF at above 40-50 FPS. Numerous visual glitches will, ideally, be fixed before the early-access phase is over. The building and crafting are one of the best aspects of SOtF...the crafting and building animations are pleasing to watch, and the building features enable creativity and freedom when building, even with pre-built options! Again, the AI is REMARKABLE. The cannibals on the island learn the player's behavior and adapt accordingly. They are capable of wearing camouflage and are often "charming" in their interactions, You may genuinely feel guilty for killing cannibals because of how real and human-like they behave. Kelvin, the deaf NPC companion, unfortunately, behaves strangely, chopping down player-built structures and getting stuck in areas that he can easily move out of, yet he is still lovable and I've found him to be useful for more mundane tasks such as fishing and collecting sticks or logs. Secondly, I will iterate on the issues I have with SOtF...and the features that I believe can be improved and worked upon. One of my biggest gripes is the seasonal rotation. I didn't find anything particularly unique differentiating each season, asides from the visuals. I wish Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall had their challenges. I prepared for Winter, stocking up on food and materials, only realizing that this wasn't necessary due to the abundance of moose, the cold wasn't too debilitating either and I found it easy to just ignore. The most irritating problem in the Winter season was only being able to drink from flowing water sources. Additionally, I explored EVERY cave in the tundra/mountains area, and nearly everyone was a small, immediately dead-ended cave with barely any materials. It was a worthless waste of time, and I wish that they would be expanded or removed from the GPS map to avoid wasting time trying to explore them. It was frustrating, to say the least! Overall, I would recommend purchasing and playing SOtF, despite the problems I've encountered, it's been fun and exciting, and I can't wait to beat it! I prefer the slow burn of exploring, building, crafting, and fighting- but you may play it in the style that you prefer.