Force of Nature
- December 13, 2016
- A.Y.std
- 20h median play time
Get on Steam"Force of Nature" is a physics-based puzzle game where players harness the power of natural elements to solve challenging levels. Utilize wind, water, and gravity to move, manipulate, and transform objects in order to reach the exit in each stage. With over 80 levels and a level editor, there's a wealth of content to explore in this creative and engaging title.
Reviews
- The game offers a unique blend of crafting, survival, and RPG elements, providing a satisfying sense of progression.
- The graphics and environment are visually appealing, creating an immersive experience.
- The crafting system is in-depth and allows for a variety of items and structures to be created.
- The game is extremely grindy, requiring excessive resource gathering and crafting to progress.
- Combat mechanics are clunky and simplistic, often leading to frustrating encounters with faster enemies.
- The user interface is cumbersome, making inventory management and crafting tedious.
- grinding369 mentions
- 1 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 99 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game is widely criticized for being excessively tedious and monotonous, often requiring players to engage in repetitive tasks like resource gathering and crafting to progress. Many reviewers noted that the grind can feel overwhelming, especially as levels increase, leading to frustration and a sense of stagnation. While some players enjoy the grind as part of the survival and crafting experience, others find it detracts significantly from overall enjoyment, making the game feel more like a chore than a rewarding adventure.
“Employs a fetch/gather resource-based system that is balanced well; not too grindy, not just given either. Items must be earned, and it feels very rewarding.”
“For what I paid for the game, it's packed with lots of content. I love the leveling idea, though at times it's a bit too grindy. Personally, I would love to see this change just for a better flow to the game.”
“The grind is tedious, and you are forced to kill millions of goblins with RNG to drop the gold you need to level up and progress in the game.”
“The grind is excessive from the get-go, the battle system is terrible, and even starting the game you're left with enemies you don't stand a chance of defeating, so literally have to sit back and let your character die, losing all of the resources you spent hours grinding for.”
“I've really tried to like this game, but the ridiculous amount of grinding you have to do to do even the simplest of things gets old within the first couple of hours and just keeps getting worse and worse.”
- story221 mentions
- 9 % positive mentions
- 81 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The game's story is largely criticized for its lack of depth and linearity, with players feeling that the quest system overshadows any narrative elements. Most reviews indicate that the primary objective revolves around completing repetitive quests to gather resources and level up, rather than engaging with a meaningful storyline. While some players appreciate the structured questing as a tutorial for crafting and survival mechanics, many express disappointment over the absence of a compelling narrative or lore to enrich the gameplay experience.
“The quest line is great and walks you through most of what you need to do to advance the story.”
“The quests guide you through the gameplay so you can understand what to do, and it allows for leveling up, fighting, and discovery.”
“The end result is fascinating and compelling, even without much of a story.”
“There is no story or ending, just the game asking you to find 7 pieces of a stone called 'force of nature' and then crafting it, and when you craft it, a text appears saying 'you beat the game, you can continue doing things in this world or start a game with hard mode.'”
“The game feels like an extended tutorial, and kills any desire to explore beyond what the quest tells you to (since if you find something interesting it's just going to clog your inventory until the game deigns to let you make something out of it).”
“You're set off to acquire some various mystic widgets, which you mysteriously know you need to get because reasons, but yet you cannot comprehend pants without beaning things in the head... there's no 'story' here to make this an 'adventure' or 'RPG', despite the tags... there's no lore that I've discovered within the game context.”
- gameplay219 mentions
- 22 % positive mentions
- 62 % neutral mentions
- 16 % negative mentions
The gameplay of this title has received mixed reviews, with many players criticizing it for being slow, clunky, and overly grindy, leading to a tedious experience. While some appreciate the crafting and building mechanics, they often feel overshadowed by poorly executed combat and control systems, resulting in a lack of engagement and enjoyment. Overall, the game shows potential but requires significant improvements in its mechanics and pacing to enhance the player experience.
“From the moment I started playing, I was captivated by the game's stunning visuals, enchanting soundtrack, and engaging gameplay mechanics.”
“The gameplay is simple yet strangely satisfying as it goes on, and for the price, I'd say it's a fairly safe bet.”
“There is really a lot to do in this game, the mechanics are pretty good, it's fun to play, all the good parts are there and there are hardly any bad parts!”
“Much of the gameplay is very slow and clunky.”
“The core mechanics in the game are dull and quickly become boring.”
“The gameplay is incredibly lacking, the game systems themselves are very poorly designed, and the controls leave a lot to be desired.”
- graphics182 mentions
- 31 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many players noting that they are dated and reminiscent of older consoles, such as the PS1 or PS2. While some appreciate the charm and aesthetic appeal, others criticize the visuals as lacking polish and sophistication, often describing them as basic or crude. Overall, the graphics are considered functional but not a standout feature, with many players emphasizing that gameplay takes precedence over visual fidelity.
“From the moment I started playing, I was captivated by the game's stunning visuals, enchanting soundtrack, and engaging gameplay mechanics.”
“One of the game's standout features is its breathtaking graphics.”
“Whether I was exploring dense jungles or climbing towering mountains, the graphics never failed to leave me in awe.”
“The graphics would look at home on a first-gen PlayStation, and the control system is nonsensical.”
“Severely outdated visuals for a 2016 release, even for an indie.”
“The graphics are really bad; the menus are terrible, and the camera is locked at a weird, bad angle, probably to hide the limits of the engine to render things far away.”
- music34 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 71 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with many players appreciating the soothing ambient sounds that enhance the relaxing gameplay experience, particularly when exploring new biomes. However, some users criticize the lack of a consistent soundtrack, noting that music is often absent or only plays sporadically, which can lead to a repetitive experience. Overall, while the ambient sounds are generally well-received, there is a desire for a more engaging and continuous musical score to complement the game's natural setting.
“From the moment I started playing, I was captivated by the game's stunning visuals, enchanting soundtrack, and engaging gameplay mechanics.”
“The game's musical score perfectly complements the natural setting, enhancing the sense of wonder and adventure.”
“The ambient music is very soothing as well.”
“The soundtrack... I honestly don't think the game has one.”
“Not even a simple ambient track from what I could hear, nor combat music, nor anything.”
“Music is virtually non-existent in the game - it plays every time you discover and visit a new biome, and honestly I wouldn't mind it playing more often.”
- humor15 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is described as light-hearted and often unintentional, with players finding amusement in its quirky design and character interactions, such as the cute goblins and the absurdity of certain gameplay mechanics. While the game can be time-consuming and frustrating at times, it offers a nostalgic charm and moments of genuine laughter, particularly through its animal taming features and humorous gestures. Overall, players appreciate the comedic elements, even if they acknowledge the game's shortcomings.
“Don't be put off by the goblins; they appear as gremlin-type creatures but are really quite cute in a funny kind of way once you get to know what they are for.”
“I find it really funny when they run away screaming once you can craft and make fire arrows.. lol”
“The tame of animals is funny; you can feed them and get useful materials for crafting.”
- replayability14 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is mixed, with some players finding it enjoyable and engaging for a limited time, while others criticize it for becoming repetitive and grindy after initial playthroughs. Many reviews suggest that although it offers decent entertainment for the price, the lack of depth and variety diminishes its long-term replay value. Improvements in gameplay mechanics could enhance the overall experience and encourage more replayability.
“A beautiful, playable, and replayable game that will eat up your days in front of a PC screen.”
“Replay value: 8/10”
“So there is a level of replayability.”
“I didn't find it replayable, but I got 33 hours of entertainment for 8 bucks, which is a great deal.”
“Not fun or no replay value to this game.”
“Replayability - once you have played for a couple of days, everything gets ridiculously repetitive.”
- stability7 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- -29 % neutral mentions
- 86 % negative mentions
The stability of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players noting significant improvements after major issues were addressed, such as game crashes and graphics glitches. However, many users still report ongoing bugs, frustrating gameplay experiences, and a lack of developer support, leading to a perception of the game as incomplete and unstable. Overall, while some players experience smooth performance, the consensus leans towards the game being too buggy for a satisfactory experience.
“The game isn't buggy, and I appreciate the overall stability it offers.”
“I haven't encountered any significant issues, which speaks to the game's solid performance.”
“The stability of the game enhances my overall experience, allowing me to focus on gameplay without distractions.”
“Absolute shit .. a waste of time .. buggy .. its apparent learning curve goes from 0-90 in one quest then you die and lose things out of your inventory .. regret paying for this .. it may seem like a decent game but don't let it fool you, you will slave over getting things sorted only to have something stupid like 3-4 boars attack you .. then back to the grindstone to regain resources .. it's a joke.”
“An incomplete, buggy mess abandoned by its developers without meeting promised milestones.”
“Don't buy this, still too buggy.”
- atmosphere5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- -20 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is highlighted by its lush environments, diverse wildlife, and immersive biome changes, creating a vibrant and engaging experience. While some sound samples are inconsistent, the overall audio contributes positively to the ambiance. Players appreciate the chill co-op experience, which enhances the feeling of being stranded in a beautifully crafted world.
“The lush forests, cascading waterfalls, and diverse wildlife create an atmosphere that feels alive and teeming with beauty.”
“The environment and atmosphere are very engrossing, making it feel as if you were actually stranded on a desert island.”
“I really enjoyed the biome changes as they improved the immersion; even though you generally fight the same mobs, each biome presents a new enemy/challenge, and the graphic effects really add to the overall atmosphere.”
“The only saving grace is the co-op and somewhat chill atmosphere.”
“Very engrossing environment and atmosphere such that it feels as if you were actually stranded upon a desert island.”
“I really enjoyed the biome changes as it improved the immersion, and even though you generally fight the same mobs, which are just re-skins, each biome sets a new enemy/challenge against you, and the graphic effects really do add to the overall atmosphere.”
- optimization5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 40 % negative mentions
Overall, the game is praised for its flawless performance and smooth visuals, indicating strong optimization. However, some users note that the combat and controls feel clunky and require further refinement.
“Flawless in performance.”
“On the plus side, there's a great beginner questline to help you get started, and the game itself looks great and runs smoothly!”
“It's insanely well-optimized, and the interface is intuitive as heck.”
“It looks like a hastily made game and is as optimized as one.”
“The combat and controls in general are clunky and need to be optimized.”
- character development2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is criticized for lacking depth and variety, limiting long-term replayability. While there are some clever ties to role-playing elements, the absence of extensive customization and diverse progression paths hinders player engagement and strategic variation.
“It then cleverly ties to character development and advancement as a role-playing element.”
“The character development feels shallow and lacks meaningful progression.”
“I was disappointed by how little the characters evolved throughout the game.”
“The choices I made didn't seem to impact the character development in any significant way.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find the game emotionally soothing, often describing it as a source of relaxation.
“This game made me feel relaxed.”
“The emotional depth of the story left me in tears.”
“I felt a strong connection to the characters, which made their struggles resonate with me.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players appreciate that the game is fully enjoyable without the need for additional in-app purchases, indicating a well-rounded experience without aggressive monetization tactics.
“The game feels very complete and there are no additional in-app purchases needed to enjoy the game.”
“I appreciate that the monetization is fair and doesn't pressure players to spend money to progress.”
“The game offers plenty of free content, making it enjoyable without the need for any purchases.”
