Forward
- February 28, 2019
- Christophe Coyard
- 6h median play time
Forward is a single-player card-based adventure game that boasts amazing gameplay, fantastic graphics, and a spectacular soundtrack. In Forward, you must sl monsters to progress, with excellent replayability encouraging multiple playthroughs. The game is playable on web browsers for a seamless gaming experience.
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Reviews
- High replayability with multiple characters and modes, offering a variety of strategies and builds.
- Quick and engaging gameplay, perfect for short sessions, making it easy to pick up and play.
- Charming art style and sound design, contributing to an enjoyable overall experience.
- Heavy reliance on RNG can lead to frustrating runs where victory feels out of the player's control.
- Limited content and depth may lead to repetitiveness after a few hours of play.
- Some balancing issues with characters and items, making certain strategies feel overpowered or underwhelming.
- gameplay78 mentions
- 45 % positive mentions
- 51 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by its simplicity and addictive nature, offering a cozy loop that encourages casual play while allowing for various character builds and item synergies. While some players appreciate the unique mechanics and decision-making involved, others find the gameplay limited and repetitive after a few runs, wishing for more complexity and variety in challenges. Overall, it strikes a balance between being accessible and engaging, making it suitable for fans of light-hearted roguelite card games.
“The unique progression system, which involves choosing a path from three cards at every turn, keeps the gameplay fresh and engaging.”
“Gameplay is simple but with depth to it; characters feel distinct, powers are impactful enough to drastically change playstyles, and card design does a lot with a little.”
“The mechanics are straightforward but the item combos and different characters can really turn every run into a unique and fun experience.”
“It's a fun game but like the other reviews have mentioned, the gameplay is quite limited and you will get bored of it pretty quickly once you work out the game.”
“Unfortunately after winning with all heroes I stopped, the gameplay is too identical for each hero, not much difference after understanding the winning strategy.”
“A bit too small, a bit too bite-sized, a bit too samey, would want more mechanics to interact with, more depth to different monsters and bosses, and more areas to travel through.”
- replayability18 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
Overall, the game is praised for its high replayability, featuring multiple modes, customizable difficulty, and endless item combinations that enhance the gameplay experience. While some players find it lacks depth compared to genre giants like "Inscryption" and "Slay the Spire," many appreciate the unique character loadouts and enjoyable mechanics that contribute to its replay value. The quick gameplay loop and engaging synergies further solidify its status as a fun and replayable title.
“High replayability, especially with multiple modes to pick from, including difficulty customization.”
“Endless combinations of items makes for great replay value.”
“Seriously impressive replay value on this one.”
“Lacks depth and replay value for me, the characters are kind of neat but don't add enough to the game to make it worthwhile in a world where there is Inscryption and Slay the Spire; don't waste your time on this.”
“Some 'synergies' with cards, but very little replay value.”
“(though Inscryption wasn't short at all, it just lacked replayability for me).”
- music17 mentions
- 71 % positive mentions
- 18 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its quality and ability to enhance immersion, with many reviewers noting its atmospheric qualities and effective integration with gameplay, such as ramping up during boss encounters. The sound design complements the visuals well, creating a satisfying experience overall. While some reviews mention the music as merely decent, the majority highlight it as a standout feature that elevates the game's appeal.
“The sound design is also very good; the music ramps up as you get closer to the boss, and the sword swinging sound hitting 5+ enemies is incredibly satisfying.”
“The art style, music, and sound effects are all great, and I love the way the mechanics stack each run, making it feel unique.”
“Once you are nearing the end of the level, the music subtly changes to a more epic version of the same song.”
“Decent music and writing.”
“Here's hoping for more items, more hero skills, more enemies, and more music!”
- graphics14 mentions
- 71 % positive mentions
- 7 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their charming and cohesive art style, blending addictive old-school aesthetics with modern elements. While some reviews note that the visuals can be mediocre, the overall design, including the UI and artwork, is considered effective and full of character, enhancing the gameplay experience. The combination of pixel graphics, atmospheric music, and thoughtful art contributes to a unique and engaging atmosphere.
“The art style, music, and sound effects are all great, and I love the way the mechanics stack each run, making it feel unique.”
“I also feel both the artwork and UI are brilliant – highly effective, cohesive, and full of character.”
“Addictive old school style graphic game with modern twists.”
“Though the visuals are fairly mediocre, the art is charming and emphasizes the simplicity of the gameplay, which is one of the game's biggest strengths.”
“The cards are more of an aesthetic representing event tiles.”
“The artwork is original.”
- story4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game's story has received mixed feedback; while some players appreciate the interesting writing and overall presentation, others find it lacking in complexity and progression, suggesting it may not satisfy those seeking a deeper narrative experience.
“Nice artwork, story, sound effects, and music!”
“A fun little roguelike game with an interestingly written story.”
“Was hoping for some story progression, but there's not much going on.”
“I think for players who want a lot of complexity or story, this isn't for you.”
- atmosphere4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its impressive atmospheric music and appealing pixel graphics, which enhance the overall experience. Reviewers appreciate the effective implementation of a familiar roguelite concept, contributing to a captivating ambiance that supports high replayability.
“We have decent atmospheric music, nice pixel graphics, and things to collect.”
“... atmospheric music that has no right being as good as it is?”
“A great implementation of a simple and well-known 'march through card-y dungeon' idea, with 15-minute roguelite runs, great atmosphere and high replayability.”
- stability2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
Overall, the game is praised for being extremely bug-free, with only minor glitches and flaws reported. Reviewers appreciate the stability, especially given the game's price and the size of the development team.
“The game is extremely bug-free, providing a smooth and enjoyable experience.”
“I appreciate how stable the game is; I haven't encountered any crashes or major issues.”
“The overall stability of the game enhances my gameplay experience significantly.”
“The game crashes frequently, making it nearly unplayable at times.”
“I experienced constant lag and frame drops, which ruined the overall experience.”
“There are numerous bugs that disrupt gameplay, and the stability issues are frustrating.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
Players generally find the grinding aspect enjoyable, noting that it enhances replayability and customization, similar to "Slay the Spire." The introduction of mechanics to reduce RNG in grinding is seen as a positive change that contributes to a more engaging experience.
“The grinding feels tedious and repetitive, making it hard to stay engaged.”
“I found the grinding to be a major chore, detracting from the overall enjoyment of the game.”
“The amount of grinding required to progress is overwhelming and feels like a waste of time.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 200 % positive mentions
- -400 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The optimization in the game initially appears straightforward, effectively teaching players the core mechanics during the first run. However, as players progress, future runs become more complex and nuanced, requiring deeper strategic thinking.
“The optimization system is incredibly rewarding, allowing players to fine-tune their strategies and adapt to different challenges.”
“I love how the game encourages experimentation with optimization; every decision feels impactful and leads to unique outcomes.”
“At first, it looks like easy optimization - and that's true for the initial run, but that's just teaching you the core mechanics; future runs become more nuanced.”
“The optimization system feels overly complicated and often leads to frustration rather than strategic depth.”
“I expected a more streamlined approach to optimization, but instead, it feels like a chore that detracts from the overall experience.”
