The Forest of Doom
- October 30, 2014
- Tin Man Games
- 2h median play time
Get on Steam"The Forest of Doom" is a PC, Mac, and Linux game based on the classic tabletop RPG. As the player, you must find the missing pieces of the Hammer of Stonebridge to protect the villagers of Stonebridge from an ancient doom. With updated graphics and physics-based dice rolling, this game brings the original adventure to life with auto-mapping, auto-updated adventure sheets, and stat keeping. The game's standalone edition features a theme suited to the adventure and is also available as part of the Fighting Fantasy gamebook collection.
Mac OS
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Reviews
- The game captures the nostalgic essence of the original Fighting Fantasy book, providing a faithful adaptation with enhanced graphics and sound.
- The inclusion of achievements and an in-game map adds replayability and helps players navigate the story more easily.
- The interactive storytelling and dice-rolling mechanics create an engaging experience for fans of choose-your-own-adventure books.
- The game can feel overly reliant on random chance, leading to frustrating encounters where success is largely determined by dice rolls rather than player skill.
- Some players found the game too short and lacking in depth, with limited content for the price, making it feel less like a full game and more like a brief experience.
- Technical issues, such as bugs and a lack of options for adjusting sound, detract from the overall enjoyment of the game.
- story30 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the game is generally appreciated for its engaging, adventure-driven narrative that evokes nostalgia for classic D&D-style tales, though opinions vary on its depth and originality. While some players find the story simple yet effective, others criticize it as bland and lacking in complexity, with a few noting that the gameplay's reliance on player choices adds a layer of challenge. Overall, the experience is described as enjoyable, particularly for fans of interactive storytelling, despite some concerns about its brevity and predictability.
“If you enjoy reading books and having an adventure at the same time with a great story and beautifully drawn graphics, then you will enjoy this fighting fantasy book. It's a small price for many hours of reading and imagination.”
“The game really brought this story to life without sacrificing the character of the original book.”
“The play is simple, the format elegant, and the story as delightful as any choose-your-own-adventure could hope to be.”
“And if you strip away the interactive elements, the concept of choice, you're really just left with a middling (generously speaking) fantasy story.”
“The reality of this story is a cheesy, 80's-style D&D adventure.”
“If fighting fantasy was such an amazing series, perhaps minds will be blown when these fans read Joe Dever's works - most of his Lone Wolf CYOA books are available for free online (legit) with his permission, so there's no reason to be wasting money on what is a rather bland story and CYOA game here.”
- music19 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players appreciating its atmospheric qualities while others find it repetitive and off-putting. Many noted that the soundtrack, though thematically appropriate, is often too short or lacks variety, leading some to prefer playing with alternative music. Overall, while the production values are high, the music's impact varies significantly among players, with some opting to mute it entirely.
“The mood is set nicely by an epic-feeling, if overly short and looping, soundtrack.”
“The musical track is suitably atmospheric and doesn't outlive its welcome.”
“The game also has nice music and features the original artwork from the book, although in a colored version this time.”
“The music is a bit off-putting, but you can easily replace this by listening to something else while you play (tracks from the Witcher 2 soundtrack work well).”
“The music is extremely repetitive.”
“The music was an extreme annoyance to me as I was trying to read the book and concentrate on the narrative when the music is just blaring trumpets into my ears; I had to mute the music because it never stopped being loud.”
- graphics18 mentions
- 28 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game are praised for their blend of original black-and-white artwork and enhanced color versions, maintaining a nostalgic feel while appealing to modern aesthetics. Users appreciate the option to choose between old-school and enhanced graphics, as well as the inclusion of subtle animations that enrich the overall atmosphere without overshadowing the text-based gameplay. While some may find the simplicity lacking, many enjoy the high production values and the artistic integrity of the original illustrations.
“The original artworks are there, and it's simply brilliant.”
“All of the old artwork has been not only retained, but enhanced with color, and subtle animation.”
“The graphics and sound effects further enhance the atmosphere of the game, although they aren't obtrusive on what is simply a text-based game.”
“Although the book doesn't have many visuals on several other beasts, you could add custom visuals for the game itself.”
“Artwork was alright, music and sound were decent.”
- gameplay9 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by a mix of simplicity and randomness, with some players appreciating its straightforward, story-driven approach while others criticize the excessive broken mechanics and pointless randomness during fights. Despite these issues, the game successfully integrates RPG elements with a choose-your-own-adventure style, enhanced by updated visuals and sound that respect the original work. Overall, it offers a unique experience, though it may not satisfy all gamers due to its simplistic nature and occasional mechanical flaws.
“It's simple gameplay and graphics, which may not be good enough for some gamers, but I like the simplicity and story-driven gameplay.”
“Just as they did with 'House of Hell', Tin Man Games has lovingly updated the original—adding color, sound, and new features that enhance the gameplay experience without taking anything away from Ian Livingstone's groundbreaking original work.”
“+ innovative and simple fusion of RPG and choose-your-own-adventure gameplay elements.”
“There are too many absurd and random broken mechanics in this game to list.”
“The gameplay during fights is driven by too much pointless randomness.”
“Not for 2 hours of gameplay.”
- replayability5 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
Overall, the game offers moderate replayability, enhanced by achievements, randomized stats, and multiple paths that encourage different playthroughs. However, some players feel that the mechanics may make the game too easy, potentially diminishing the incentive to replay. Despite this, many still find it enjoyable enough to revisit.
“Still just as fun, with plenty of replayability.”
“Multiple paths and varying encounters give this game replayability.”
“Limited replayability, but you get what you pay for.”
“The achievements give it some replayability, but I feel the dice are loaded in the player's favor and give it a sense of 'easy mode'.”
“Randomized stats and some choice in starting gear early in the adventure add some replayability.”
- atmosphere4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is effectively captured through its tension and mystic elements, enhanced by a fitting soundtrack and sound effects that complement the text-based experience without being intrusive. While some may find the music forgettable, it is generally regarded as suitably atmospheric and contributes positively to the overall immersion.
“I played this in the 1980s and it captures a lot of the atmosphere and tension.”
“The soundtrack may be forgettable to some, but from my point of view, it does a good job in conveying the mystic atmosphere of the forest.”
“The graphics and sound effects further enhance the atmosphere of the game, although they aren't obtrusive on what is simply a text-based game.”
“The graphics and sound effects further enhance the atmosphere of the game, although they aren't obtrusive in what is simply a text-based game.”
“The game feels lifeless and lacks any real sense of immersion, making it hard to get invested in the story.”
“Despite the potential for a rich environment, the atmosphere feels flat and uninspired, leaving players disconnected from the experience.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players appreciate the optimization of the game on Steam, noting that it enhances the nostalgic experience by streamlining gameplay compared to traditional methods like pen, paper, and dice.
“It's just such a nostalgic trip, and an amazing feeling to play it on Steam - much more optimized compared to having to use pen, paper, and dice back then.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be boring and tedious, detracting from the overall enjoyment.
“The grinding in this game feels endless and monotonous.”
“I find the repetitive tasks to be incredibly dull and unengaging.”
“The amount of grinding required to progress is exhausting and takes away from the fun.”
- humor1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is generally appreciated, with players finding it funny and exciting, though some feel it may not justify a higher price point than 3 euros.
“A hilariously entertaining little game that keeps you laughing throughout!”
“The humor is spot on, making every moment enjoyable and light-hearted.”
“This game is packed with witty jokes and funny scenarios that never get old.”
