The Forest Quartet
- December 8, 2022
- Mads & Friends
Get on Steam
Get on PS Store"The Forest Quartet" is a narrative-driven adventure game where players uncover the secrets of a mysterious forest through the eyes of four different characters. With a focus on exploration, puzzle-solving, and character development, players will delve into the rich lore and history of the forest while forming bonds with the unique inhabitants they encounter. The game boasts stunning visuals and an original soundtrack, creating an immersive and atmospheric experience.
Reviews
- The Forest Quartet features stunning visuals and a beautiful soundtrack that enhances the emotional experience of the game.
- The game tells a heartfelt and poignant story about loss and grief, making it a touching experience for players.
- Gameplay is simple and relaxing, allowing players to enjoy the narrative without the frustration of challenging puzzles.
- The game is very short, typically taking only 1 to 1.5 hours to complete, which may leave some players wanting more content.
- Puzzles are overly simplistic and lack challenge, making the gameplay feel more like filler than a core component of the experience.
- Some players found the narrative to be rushed and lacking depth, which diminished the emotional impact of the story.
- story73 mentions
- 48 % positive mentions
- 48 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The Forest Quartet presents a poignant and heartfelt narrative centered around a jazz band grappling with the loss of a member, exploring themes of grief, self-doubt, and healing. While the game features simple puzzles, its strength lies in its emotional storytelling, beautiful music, and atmospheric visuals, making it a touching experience for those seeking a meaningful, albeit short, story. However, some players feel that the storytelling could have been more engaging and that the gameplay elements serve primarily as filler.
“The Forest Quartet is a beautiful, heartfelt game that tells a touching and bittersweet story about friends coping with the loss of a dear friend.”
“The Forest Quartet offers a special experience by telling a story of sorrow, grief, and loss, dealing also with topics such as depression and self-doubt.”
“A charming story that you should experience.”
“The story is short and more could have been done with the puzzles, which are not very challenging and too repetitive in style.”
“I don't like writing negative reviews for indie titles, but I really don't think the story was told well.”
“There were some parts of the game that I enjoyed; it has a compelling tragedy as a group of musicians lost a lead singer and their passion for playing music, but I feel like too much of this game is 'giving' you a story right away, and not letting you discover it. There is no mystery, there is no suspense; it's more of a healing experience for the characters - the grief is the only thing that has to make an emotional connection, and for me, it wasn't enough to carry the entire game.”
- music63 mentions
- 49 % positive mentions
- 46 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its stunning quality, emotional depth, and ability to enhance the overall atmosphere, with many reviewers highlighting the beautiful soundtrack and voice performances. While the music serves as a central element of the narrative, some players felt that the gameplay itself did not match the high standards set by the audio experience. Overall, the combination of great music, sound design, and visuals creates a captivating and relaxing experience, making it a worthwhile play for music lovers.
“The audio and music are stunning, as are the voice performances, which add so much emotion to the experience.”
“The soundtrack and audio is phenomenal, which definitely contributes to the atmosphere and emotions.”
“Beautiful game with a gorgeous soundtrack.”
“The narrative, and ultimately, music wasn’t inspiring enough to recommend a playthrough, even at the sale price.”
“Doesn't matter that pretty much everything else (music, story, art style, etc.) is done really well; the game portion of this game isn't good, so can't recommend.”
“The only thing I miss is a longer concert at the end with maybe 2 more songs or so.”
- gameplay31 mentions
- 35 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The gameplay is primarily focused on narrative and emotional themes, revolving around the character Nina reuniting her band for a final concert. While the mechanics are simple and intuitive, they often feel shallow and lack challenge, serving more as a means to convey the story rather than providing a satisfying gameplay experience. Overall, the game is appreciated for its aesthetic and storytelling, but many players feel it falls short in delivering engaging gameplay.
“The gameplay centers around the spirit of the singer, Nina, getting the band back together for a final concert.”
“You travel through three chapters, each featuring different mechanics and conversations with the band members.”
“The music was also woven into the gameplay in masterful ways; the angry banging of drums and lonely piano tune stood out as the antithetical sounds to a quartet in need of orchestration.”
“Not enough narrative; the gameplay itself feels too much like padding for what would be an extremely short game otherwise.”
“Yet, gameplay is shallow, puzzles too simplistic and could be better integrated into the plot.”
“The only negative side of it was the amount of gameplay; I wish there was more storytelling and more about each band member.”
- emotional28 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of "The Forest Quartet" is widely praised for its heartfelt and bittersweet narrative centered on friends coping with the loss of a loved one, particularly through the lens of a jazz quartet. Players appreciate the game's ability to evoke deep feelings of grief and healing, enhanced by beautiful visuals and music, although some felt the storytelling could be more engaging and less direct. Overall, it is regarded as a touching, immersive experience that resonates strongly with those who appreciate emotional storytelling in games.
“The Forest Quartet is a beautiful, heartfelt game that tells a touching and bittersweet story about friends coping with the loss of a dear friend.”
“It's a beautiful and heartwarming puzzle about losing someone dear.”
“Completely immersive, utterly absorbing, incredibly touching exploration of the manifestations of grief.”
- graphics23 mentions
- 52 % positive mentions
- 35 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The game's graphics are widely praised for their beauty, artistic aesthetics, and atmospheric lighting, creating a captivating visual experience that enhances the overall ambiance. While some players noted occasional lag and expressed a desire for more engaging gameplay, the combination of unique art styles, effective use of light and shadow, and a melancholic sound design contribute to a relaxing and emotionally evocative atmosphere. Overall, the visuals are considered a standout feature, making the game enjoyable for those who appreciate aesthetic and narrative experiences.
“I have no words to explain just how beautiful this game is, the visuals are perfect!”
“Great axonometric 3D graphics with a dark color palette and atmospheric lighting conditions.”
“The graphics are a wonderful balance of weird, like the pulsating organisms, and charming, such as the anxiety monsters running away from you but curiously approaching again when they hear the tone of the voice.”
“Although the graphics are well done (dark, dramatic, and atmospheric), I got bored with it.”
“Doesn't matter that pretty much everything else (music, story, art style, etc.) is done really well; the game portion of this game isn't good, so I can't recommend it.”
“I mean, as an aesthetic/narrative experience, I think you did a decent job, but I think you didn't take all of the opportunities with the gameplay and the visuals that you created. There are so many games on Steam that are all about the experience, and so many of them are more compelling; I wanted to get more out of it.”
- atmosphere16 mentions
- 63 % positive mentions
- 19 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of "The Forest Quartet" is highly praised for its poignant and surreal qualities, enhanced by exceptional voice acting, a phenomenal soundtrack, and visually stunning graphics. Reviewers note the game's ability to evoke deep emotional responses related to grief and psychological states, creating a dreamlike experience that encourages reflection. While some found the gameplay simplistic, the overall ambiance and artistic presentation make it a worthwhile experience for those seeking a somber adventure.
“If you're looking for a poignant, atmospheric story to enjoy in one sitting, especially if you're in a reflective or somber mood, The Forest Quartet is definitely worth trying.”
“The soundtrack and audio are phenomenal, which definitely contributes to the atmosphere and emotions.”
“Visually it's gorgeous with an amazing axonometric, eerie world, strong surreal atmosphere, and smooth animations.”
“It has a lonely, peculiar, kind of surreal atmosphere.”
“Visually it's gorgeous with an amazing axonometric, eerie world, strong surreal atmosphere and smooth animations.”
“I took my time with this little gem, purely so I could absorb the atmosphere, style, and most importantly - the music.”
- optimization3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is praised for its stunning audio and music, complemented by realistic and emotional voice performances that enhance the overall experience. Players appreciate how these elements contribute to the game's immersive atmosphere.
- replayability3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- -67 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game offers limited replayability due to its short length and lack of additional content, with most players completing it in 60 to 90 minutes. However, it compensates for this with an engaging story that provides a thought-provoking experience, akin to watching a well-crafted film.
“Not a long game, but it offers a really well-crafted experience that is worth your time to immerse yourself in, much like a good film.”
“The game has a captivating story that encourages you to think about various interesting concepts, even if there aren't many puzzles and limited replay value.”
“In reality, there are no more than ten puzzles and there is no replay value, but it does provide an engaging story that can lead you to think about several interesting things.”
“The game is very short; I would say 60 to 90 minutes with no replay value or collection content.”
“Not a long game, not much replayability, but a really well-crafted experience that is worth your time being immersed in, like a good film.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Users find the grinding aspect of the game tedious and frustrating, likening it to a confusing and repetitive task that detracts from the overall experience.
- humor1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by its silliness, with players finding amusement in tricking the characters, which adds a lighthearted and entertaining element to the gameplay.
“They are incredibly silly, and tricking them feels funny.”
“The humor in the game is absolutely delightful and keeps me laughing.”
“I love the witty dialogue and the absurd situations that make every moment entertaining.”
