Forager | PC, PS4, Switch | 2D open world farming and crafting!

Last edited by jawafour on Mon Jul 29, 2019 7:42 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Detail

Title Forager
Format PC, PS4, Switch
Launch April 2019 (PC), 30 Jul 2019 (PS4, Switch - digital download), Sep 2019 (PS4, Switch - physical)
Developer HopFrog
Publisher Humble Bundle

Cover artwork

Background

Forager is a 2D open world game inspired by your favorite exploration, farming and crafting games.

- Gather, collect and manage resources.
- Craft useful items & structures.
- Build and grow a base out of nothing. Buy land to expand and explore.
- Level up and learn new skills, abilities, and blueprints.
- Solve puzzles, find secrets and raid dungeons!
- Achieve anything you want! The choice is yours, you set your own goals to work towards!

Start small and improve your base, skills, equipment, network of friends (and enemies!) and build your future as you see fit!

Screens / Artwork

Links
> Official website: Click

Videos

> Announcement trailer

I recall seeing this game in the Nintendo Indie Highlights video back in January and I thought it looked pretty neat. I've since checked out a few more vids and I really like the look of it. The vid above gives a flavour of the gameplay; you collect, craft, expand and battle! It probably won't get too much focus but I think this could be a great wee game.

Looks pretty good although the combat aspect is probably a bit too hectic for me.

I can just about manage the small amount of combat in Stardew Valley as its fairly sedate but even then I still end up getting killed far too often.

Ironhide wrote:Looks pretty good although the combat aspect is probably a bit too hectic for me...

From what I've read / watched, I think the game is pretty chilled, Ironhide, with the battling parts hopefully not too taxing. I think I'm gonna download the Switch version tomorrow so I'll let you know :-) .

Had my eye on this since the Nindie presentation also, still looks good. I'll wait for the physical in September I think

OrangeRKN wrote:...I'll wait for the physical in September I think

I was kinda wondering about this, too... but the eShop price is £17.99 (and I have some Gold coin credit) whilst the cart version is gonna be around £24.99. Think I'll go digital for this one!

Ooh, I've just seen this, but I'm still working on DQ Builders 2. Do I or don't I? Ah, who am I kidding. I've already bought it. If it was available to buy, I would have, anyway.

It's been out for about three hours now, and I'm having fun with it. Died once, but that has little impact on progression. You just get sent to the start screen, jump back in, and still have everything you worked for before dying. Now for some more foraging.

DarkRula wrote:It's been out for about three hours now, and I'm having fun with it. Died once, but that has little impact on progression. You just get sent to the start screen, jump back in, and still have everything you worked for before dying. Now for some more foraging.

I just watched a couple of Forager vids on YouTube, DR. It looks neat; early feedback suggests that it runs well albeit with some slowdown in dungeon areas. I'm hoping to get this during this evening!

I held off from this as I wanted to check out a few reviews of the Switch version. Nintendo Life has given it 9/10, commenting:

Every now and then, a game comes along that captures our hearts and reminds us why we love the medium in the first place. Forager is the latest in a line of stellar independent games to grace the Switch, featuring wonderfully designed crafting mechanics, addictive progression systems and more charm than you can possibly handle. It has very minor drawbacks, and its longevity will ultimately depend on how comprehensive its upcoming DLC will prove to be. Nonetheless, there's enough good stuff present here for us to confidently declare that Forager is a game all Switch owners should look into adding to their collection.

+ Brilliant crafting mechanics
+ Charming visuals and presentation
+ Incredibly addictive and engaging
- Some clumsy design choices

Edit: The game is driving a variety of opinions! Nintendo World Report decided on 6.5 and Destructoid on 8.

twitter.com/jawafour/status/1157960252941189120

twitter.com/jawafour/status/1157973116787671040

I jumped aboard and - oh boy! - this is great fun :-) . I've played for one hour and my initial impressions are:

+ My eyes are really digging the cutesy pixel graphics
+ My ears are loving the cool, laidback musical tunes
+ My brain is enjoying the addictive forage-build-grow cycle

It's simple to pick up, there are no stress-inducing timers, it has an addictive gameplay loop and the core mechanics are built up and expanded over time. Early days, of course, but it's lovely!

I've realised that, although it's a pretty chilled game, you're always on the move. Like, non-stop! There are always things popping up and you compulsively feel that you have to go forage. Just made a cooking pot and had some sushi :toot:

.

You've obviously done things differently to me, as I was too busy trying to get those skills that'd increase my monetary value and XP gains. In fact, I don't even think I've got the cooking skill yet, despite owning more than half of the skills.

Also, some of these puzzles are just... what do I do?

DarkRula wrote:...Also, some of these puzzles are just... what do I do?

I'm now at a stage where juggling inventory is the challenge! I gotta build a bigger backpack... but freeing space in my current inventory is tricky.

I also found a treasure chest and made a key to open it. Then discovered the tree house building! I'm donning some "nerdy shades" and have a fish outfit, too :lol:

.

I have now died a few times... the jellies have arrived. It's odd that you get chucked back to the intro screen when you die... and this can happen a couple of times if you're surrounded by a few jellies.

Really enjoying this. I had hoped it'd be neat and I want to play a lot more. Also opened up the bonus story about the game development... and I then got something stuck in my eye :oops:

.

twitter.com/jawafour/status/1158300934323105794

I have since expanded to five additional areas :-)

.

twitter.com/jawafour/status/1158306716619984896

Confirmation that the "nerdy glasses" are badass.

You can use the right stick to quickly dodge out of the way of things, and you'll probably want to invest in the skill to unlock vaults if you need more space.

DarkRula wrote:You can use the right stick to quickly dodge out of the way of things...

Ah! I wasn't aware of this, DR... thanks, I will give it a go in a bit. I have the "medium" backpack now, allowing four additional inventory slots, which helps.

DarkRula wrote:...and you'll probably want to invest in the skill to unlock vaults if you need more space.

Vaults? Hmmn... I don't believe I've discovered those yet but they sound interesting!

I gained the "Game Boy" outfit, too :-) .

I've crafted a few "mining posts" - those things that automatically zap and collect stuff within a radial area. They're ace. But... I placed one on an island that has tombstones on it. Big mistake. I got myself into a situation where tons of skeletons spawned (i.e. from the auto-zapped tombstones) and, in trying to kill them, I got into a loop of hit-die-repeat. Literally died about thirty times.

I've now managed to destroy the bridge to the area so the skeletons can't cross over to other areas. Should I leave it like this or go in and try to destroy the mining post? I don't know!

If you have any weapons, it might be better to try and clear them all out. Better yet if you have any ranged weapons, as you won't have to rebuild the bridge to clear them out.

DarkRula wrote:If you have any weapons, it might be better to try and clear them all out. Better yet if you have any ranged weapons, as you won't have to rebuild the bridge to clear them out.

Thanks, DR. I tried using the bow ( it worked well, despite losing a few arrows whilst learning how the aim function works!) and I now have the bone shovel (which seems tougher) as well as upgrading my attack speed (metal hands!).

Man, the gameplay loop is so addictive. For me, it has the potent mix of simple gameplay and continuous new stuff appearing. Ten hours in, I feel that this is the new game that I've most enjoyed this year.

twitter.com/jawafour/status/1160328383797944320

This game

. You start off pretty weedy but, over time and bit-by-bit, you evolve into an angel of death :nod:

.

I've had the game for a week now and plugged in over 15 hours; almost unheard of for me. It's so dang addictive and I think that's down to the mix of simple gameplay, tight controls, good tech performance and continuous reward.

I'd wondered on Thursday but now I know for sure; this is my personal Game of the Year so far in 2019.

Forager | PC, PS4, Switch | 2D open world farming and crafting!

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