Horror games often sport a variety of enemies to keep gameplay fresh and fun, with each enemy type equipped with unique skill sets to throw different tactics at players.The Forestwas especially memorable for its creepy monstrosities, and the title’s sequel,Sons of the Forestfollows in its footsteps by offering an array of mutants to amplify the horror effects of the island. While the game’s main nemesis remains the unnervingly intelligent native cannibals,Sons of the Forest’s use of so many mutants is a double-edged sword for the title. However, the blood-curdling creatures have enough flair about them to take center stage in the game.
Sons of the Forest’s salesnumbers tell the story of a warm reception in the days following the title’s release in early access, with fans and critics quick to note the areas of vast improving strides the franchise has made from the days ofThe Forest. While there are still areas for Endnight Games to add some polish in the new title, the gameplay has been enjoyable so far, with the cannibals and mutants giving players a tough time traveling through the peninsula’s map in their quest to survive the harsh conditions. Encounters with mutants leave players wanting more, andSons of the Forest’s dynamism gives the franchise a dilemma regarding player satisfaction.
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Sons of the Forest’s Mutants Should Feature More
Endnight Games populatedSons of the Forest’s mapwith a slew of mutant types for players to test their survival skills against, retaining the core ideas that constitutedThe Forestwith updated concepts. A few of these villains featured in the original game - such as Mutant Babies and Virginia, reappeared inSons of The Forest, although the updated mutants had some characteristics that differed from the previous edition. Virginia, for instance, has only three arms and legs compared to the six the multi-limbed mutant sported inThe Forest, also maintaining its humanity in contrast to its soulless ancestor.
The survival concept remains the same, with the island’s cannibals still the main staple of the franchise, and fans will spend most of their playtime devising the best crafting methods to foil the plans of the eerily-intelligent flesh-eating antagonists. Alongside the threat of becoming cannibal fodder are the mutants, and the twist in gameplay these mutants provide could distract players fromSons of the Forest’s main horror experience. It’s not often that characters intended as side attractions take center stage, but the variety of mutant types on offer and their unique abilities in battle have catapulted mutants into the limelight.
The newAI system featured inSons of the Foresthas revamped the franchise’s mutant mechanics, equipping the creatures with abilities to outthink players tactically. Found in remote caves across the peninsula during sojourns of the game’s expanded open-world map, the mutants' unique abilities make their chance encounters with players more exciting than regular clashes with cannibals, and fans could be disappointed with how rarely these high-stake run-ins happen in the game.
The improved AI system also enhanced the cannibals' abilities, but due to the frequency of face-offs between these enemies and players, their effect is lessened compared to those of the mutants. In the case ofSons of the Forest, the mutants' allure to gamers lies in the thrill of figuring out the most effective means of combating the creatures, taking factors like the dynamic seasons system into account. SinceSons of the Forestreleased in Early Access, with patches scheduled to improve the title’s gameplay, the developer could further upscale the appearances of mutants to pacify players.
Sons of the Forestis now available in Early Access for PC.
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