Recent reviews by MikeW

TL;DR
Amazing potential, the core of the game as well as the atmosphere makes it a canvas for perfection. Unfortunately it still feels like a beautiful canvas without painting on it. And while I love the forest, I can't wholeheartedly recommend sons of the forest before they add some paint to it's canvas. Therefore I recommend checking back on this game in 6 months - 1 years time, but I don't currently recommend spending $35 on the game.

The atmosphere and core gameplay show potential beyond what the forest had at the start of it's early access. However, this game was supposed to be a full release. The price reflects that. It has been released in a state unfit to even be called "close" to a full release.

The game lacks features and meaning. It's a survival game without the feel of survival, and the story elements feel incoherent and lackluster. It feels more like a watered down sandbox without enough to keep creative freedom rolling. So that's what I'm thinking. Not enough survival for survival. Not enough items related to building and decorating for sandbox.

The map is beautiful and big. But it feels like a genuine and real forest. That might sound good, but in gameplay terms that means it gets repetitious quickly. It also means you travel vast distances by foot with nothing to explore between point A and B but trees, bushes and lakes. Sure you get the occasional tribal camp. But with no variation between themselves but in size.

All in all, my conclusion is simple. The potential here is so grand that I have complete faith I'll be back to give this game a positive review in 1-2 years time, but I can't justify recommending this game as it is now, purely based on graphics and atmosphere.

If you enjoy games like surgeon simulator and farming simulator, look no further for your new simulator frenzy! New World is a very fleshed out queue simulator, it even has a side game at the "end" of queue, if you so happen to reach it (0,1% players has accomplished this feat, by looking at achievement %). The side game is definitely the high point of this simulator, coming from someone that has played WoW for years on years, this side game is refreshing and stunning. The side game could use some mounts, but I assume that will come eventually.

If you have time to burn or a computer that can handle having two games open at once, I'd recommend it. If not, I'd recommend waiting for when server character migrations are free.

I'm a video gamer lover, I am also a huge skeptic about early access releases. Fear not, for this game feels more polished than the finished releases we are used to today by miles and more! It is exciting, the atmosphere is great and they hit the music spot on! If you enjoy crafting, progressing through tiers and item ranks in seamless ways integrated into gathering, exploring and boss fighting, this is CERTAINLY the game for you. Every biome feels unique with their own challenges, dungeons, bosses, resources, mobs and traits.

I have never written a review on steam, but I was so taken aback by this game that I felt obliged to write one. Very often we hear about games with potential, well, this game is way past "potential" and to me has proven itself to be the ultimate survival game. If this was a full game with updates planned I wouldn't blink an eye.

10/10.

Very good and realistic feel, great game. 7/10