‘Sons of the Forest’ Boasts New AI Companion, Revamped Building Mechanics and More [Video]

Video Games

‘Sons of the Forest’ Boasts New AI Companion, Revamped Building Mechanics and More [Video]

If you were wondering about Endnight Games’ Sons of the Forest, you aren’t the only one. Even with the game’s delay last September, there hasn’t been much info coming from the developers about the sequel to 2018’s The Forest. Thankfully, that has changed with IGN’s hands-on preview, which delves into the game’s mechanics, which includes a new companion.

Much like the original game, in Sons of the Forest, you’re dropped into the middle of nowhere with the simple goal of surviving. While you can play Sons of the Forest with up to seven others, you also have the option to play the game solo. But unlike the first game, you’ve now got Kalvin. Described as an elite soldier who survived the helicopter crash that stranded you on the island, Kalvin will follow you around and respond to commands that you’ll access via a quick selects options on a notepad.

As you might expect, Kalvin can do things such as gather resources or defend. However, he’s not entirely a robot, and will at times require rest or water. He’ll also become less efficient if you treat him badly. You can also kill him, which would remove him from your game session, but would obviously leave you at a disadvantage in either the survival aspects, or at the mercy of the cannibals that roam the island.

Kalvin isn’t the only crafty AI you’ll encounter in Sons of the Forest. The enemy AI will prove to be crafty for players, depending on the type of enemy you encounter. Some will attack you outright, others will be keen to just stand back and observe your work. In fact, according to the developers, certain enemies in Sons of the Forest will demonstrate leadership qualities that can even influence the decisions of others.

Of course, the main focus of Sons of the Forest is survival. Meaning, you’ll be having to construct and maintain your shelter. Unlike in the first game, the construction tools have been revamped. You now have user-friendly, realistic presentations of what you build, rather than the blue building blocks found in the first game. Instead of just loading resources into a ghost version of the final product, you’ve now been given the freedom to place logs and sticks in the direction you like, allowing for complete customization of your structures.

Click on the link above to see what other improvements Endnight Games has in store for Sons of the Forest, which lands on February 23, 2023 for PC via Steam.

Video Games

Action Roguelike ‘Have a Nice Death’ Now Available on PC and Nintendo Switch [Trailer]

The wait is finally over for those looking to delve into the doldrums of Death, Inc. with Magic Design Studios’ Have a Nice Death, as the game has now left Early Access with a full launch on Steam and the Nintendo Switch via the Nintendo eShop. To mark the occasion, the developer has released the customary launch trailer for the hack ‘n’ slash action roguelike.

“All of us at Magic Design Studios are beyond ecstatic for all mortals to finally jump into the full game and join Death Incorporated,” said Simon Dutertre, Lead Game Designer at Magic Design Studios. “Development on Have a Nice Death has been incredible – from our big announcement at the Game Awards to releasing the game in Early Access — the support we’ve received means so much to us.”

For new Death Inc. recruits who need a quick refresher on the game, Have a Nice Death sees you assume the role of Death, leader of the underworld corporation responsible for processing souls in the afterlife. As a sprawling corporate empire, Death Inc. has many departments, with each department run by a powerful executive, known as a “Sorrow”. But unfortunately for you, as CEO of Death Inc., the Sorrows have been running rampant — leaving you with more work to do, so you’ll have to overcome their deadly abilities and show them who’s boss.

Getting the Sorrows and their minions under control, however, is a difficult task and will require multiple runs to complete. Luckily for you, you have an arsenal of over 70 weapons and spells, along with an array of powerful upgrades, you can find to get the job done.

You can check out the full list of updates to Have a Nice Death‘s 1.0 launch here.