Forestrike preview — Preparation is key

It's no secret that I’m a big fan of rogue-likes and rogue-lites; it’s practically my beat at this point. From the top-down Vampire Survivors types to the more action-oriented 2D side scrollers and 3D games to turn-based deck builders, I’ve tried just about every genre. What can really separate the dopamine-pumping wheat from the samey chaff is a killer gameplay hook that’s backed up by in-run upgrades that capitalize on it, creating a unique experience. Forestrike, a martial arts inspired upcoming 2D sidescroller roguelike, fits that description to a tee.

The game’s plot is immediately intriguing, but not overbearing. Players step into the shoes of Yu, a martial artist trained to use “the Foresight,” a mental ability which allows him to practice fights before they happen. This power will serve you well on your journey to save the emperor, whom you and your fellow Foresight users are sworn to protect above all else. You see, the emperor’s court has fallen under the influence of a Machiavellian man known only as “The Admiral,” and it’s up to you to face him and save the emperor from his corruption.

Hopping into the gameplay, you start in The Countryside, the first of 4 zones, which you’ll fight through in stages. You’ll soon find yourself flanked by drunks, who have been sent to hinder your mission. This is where your special powers come in. Players can activate the Foresight to rehearse a fight as many times as they’d like before starting the real battle. In combat itself, use light attacks to dish out a quick jab and heavy kicks when you find a longer opening to deal out more substantial blows. Dodges allow you to avoid attacks if you have a charge remaining, possibly causing enemies to friendly fire. If an enemy has a dodge, you can trick them into dodging into their allies' punch. Blocking opens up recovering enemies to a swift counterattack. You can block if you have a block charge or if you’re holding an object like a table or broomstick, which will break upon use. Alternatively, just throw the object at the enemy to deal damage at range, disarm their block, or trigger their dodge. As you can see, there are many ways to outplay opponents, and just as many ways to outplay yourself. Remember, the Foresight is just a practice tool, so any minor tweak to the rehearsed battle can butterfly effect you into unknown territory. With uncertainty comes imperfection, and with imperfection comes attrition of your resources, leading to your defeat.

I would highly recommend getting in plenty of practice rounds, as losing the fight for real ends your run. You only have three hits' worth of health, and healing isn’t common, so perfection is key. Overcoming your opponents rewards you with a replay of your fight, with options to watch in slow motion, scrub through the fight, and pause at cool moments. You also gain a ‘fight code’, which allows you to share the battle with your friends. After winning a fight, you’ll move on to the next stage. Right now, it’s a linear process, but there are greyed-out areas implying more choice and branching paths for the full release.

One feature that helps Forestrike stand out in the sea of roguelikes is its in-run upgrades. It follows the typical pick-one-of-three system, but those three choices will fundamentally change how you approach a battle. Other rogue-likes will offer you the same generic elemental upgrades. You know what I mean: the fiery damage over time that increases in length, the chain lightning attack that gains bonus bounces, and the frigid crowd control ice attack, which, if the devs were feeling creative, will weaken enemy defenses. There’s nothing inherently wrong with these upgrades; they serve their “numbers go brrr” power fantasy role, but they do little to change the way you play the game.

On the other hand, Forestrike offers augmentations of your current move set that will transform your play style, keeping runs fresh. For example, the ‘peacekeeper technique’ is a passive ability that, when you’re attacked, disarms the assailant and gives you their weapon. Then there’s the ‘eye poke technique’ that turns enemies around when you strike them. Mix these in with your own dodges and blocks, as well as the enemies, and you get dynamic combat with plenty of twists and turns.

You can buy more techniques and upgrades for the ones you already have at shops, with coins that you gain at the end of every fight. Players have the option to complete side objectives to gain bonus coins. These are typically challenges like: win a fight without using a light attack, or win in 10 strikes. So, on top of the initial desire to conserve health, one might master a particular fight to gain bonus coins as well.

Players will eventually meet one of the masters of the Order of the Foresight, Talgun, who appears to guide you through a battle. Talgun is a stout old man with white hair, a long beard, and cloaked in a green, moss-like robe. His fighting technique, the peaceful Leaf style, is the one you start with, and it emphasizes evasion and using your opponent's attacks against them. There are currently only two masters in the game, the aforementioned Master Talgun with his Leaf style, and Master Nodai with his Cold Eye style. The latter is a tall, stern-faced man in a blue robe, with a headband covering his right eye. He visually fits the description of the combat style he teaches, with a personality to match. The Cold Eye style emphasizes taking hits like a tree trunk and dishing them back out like a truck, with blocks and retaliatory strikes being the name of the game. This style also turns your kick into a move where you throw your opponents into the air. There will eventually be five fighting styles, so we can count on three more masters making an appearance.

Forestrike’s pixelated art style is rich and varied. Progressing through the countryside zone felt like a treat for my eyes. The subdued hunter greens, oak browns, and slate greys of the environment help establish a natural tone. A more hand-drawn art style is an occasional treat used for character portraits, adding stylized detail to flesh out the models represented by stellar sprite work. The sound design is nothing to scoff at either. The sounds of punches landing and wooden furniture crashing down upon your opponent are violently satisfying, while the ambiance of wuthering dark storm clouds overhead and the calls of peepers and birds in the woods are relaxing.

I’m looking forward to the release of Forestrike quite a bit. The kinetic combat really feels like a puzzle that can be solved in various ways depending on your fighting style and upgrades. I appreciate how the game offers familiar rogue-like traits, yet is boldly its own entity. The release date for Forestrike is currently “to be announced.” For now, you can wishlist it and play the demo on Steam.