Warrior Cats: Clans of the Forest is part of the beloved Warrior Cats book series that is filled with magic, drama, and wonderful cats. Therefore, I had high expectations as I loaded up this cat-filled RPG romp. Sadly, it doesn’t quite live up to expectations as the quests are far too repetitive, the combat is easy, and each playthrough is completed in no time. However, it is charming, and there are some customisation options. Accordingly, there might be enough to appease hardcore lovers of the franchise.
Bamtang Games is the developer, and Trailmark Games has published this 3rd person feline RPG. It is mainly a single-player title, but there are smatterings of online action. You may visit a friend’s den to give them a gift or help speed up crafting options. Alternatively, you can fight people online to prove your feline prowess. The action is split among the 4 clans, and players may visit sacred locations such as the Island and the Moonpool.
Warrior Cats: Clans of the Forest tells 4 unique stories.
Each of the clans has its story to tell and prophecy to fulfil. This is the story path for Warrior Cats: Clans of the Forest. You may pick from the ThunderClan, RiverClan, ShadowClan, and WindClan. Each has a tale to tell, but the core mechanics rarely change. Therefore, unless you are a long-time fan of the books, you will not buy into the fantasy moments.
The action focuses on many battles, fetch quests, and other simple ideas. As you explore the world, you must gather resources to complete side quests or exchange them for bigger and better things. Alongside this, the resources are used to create items for your den. Filling my den with unique items didn’t inspire me, but I can see why other gamers will adore this idea.
Fight, fight, fight.
As you leap chasms, climb trees, and move closer to each quest goal, you are expected to stalk and destroy an array of forest creatures. Dogs, badgers, snakes, mice, rats, and of course cats become your targets. Each one has a colour-coded system to highlight the difficulty of the battle. Unfortunately, this didn’t seem to matter too much as the red battles were inevitably as simple as the amber ones. Consequently, the turn-based fighting was rarely a struggle.
In typical turn-based style, the computer decides the order of attack. Once you know what is to be expected, you pick your attack approach from 4 different combat options. There are some minor tactical pros and cons with each selection, so this adds a small element of depth. However, I spent most of my time mindlessly selecting my favourite option while waiting for each fight to conclude. This was a shame as the fighting mechanics take up a huge percentage of the action.
Tepid quests.
Unfortunately, the mixture of core and side quests doesn’t make things much better. After you’ve been given your instructions, you are sent into the world to complete your objectives. As you move from the clan base towards your goal, you can chat to fellow clan members or rogue cats. This has a minor moral-based approach, but it isn’t enough to bolster the almost mind-numbing quests.
Side quests usually comprise requests to gather specific items. Alternatively, you may be asked to fight different creatures or complete several battles. Either way, it won’t push you. The core quest route revolves around defending your borders, scaring away threats, or saving a clan member from a fate worse than death. It is all very tedious, and I shut off to the inane action almost immediately.
Warrior Cats: Clans of the Forest has its problems.
Warrior Cats: Clans of the Forest has a colourful world that tries to add 3D elements to keep you entertained. There are trees to climb, gaps to jump, and a host of minor hunting objectives. Moreover, there are hidden areas filled with secrets. These are the major plus points for this game. However, there are bugs and glitches that are horrible to look at. Some of the cats appear to be hit in the face with a frying pan, and there were several moments where you can see through the map into the game’s framing. This was awful and something I didn’t expect from a modern game.
Where this shines is its soundscape. The music has a beautiful fantasy and folksy edge that transports you into the cat-inspired world. The blend of soft, slow tracks supports the melancholy and quieter moments. However, the fights and tougher moments are supported with upbeat and aggressive tunes. Although the sound effects weren’t as strong, they do a great job of enhancing the mediocre turn-based combat and exploration elements.
Clunky controls.
The bugs impact the control system. Sadly, if you mistime the sneak attack and there happens to be an obstacle in the way, you must wait for the cat to slowly navigate the obstruction before the game will continue. I sat and watched my phone for 10 minutes while my warrior edged slowly around a shrub! Other than this painful issue, the controls are easy to learn. The layout is intuitive, and much of the action is rudimentary and easy for gamers of all ages to understand.
The developer has incorporated 3 game modes to enhance longevity and replay value. Prophecy mode is effectively the core game and each clan’s story. Alongside this are Defender mode and Skirmish mode. The latter is an online multiplayer battle simulator. You’ll pick 3 of your best cats to take on global players and improve your ranking. Defender mode is an endurance challenge. Neither of the additional options was inspiring, and it would take an awful lot for me to return now that I’ve completed each clan story.
Warrior Cats: Clans of the Forest is disappointing.
To say that Warrior Cats: Clans of the Forest disappointed me is an understatement. I had high hopes when it was announced, but they were dashed almost immediately. The bugs and glitches can be patched out, but the lack of depth, mindless action, and repetitive gameplay cannot change. This was a shame, as it had masses of potential. Accordingly, I can not recommend it, but more information can be found here! Can you prove your worth and fulfil each prophecy? Pick your cat, listen to the elders, and become a clan hero.
