Sons of the Forest is a horror-survival game in which players must discover the secrets of a mysterious island, and survive its mutant inhabitants. The title was the most wish-listed game on Steam, which led its release to become a major gaming event. With a vast island to explore, effective scares, and a complex building system, Sons of the Forest was very well received by fans. The case could be made for an even scarier experience, and with the title having not yet been released on consoles, its next iteration could deliver a much more immersive experience. The PS5, in particular, could be a complete game-changer for Sons of the Forest, as its unique features allow players to experience multiple levels of immersion.
Sons of the Forest is a sequel to 2018's The Forest, by indie developer Endnight Studios. Players are dropped on an island and tasked with finding a missing billionaire, Eric Puffton, and surviving the cannibal-infested landscape. The players' main objective is to locate the GPS tags of missing operatives, indicated on the map as purple points, and search all known locations of Mr. Puffton. However, a much darker mystery begins to take form, and players soon find themselves up against a greater threat. While its horror elements were effective, additional features provided by consoles could take the title to the next level.
The PS5 Could Offer Sons of the Forest Players Varying Degrees of Horror
The PS5 features a host of unique and immersive features, each of which could elevate horror ports on the platform. The DualSense controller features adaptive triggers and various levels of haptic feedback, which could provide Sons of the Forest players with a nice boost to immersion. Combat, building, traversal, and crafting could all feature a unique "feel", with the feedback and triggers working in tandem to make materials and weapons feel unique. In addition, interactions with Kelvin could be given a nice personal touch, as players are able to feel contact, such as high-fives, made between Kelvin and the player character.
The Dualsense controller provides players with a nice base level of immersion, but those looking for a fully immersive experience could find it in the potential combination of the PSVR2 and PULSE 3D Wireless headset. In fact, Sons of The Forest would be a perfect game for PSVR2, as players spend a significant amount of time crafting items and fighting enemies from a first-person vantage point. Both types of gameplay are heavily utilized in Horizon: Call of the Mountain to great effect, and could be even more effectively implemented under the constraints of a survival game. Were players to wear a PULSE 3D Wireless Headset, the VR version would become much more menacing, as players could hear the terrifying creatures that lurk in the brush, caves, bunkers, and open landscapes of the island.
Sons of the Forest Could Come to PS5 Later this Year
Sons of the Forest's release gave The Forest a huge boost in sales on PlayStation, indicating that a port of the title would be welcomed by fans. However, Sons of the Forest is still technically in its early access period, with a full release planned between June and August 2023. In that time, it is possible that additional features and implementations could be developed for use with the PS5's immersive features. However, there is currently no indication of when or how the title will arrive on the console.
Since its release on Steam, Sons of the Forest has received consistent updates, adding outfits, an action cam, and an electric unicycle to the game. By the time it exits Early Access, Sons of the Forest will likely be an even better experience for survival fans. Together with the PS5's unique features, the title's port could become the best way to experience it. Until the Early Access period concludes, console fans will need to wait patiently for more details.
Sons of the Forest is currently out in Early Access for PC.