App Army Assemble: A Kindling Forest – “Is this auto-runner meets shooter a must-play?”

In simple terms, Kindling Forest combines auto-running and shooting in an aesthetically pleasing format. Our critic, Jack, was quite impressed, particularly with the feature where ammunition doubles as health. However, we’re curious to know if our App Army shares the same sentiment. So, we gave them the game to test and see what they think.

Here’s what they said:

Swapnil Jadhav

The game is an auto-runner meets shooter with innovative controls. The designer has clearly spent a lot of time perfecting this. However, the best thing for me is the art style, although equally, the slow-motion shooting is next level. Overall a fantastic game. 5-stars.

Oksana Ryan

This is a perfect example of an endless runner. As with most games in this genre, I took a few short runs before fully getting the hang of it but once I mastered it, my runs got longer. There are various areas to run through and different enemies to conquer alongside objects to shoot down. The graphics are cute and colourful and gameplay is easy to pick up and master. There’s nothing new to the endless runner genre but with that said, it’s still fun to play.

Jason Rosner

The Kindling Forest is an auto-running side-scroller that takes what we love about the genre, and the simplified gameplay and does so with really great care. In some ways, The Kindling Forest kept giving me vibes of the great The Pathless. While the two games have obvious differences, the really beautiful natural environments to the tight precision arrow combat are something that really make it feel unique and special compared to many others.

In this game, you’re faced with a choice: utilize the arrows you pick up as you progress to navigate obstacles and foes, or save them. These arrows influence your health, so each time you use one, your life total decreases. Fortunately, there are checkpoints scattered throughout that can ease some of the tougher challenges associated with advancing further. I particularly appreciated the epic boss battles, which looked fantastic due to their sharp, stylish graphics. It’s been a while since I encountered a game that offers both simplicity and depth, making it difficult to stop playing, all for less than a dollar.

Robert Maines

A Kindling Forest is a good-looking runner. You’ve been resurrected by the forest spirits to fight an old foe. As you move from left to right you can jump and shoot arrows at obstacles and enemies. Time slows down as you pull your bow to make aiming easier. Collecting spirits and shooting targets increases your life force but also acts as your ammo supply, you won’t get far shooting with wild abandon.

This game offers an enjoyable visual and auditory experience, and it’s quite engaging to play. However, the downside is that when you die, you have to return to the starting level, which can be inconvenient. Although you can scroll through completed levels, it’s still a nuisance.
The game also becomes challenging rather swiftly, and if your energy levels are low, you won’t survive for long. Despite its frustrating aspects, this is a solid game that stands out among many runners because it does have an ending. In summary, I recommend giving it a try.

Eduard Pandele

A great auto-runner with a few novel mechanics, “A Kindling Forest” is clearly worth the dollar it asks for. The gameplay is simple – jump and shoot your way through a forest filled with obstacles. What makes it great is that your life bar and your stack of arrows are basically the same, which leads to very interesting decisions in later and more complex levels. The controls are very simple and well done – tap on the left side of the screen to jump, tap and hold and move on the right side of the screen to charge and aim your bow, lift your finger to release the bow and shoot your arrow (relax, it’s way easier than it sounds) and I loved the variety of gameplay mechanics derived from them.

In this game, you’ll find various targets: hit them to gain additional ammunition, collide with obstacles to eliminate them, aim at trees to cause them to grow branches serving as extra pathways to traverse, and strike crystals for teleportation options. Each level offers a unique challenge that may slightly alter your strategy to conquer it. I particularly appreciated the game’s concise levels, allowing for quick play sessions whenever you have some spare time. The art is simplistic, but it doesn’t detract from the enjoyable and addictive gameplay experience. By purchasing this game, you’re supporting a developer who opted against intrusive ads every 30 seconds.

Mark Abukoff

I’m kind of a hard sell on endless runners- partly because I’m not good at many of them. But also because by their nature they can be pretty linear and predictable. They just get harder, lol. But this game is a winner. I like using a limited supply of arrows to clear a path ahead. I found myself jumping when I could to save an arrow (because arrows=life), and getting a few arrows back now and then. I like the obstacles that can still hurt you after you shoot them. I like the slow-motion-to-aim feature. I like the aesthetic of this game. Really, this is a standout example of an endless runner. And for 99 cents! Buy it!

Jim Linford

From what I’ve played, the game is more of an auto-scroller than a runner. To make things more challenging your life is also tied into your ammo. Each arrow you fire drains your life by one. Hitting an enemy takes more (around 5). When it reaches Zero you die. You start the game with 20. Hitting targets & killing collecting glowing orbs. Allows you to refill your ammo/life.

At certain moments, the benefits outweigh the dangers, but when you encounter a spot where you’re required to leap over barriers and your sole option is to fire, there’s a high risk of being eliminated. The visuals are appealing with hand-drawn art and smooth animations, while the music is enchanting.

The boss battles are exceptional, making the game feel more like an adventure rather than just a long-distance runner where you keep going as far as possible. Unlike many auto-scrollers I’ve played, this one offers a clear mission and narrative, adding an interesting twist. While most other auto-scrollers are about escaping from something and going as far as you can, this one provides a purpose and a tale.

Occasionally, if an arrow unintentionally gets loaded and prepared for release, there’s no option to cancel or abort the shot. Additionally, you cannot aim backward. Having the ability to shoot slightly behind you when targets are below would be advantageous, particularly during instances where you can only aim within a semi-circular range.

On a more personal level, I’m finding myself in a tough spot as I’ve run out of ammo/health and it’s causing me some frustration. However, I believe I can push through this challenge. I thought the game would be an enjoyable auto-scroller, but it seems to have a Dark Souls-like difficulty, which might appeal to those who enjoy a good challenge. If you’re one of those people, then you should definitely give this game a try. It’s on the edge of being just one more attempt before victory, and I would recommend it.

Naail Zahid

Oh boy, another auto-runner! Now that I got that out of my system, it’s a very good one. The graphics may not be stunning, but what’s there is pleasing to the eyes. Very simple controls and gameplay mechanisms – touch the left part of the screen to jump, hold to dash, and right side of the screen to aim your “arrow life”, because your arrows are literally your health bar as well.

This game features a risk versus reward mechanic, allowing players to decide whether to fire an arrow or dodge obstacles to preserve their arrow health. It’s the kind of game that can be picked up occasionally when you’re feeling bored or on trips, as it doesn’t become frustrating due to its challenges. Overall, it’s a delightful auto-runner game, considering its affordable price.

Torbjörn Kämblad

Autorunners has always been a genre fitting very well to the smaller screen. Ever since Canabalt was released back in the day I have had an inclination to play them. A kindling forest features an archer moving from left to right. You have to jump to collect energy that converts into arrows and shoot obstacles/enemies in your path.

As a fan, I appreciate the game’s feature that allows me to restart from earlier levels based on the number of arrows I’ve accumulated up until the point of game over. This is particularly appealing because it means I don’t have to start all over again when my archer character meets an unfortunate end. The controls are perfectly tuned, and I love the bullet-time slowdown effect when aiming, making the gameplay experience smooth and enjoyable. Overall, this auto-runner game is a neat little gem that I find quite engaging.

Chad Jones

A Kindling Forest is an Auto-runner that’s easy enough to play but takes time and dedication to master. It shows you the basics and you take it from there. Don’t feel too bad if you don’t 3-star the 1st level, it took me several tries to figure it out. It’s very atmospheric and the graphics/sound/controls complement it well. Fantastic game that I will be working at for quite some time.

Daniel Steinbrecher

A game that reminds me of Ori, Mark of the Ninja, or any other twin-stick shooter you can think of. You’re awakened from the dead and fighting with your life energy through arrows to shoot archery targets, flying enemies, and surroundings. Everything that is coloured red has to be defeated or cut off to pass. And even if you shoot at something you have to ensure you don’t hit the shattered pieces (stumps) on the ground. Every hit costs life energy.

This is an engaging auto-runner with twin-sticks that occasionally slows down to catch you off guard if you’re not focusing. The graphics, controls, and sound are superb. At just 99 cents, it’s a steal for portable gaming sessions filled with skill-based challenges! Be quick on your feet – dash, jump, aim, and shoot your way to victory, but be careful where you step!

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2025-01-23 20:18