Sail Forth is a procedurally generated open-world sailing title for Nintendo Switch. In this game, you will sail the open ocean, search for treasure, fight pirates, catch fish and save the world. It certainly does a lot, but how well does it do it?
Let’s get this out of the way.sail force is many Like The Legend of Zelda The Wind Waker. It’s not just the fact that it’s an outing on the water. The visual style uses cel-shading graphics that are strongly reminiscent of Link’s classic sea outings. Considering how nice that particular adventure looks, it’s a comparison that lends itself to Sailforce’s advantage. Of course there is no link.
Instead, our protagonist is a person named Captain Toot. This cartoon swashbuckler meets various misfits on his journey. Some join his crew, others help and help him. These side quests offer a compelling quality that draws you into the world.
As for gameplay, the entire session is spent on the boat. No land-based Skulduggery here. Spend your days sailing between islands to meet interesting characters and complete tasks while fending off enemies and building your fleet. There’s also an underlying story to discover, including crystal shards and a lighthouse.
One of the most fun aspects of this title is shipbuilding. Every time you clean up wreckage or kill a pesky pirate, you’ll earn some planks. These wooden items act as currency when upgrading ships or adding ships to your fleet. Personalize your experience by naming your boat, decorating it, and customizing your weapons.
You’ll need these weapons to fend off randomly and violently attacking pirates. Shooting takes a little getting used to. Especially while maneuvering islands to avoid beaching. This has happened to me a few times but it respawns in the immediate vicinity. That said, it felt a little awkward. The cannons themselves have stats like reload time and damage dealt, so upgrading them is also important.
At the outset, I said that this is a procedurally generated adventure. This means your outing at sea will be unlike any other. Your adventure unfolds through discoverable locations on the map. There are a lot of backtracks and sailing between them is a bit tedious. Thankfully, a fast travel option is included to save you time. This works well most of the time, but it’s inconsistent. Sometimes you have to sail for a long time in a certain direction to reach your destination, which can be a little frustrating.
Other nice additions include simple fishing mechanics and a camera. It’s a little bit of luck, but I had fun trying to reel in all kinds of fish. A nice onboard catalog would be appreciated. The camera is fun to work with and lets you get the right shot at any angle and zoom. However, photo purveyors can be a little picky about your art, so it’s a good idea to shoot the same subject multiple times to get it right.
Graphically, Sail Forth looks great. Wind tact comparisons aside, the vast ocean is beautiful, with rolling waves that require careful navigation to avoid capsizing. You can even spot shadows of creatures below the surface. The music is also excellent, with soft melodies that accompany the voyage, which creates a laid-back mood. Certain events trigger more dramatic music, such as when you’re under attack. The compatibility with the graphics is also good, enhancing the overall mood.
I ran into a weird problem when I quit the game at one point and restarted it later, losing a fair amount of progress. Hmm. Other times it didn’t happen, but it was a little frustrating to have to play certain points again. Second, there was the occasional slight drop in framerate. It didn’t detract from my experience, but it was noticeable.
Overall, Sail Forth is a relaxing game full of interesting characters. It looks great and works well despite some minor issues. If you like the sailor side of Wind Waker, chances are you’ll enjoy this sea-based outing.
