The first half of 2023 has a few big titles lined up, includingForspoken. The game was one of the first PS5 titles revealed, giving it the unenviable job of having to provide a truly next-gen experience. ThoughForspokenhas been the beneficiary of plenty of marketing, there may be some gamers who are still on the fence regarding whether it is worth their time and money. Understanding the game and its aims may make the decision a little easier.
Gamers who are into open-world games with fantasy elements should definitely considerForspoken. It also appears to have something for gamers who are drawn to narrative-driven games. For those who may besuffering from open-world fatigue,Forspokenmay not be the best choice, as it does not seem to reinvent the formula too much.
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What Is Forspoken?
Forspokenis an open-world fantasy game being developed by Luminous Productions. The studio is made up of developers who have experience working on theFinal Fantasyfranchise, so it is not a stranger to the genre. There have also been several other big names roped into the project, includingUncharted’s Amy Hennig andcomposer Bear McCrearywho was recently recognized at The Game Awards for his work onGod of War Ragnarok.
As has been revealed thus far,Forspoken’s gameplay features magic. To get around Athia, Frey can use a form of magical parkour that allows her to zip across the landscape at high speeds. She also uses magic during combat. There will be over a hundred spells for players to learn, and they can be unlocked by collecting Mana. Spells operate in both a defensive and offensive manner, meaning that players will have to combine different kinds of spells to take down their enemies while ensuring they don’t receive too much damage.
From trailers shown thus far, it appears that gameplay will be fast and dynamic, with players typically taking on large groups of enemies as they explore Athia.Players can also run into Breakstormswhich will have them facing off against a gauntlet of foes. It is worth it, however, as there are rewards for players who manage to survive the onslaught. For some downtime, players will be able to visit the city of Cipal where they can visit merchants and take on side quests.
What Happens in Forspoken?
Thus far, it has been revealed that the protagonist is aNew Yorker named Frey Holland. She doesn’t fit in, but at least she has her fluffy white cat named Homer to keep her company. Things take a fantastical turn when she is magicked to Athia. It is a strange experience, but she doesn’t have to go through it alone. She is assisted by her talking bangle named Cuff, and she makes new friends including Johedy the archivist, and Auden.
Things are not all well in Athia. A strange phenomenon known as the Break has taken over, turning everything into a twisted facsimile of itself. Thematriarchs known as the Tantas once ruled Athiaamiably, but after the Break, they turn into oppressive tyrants. The virtues they represented are morphed into vices. After Tanta Sila accuses her of trespassing on her territory, it becomes evident that Frey will have to defeat all the Tantas if she wants to make it home alive.
Of course, there are still several questions hanging in the air regarding Frey’s connection to Athia and why she is not affected by the Break. What has been shown of the game seems intriguing, and the Tantas may very well end up being the most interesting part ofForspoken. Gamers have been waiting a long time for the game and suffering through delays. Hopefully, the end product makes the patience worth it.
Forspokenis set to release on July 23, 2025, on PC and PS5.
