![]() ![]() It’s a bit of a bizarre decision to relegate some boss battles behind optional side missions, which many players might not even see. The game throws all kinds of enemies at you, some of which have elemental weaknesses, adding an additional layer to the combat and encouraging you to change your approach. There are over forty spells to get acquainted with in Forspoken, and they’re all fun to use and just as viable as each other.Ĭouple these solid traversal mechanics with a robust magic system, and you’ve got a combat system in Forspoken that’s just fun. Support magic buffs, debuffs, and summons assistance for Frey. Attack magic behaves similarly to weapons in games such as Devil May Cry or Bayonetta, allowing Frey to conjure explosive rocks, fiery spears, drenching tornadoes, and area-affecting lightning attacks. It’s a deceptively deep system that splits its spells into defense and attack. In combat, Frey can wield four distinct types of magic with differing styles, so any action game fan will be able to find a style to suit them. And it’s even better to see how these mechanics feed into the combat of the game. It’s a sense of speed and subsequent freedom unlike any other I’ve seen in a game. She can evade enemies, do flashy dodges, surfs across the water, and even grapple to new heights with her magic. With the hold of a button, Frey can zip around in a magical parkour system called “Flow” to cover a great distance in no time at all. It’s a relief, then, that Forspoken nails the sense of fluidity and speed in its attempt to offer traversal mechanics like no other. But if you’ve played any open-world game released in the past decade, you’ve probably already got a decent idea of how Forspoken is structured and where it falls flat. It’s a veritable playground, designed from the ground up to perfectly complement Frey’s unique abilities and how she gets around with the powers Cuff granted her. ![]() Not seeing Frey or Athia again after both have been through so much would feel like a waste.Īthia is a massive open world, peppered with activities and checklists to finish. Forspoken’s story comes together in such a satisfying manner that I’m almost disappointed to hear that the upcoming expansion will be a prequel rather than a sequel. You’d be surprised to discover that I’m still keen to see another game set in this world and even more so to see Frey continue as its protagonist. On the plus side, perhaps the developers knew this, as there are options to reduce the frequency of non-essential dialogue, but it still doesn’t excuse just how asinine it can be. There’s a fine line between confident and obnoxious, and Frey crosses it regularly. She eventually comes around as the story closes, but during battles, she’ll throw out Marvel-esque quips in a manner that I can only describe as cringe-worthy. There are times when she’s a sympathetic protagonist, especially in the opening hours, but others where she is genuinely mean to other characters for no reason and subsequently unlikeable. The way she is characterised is so haphazard. Such a strong sense of worldbuilding establishes history for the world of Athia, so when the inevitable revelations come across in the story, the impact is more significant.īut I wish I could sing similar praise for the characterisation of Frey herself. A joint writing effort between Garry Whitta (Rogue One) and Amy Hennig (Uncharted), I often found myself getting lost in the game’s numerous lore drops. There’s a lot to take in here as someone who can appreciate a good amount of lore in games. One of the most impressive aspects of Forspoken is that the world of Athia is exceptionally well developed. But she plays along, hoping that eventually, these two goals will converge. Frey has entered Athia in a state of turmoil – the four sorceresses (called the Tanta) ruling it have been corrupted by a mysterious presence referred to as “the break.” Frey is resistant to the break, so the people of Athia think she is the hero they need. You’re Frey Holland, an orphaned street kid whisked away from New York to a strange new world called Athia by a magical talking bracelet nicknamed Cuff. Yes, Forspoken is a story-led experience, but it’s average pacing really belies the potential of its unique and inspired combat systems. But with that declaration comes a few caveats. ![]() Now, Project Athia is Forspoken, making good on most of the promises made when it was first revealed. Others thought it was a glorified tech demo, never to release. ![]() Some thought it could be a new Final Fantasy game. It was a brand new game from Square Enix touted as a thrilling story-led adventure. Two years ago, when we first saw the PlayStation 5, we also saw Project Athia. ![]()
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