Forspoken is an action RPG that was released on January 24, 2023, for PlayStation 5 and PC.
Forspoken follows the story of Frey Holland, a young woman from New York City who is mysteriously transported to the magical land of Athia. With a sentient bracelet named “Cuff” on her arm, Frey must navigate this fantastical world, mastering a range of magical abilities to survive and find her way home.
First off, I’ll say that Forspoken has been on my radar for a while, and I’ve seen all the poor reviews, but it was something that I wanted to try for myself despite all that has been said. However, let’s get into the review:
Graphics
The standout feature of Forspoken is undoubtedly its graphics. The game’s visuals are breathtaking, with incredibly detailed environments and stunning landscapes. From the dense forests to the majestic mountains, every element is beautifully rendered, making exploration a visual treat. The high-quality graphics set a new standard for RPGs and significantly enhance the immersive experience.
Voice Acting and Character Engagement
Unfortunately, the voice acting in Forspoken often falls flat. The performances lack the emotional depth needed to fully bring the characters to life, making it difficult for players to connect with Frey and her journey. This disconnect is exacerbated by sometimes clichéd dialogue, which detracts from the overall narrative impact. As a result, despite her intricate backstory and challenges, it’s hard to genuinely care for Frey. In addition, the extra dialogue which is said during combat is often extremely repetitive and again leaves a sour taste when all you find yourself doing is telling Frey to “shut the hell up”.
Combat and Spell System Complexity
The combat in “Forspoken” is fast-paced and dynamic, offering an exhilarating experience, especially during boss fights and encounters with tougher opponents. These battles often feel very Soulslike, requiring precise timing and strategic use of Frey’s magical abilities. However, the spell system, while ambitious, can feel overly complicated. Managing and mastering a plethora of spells, especially during intense combat scenarios, can be cumbersome. For some players, this depth might be a welcome challenge, but for others, it could become a source of frustration.
Quests and Side Quests
The main questline is somewhat interesting in the latter half of the game. But getting to that stage can be a struggle as it’s very repetitive in what you have to do. The part where it gets interesting and you feel the story is getting going also feels like the end, and all the story is crammed into several conversations and doesn’t seem to organically come into the game. Likewise, the side quests are also repetitive and just out and out boring as they don’t require a great deal of effort to complete, and there is generally no real reward for completing them so it feels like there isn’t much point.
Final Thoughts
This review, unlike most of my most recent ones, is pretty short, this is because there just isn’t enough going for the game to talk about. Forspoken excels in its visual presentation, providing a beautifully crafted world that is a joy to explore. However, the game’s narrative suffers due to flat voice acting and a lack of emotional engagement with the main character. Additionally, the complex spell system might be a barrier for some players. Though a partially enjoyable game, ultimately, it falls a bit flat and is probably something that, once I’ve finished the main story, I won’t be going back to. I’m hard put to give Forspoken much more than a totally average 5/10 for a totally average game.
Gareth Ellis - Author 