Check out our Forspoken preview. Across my roughly three hours of time spent hands-on with Forspoken, I arrived in a fantastical new world, battled a dragon, and took part in a prison break. This all sounds like it should be very exciting, but in truth, so far Forspoken feels like a game getting in its own way. The latest action RPG from Square Enix definitely does display some potential thanks to a promising combat system that could become excitingly nuanced over time, but its opening sections sadly often feel uninspired.
Forspoken will be released on PS5 and PC on January 24, 2023.
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Yeah okay that is something I do know I Do magic talk to sentient cuffs kill Jacked upbeats you know what I'll Probably fly next across my roughly Three hours of time spent hands on with Forespoken I arrived in a Fantastical New World battled the dragon and took Part in a prison break this all sounds Like it should be very exciting but in Truth so far for spoken feels like a Game getting in its own way the latest Action RPG from Square Enix definitely Does display some potential thanks to a Promising combat system that could Become excitingly nuanced over time but Its opening sections sadly often feel Uninspired Foreign Chapters 2 3 and 5 which allow me to Gain a pretty good grasp of forespoken's Rhythm the open world of athia is Littered with things to do including Side missions Dungeons and battles are Plenty this variety of activities is not Going to come as too much of a shock to Those who have played the game in the Genre encouragingly some of those fights Can be a real Challenge and I definitely Encountered some fascinating foes that I Was simply far too under level to take On despite my best efforts regardless of My defeat at the hands of more daunting Foes combat is where forespoken is at Its most engaging its quick nature and
The way it always keeps you on your toes As you juggle its many magical abilities Harbor's genuine tactical promise there Are over 100 spells to wield in Forespoken many of which appear Genuinely exciting in gameplay trailers But you're limited to an unexceptional Select few in those first chapters this Can lead to early stretches feeling a Bit one note as you hold the trigger to Fire chunks of rocks at enemies while Occasionally dodging an attack once new Unlocks start presenting themselves However it all becomes a whole bunch More interesting I had fun mixing these Standard spells with much more Interesting support skills such as Conjuring roots from the ground to tie Down enemies and summoning a little Plant turret friend to help out in Sticky situations all of these abilities Belong to the earth-based magic skill Tree one of four different Elemental Types you'll acquire over the course of The adventure I do fear that being Restricted to these fairly basic Abilities for so much of the staff are Full spoken isn't the best way to Introduce its combat systems while I've So far been unable to use them I've seen Glimpses of extensive skill trees filled With bigger and better abilities that Tease evolving and exciting gameplay It's a battle system that does show
Genuine promise and it left me of Reasons to be excited about the Possibilities of juggling different Magic types and the effects combining Spells can have on enemies I'm holding Out hope that it develops substantially And with greater speed because in truth There was sadly little else about Forespoken that held my attention is I get it like New York City versus New York State Exactly I think the story is the age-old Alice In Wonderland Wizard of Oz tale of a Stranger being transported to a magical Land and presumably leaving as their Savior protagonist Frey Holland is an Abrasive character who doesn't have much Time for anyone or the Fish Out of Water Scenario she finds herself in I have Seen hints at her softening though which Hopefully points in the direction of an Endearing character Arc she's capably Portrayed by Ella balinska despite being Saddled with a rather flaky script of Which every other word appears to be Seriously I must have heard it over 100 Times in my few hours and whilst I'm no Prude it doesn't lend itself to creating A subtle or nuanced protagonist you say Another word more painful were The conversations between Frey and her Anthropomorphic bracelet companion cuff
While walking around with a Charming Pool bet any sound alike on your wrist Could easily be a pleasant experience in Force spoken it comes across as less Jarvis and more jarring We just not talk fine By me suit yourself I love a bit of Silence further off-putting are the Visuals of forespoken which certainly Doesn't display the sort of graphical Firepower you'd expect from a new gen Showcase despite being on PS5 and PC Exclusively it just all feels quite Barren and lifeless an atmosphere Especially highlighted in the city I Spent a good chunk of my play time in a Gray anemic series of streets full of Non-descript town folk it's also the Location where I witnessed forespoke and Commit its biggest crime so far a Frankly abysmal breed of AutoFair Stealth mission that deserve to die with The PlayStation 2. you are safe now uh Thanks once I made it through that Particular nadir however for spoken did Continue to show more Promise chapter 5 Takes place in a wholly more interesting Area of afia a red fiery land painted Using similar brush Strokes to Eldon Rings Khalid a vertically varied Landscape with danger hiding at every Layer it's a place where my combat Skills were fully tested alongside my Magical parkour abilities when it all
Clicks darting across chasms and Flipping over enemies can be a real Delight but for a game that places so Much emphasis on these slick movement Options it can be frustratingly Unreadable at times like so much are Full spoken it feels like real fun is There to be had when it hits its stride But it just trips itself up far too Often in these early chapters the final Part of my Hands-On was a big boss Battle which was easily among the Highlights of my playthrough consisting Of two difficult but varied phases it Constantly made me think on my feet and Juggle all of my cooldowns and spells That I'd learned up until that point the First section was an exciting fight Against one powerful enemy and a group Of soldiers that displayed genuine smart Battle design I focused most of my Firepower on the boss saving my super Useful tendril attack for the weaker Enemies which whipped fines around in a Large area of effect and restored my Health with every connection it made This sort of clever encounter left me Encouraged that forespoken could throw Up some inspired Boss Designs further Down the road that will combine Spectacle with challenge while phase two Of the fight did displace all of that Spectacle I found it far less Entertaining and even bordering on
Annoying as I was channeled into a Narrow Arena and asked to repeatedly Avoid some pretty unreadable attacks it Also fell foul of one of four spoken's Visual calling cards where the world's Color is drenched by a blue filter it's Meant as a representation for the break The evil force that plagues this fantasy World but just doesn't look very nice And removes any sort of distinct Identity away from a certain area it Also means you're missing out on some of The impressive creature designs a Massive Dragon I met early on more often Than not appeared to me as a giant Winged silhouette Not I'm fairly convinced that there Definitely is enjoyment to be found and Forespoken but its early chapters don't Seem like the place to consistently find It the magical combat promises to Develop and become more and more Interesting over time but whether That'll be enough to overcome an Uninspired script and the world it aims To bring alive remains to be seen when We have so many open world action RPGs At our fingertips these days for spoken Really needs to set itself apart despite Leaving a less than impressive first Impression I am hopeful if not confident That it can for more unforespoken check Out this gameplay or the latest trailer [Music]