Forspoken

2023 - 1 - 23

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Image courtesy of "WSIU"

'Forspoken' Review: A portal into a world without wonder or heart (WSIU)

Forspoken boasts 'key members' of the Final Fantasy XV team, but feels outdated and at times resentful of its Black protagonist.

Cheap and bland describe the writing too, which also has the audacity to think itself clever. Horizon Forbidden West and Elden Ring — even the much-maligned Cyberpunk 2077 — put far more effort into rewarding player exploration. The opening chapter shows NYC with snow in December, but the ground remains dry, presumably to avoid ray-tracing. [Naoki Yoshida's defense of upcoming Final Fantasy XVI's scant diversity](https://kotaku.com/ffxvi-square-enix-naoki-yoshida-ff16-release-date-1849744847), Forspoken makes the nightmarish choice to start with its Black protagonist in court for her third felony. Forspoken pulls from genre staples and even begins with Alice in Wonderland references, but it also falls into troubling tropes. Let's start with the graphics.

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Image courtesy of "Forbes"

'Forspoken' PS5 Reviews Are Here, And They Are Bad (Forbes)

Turns out that is…not the case. Reviews are spilling in for Forspoken and they are pretty bad. And that's even with Square Enix trying to do review score damage ...

In general, the complaints are about the dialogue (where there’s actually a “less banter” setting in options to make it less annoying) and the blandness of the open world. This is bad for both Square Enix, and for PlayStation, who touted this as one of its major console exclusives this year. It has a [66 on Metacritic](https://www.metacritic.com/game/playstation-5/forspoken). [OpenCritic ](https://opencritic.com/game/13945/forspoken)with only 32% of critics recommending it. On top of that, with everyone wondering if this game is going to be badly optimized on PC due to the insane recommended specs Square Enix released, there are zero reviews of PC copies, all of this is on PS5. Or to translate this to Whedonspeak, “Yep, she really did just do that!" In this case, this is all even worse because of two key factors. Square Enix pulled the old “limited digital codes” trick and specifically avoided giving codes to many outlets. Reviews are spilling in for Forspoken and they are pretty bad. The dialogue in the trailers felt cringe-worthy. And that’s even with Square Enix trying to do review score damage control. [Forspoken ](https://www.forbes.com/sites/paultassi/2023/01/20/three-red-flags-ps5s-forspoken-has-raised-already/?sh=5ffa75d612fd)left and right as of late.

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Image courtesy of "The Washington Post"

'Forspoken' surprises and delights, but it takes a while (The Washington Post)

“Forspoken,” published by Square Enix and developed by Luminous Productions, was widely criticized during its pre-release news cycle for following the Joss ...

Cuff and the denizens of Athia are strangely combative and argumentative to Frey, and to be fair, Frey is an abrasive character herself, given her background. Although I enjoyed Frey more than I thought I would, it’s inescapable that “plucky American with sassy British sidekick” is a well-worn trope, and “Forspoken” does little to distinguish itself from other stories of this type … Then the story begins to justify this, as the people of this land aren’t what they quite appeared to be at first blush. Initially, I thought these arguments were written in just for the sake of having tension and conflict in the story. This is on top of the fact that this is a by-the-numbers open-world video game, with a list of waypoints on a big map with various activities to do, usually in the form of battling fantasy monsters. First of all, there just aren’t a lot of action adventure games about spellcasting wizards, even fewer with a Black woman in the lead role, and “Forspoken” offers, at the very least, this. Players can also set the stamina meter to refill immediately, as it’s not exactly fun to run out of stamina running across the fields. But at least with the larger area-of-effect attacks, “Forspoken” lets you conjure up some impressive and good-looking fireworks. She’s had a very difficult life, and the game doesn’t shy away from the fact that Frey is suicidal. Being Frey only becomes liberating and powerful at the end of the game, once she’s collected and absorbed all four powers from her defeated foes. As she’s about to end her life, she finds the magical and sassy Cuff that whisks her away to Athia, a land besieged by something called the Break, which turns people mad and creates monsters. Credit goes to Hennig and story creator Gary Whitta (screenwriter for Star Wars “Rogue One”) for crafting something memorable and fun despite the game’s cringe surface.

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Image courtesy of "Polygon"

Forspoken review: open-world adventure that gets good at the very ... (Polygon)

Forspoken, the open-world action RPG that will be released for PS5 on Jan. 24, has satisfying combat and magic abilities, but its bland world and bizarre ...

Frey triumphs, of course, but for a character who spends the majority of the game loudly proclaiming she neither is nor wants to be a hero, I found her late-game pivot to savior hard to believe. By the time you get a fourth set of magical abilities, the game feels like it’s finally opening up, with a full suite of powers available to you, a feeling immediately undercut by the fact that it’s actually ending. Frey and Cuff banter as you explore and quickly start to repeat themselves within the first few hours of the game, to the point where you will be able to recite, by heart, their most memorable loot-pickup lines by the time the credits roll. An early plot point involves Frey holding the lifeless body of an Athian Black girl with whom she has bonded, an image that, in the raceless world of Athia, doesn’t carry the same weight it does in ours — and Frey’s. It’s a blessing, then — a true Christmas miracle — that once you get your second set of magical abilities, the game can actually be a fair bit of fun. Before I wrap up, let’s spare a word for Frey, a notionally Black protagonist who joins a growing trend in media of putting Black people in worlds where race is inconsequential. It took me 16 hours to complete the game, taking in a fair bit of the side offerings in this open-world action RPG, being careful not to sprint too quickly toward the game’s conclusion, though the temptation was there. Frey has an Infamous-esque sprint ability that gets further modified throughout the game, allowing you to whip across the landscapes in a matter of moments. Alongside her cardboard decor, Frey has a few books (Alice in Wonderland and a leather-bound hard copy of something called “Law and Order” are the most prominent) and a wall rack devoted to her beloved “kicks.” Her whole apartment promptly burns down, leading her to reflect on her life while leaning over the edge of the Crossroads Hotel as the clock strikes midnight on Christmas Day. Soon, though, you are portaled away to Athia, the game’s true setting: a medieval fantasy world overrun with corruption that threatens to destroy life itself. (At one point, when asked what she misses about New York, Frey offers up Central Park and knish, the latter of which plays a surprisingly important role in the game’s plot.) (Hence her name.) After leaving the courtroom, Frey gets beat up by two women (one in leopard print, the other in camo) before returning to her barren, boarded-up apartment, where she has written her plan to leave New York on a piece of cardboard taped to the wall.

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Image courtesy of "Rolling Stone"

Forspoken: A Somewhat Formulaic, Yet Thoughtful Take On Open ... (Rolling Stone)

Final Fantasy maker Square Enix and Final Fantasy XV team Luminous Productions set themselves a monstrous task with Forspoken. Releasing an open-world fantasy ...

Instead, it offers a more personal twist on the open-world formula, with thoughtful quests and a world whose size is less of a hindrance to enjoyment and more of a playground for Frey’s parkour abilities. While the storytelling may hit a few bumps along the way, Forspoken is a memorable tale and, as game worlds grow increasingly larger and full of busywork, a lesson in what matters more than size and scope. Even when the quests and characters themselves aren’t particularly deep (which they usually aren’t) there’s a current of humanity running through it all that makes the standard fetch quests and monster hunting feel more personal and interesting. You might run across the coat a hero wore as they defended a refugee caravan from monsters, while just up the road is a group of undead husks animated by the Break – the refugees from that caravan who didn’t make it to safety in time. Frey decides to defeat the Tantas and restore peace, and the first Tanta she faces is even a violent, red-hued warrior queen, though she stops short of shouting “off with her head.” Every item and location, even crafting materials, has a detailed archive entry explaining its significance and how it came to be. Luminous makes brilliant use of light and particle effects that give Frey’s journey a sense of visual splendor, from the glowing purple rocks brimming with Athia’s magical life force to the gold dust effects that sprinkle and scatter when Frey uses her powers. Frey may only help the people of Athia reluctantly at first, but she shows a sense of genuine interest that’s refreshing after so many detached, super heroic protagonists. By the time Frey ends up in Athia, it’s almost impossible not to sympathize with her and feel invested in her growth – growth made possible by her isolation and hardships in New York. Like Carrol’s book, Forspoken is better at entertaining than it is at telling a deep story. Forspoken is an Alice in Wonderland Story by design, and that’s not just metaphorically. Cuff, and being chased by a dragon.

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Image courtesy of "Rock Paper Shotgun"

Forspoken release time and preload times: When can you play ... (Rock Paper Shotgun)

Want to know when Forspoken unlocks in your region? Here's a list of release times for Luminous Games' new fantasy action-RPG.

Preloads began on Sunday, January 22, 2023 at midnight local time in all regions. Having played the PS5 demo, though, I think this game's got potential, but I'm keen to get my hands on the full release on PC before I make up my mind. I personally am quite fond of the adventures of Noctis and pals, but admit that Forspoken's [self-consciously quippy dialogue](/people-hated-forspokens-dialogue-so-much-that-it-made-joss-whedon-trend-on-twitter) and [baffling system requirements](/forspokens-pc-system-requirements-are-demanding-kind-of-baffling) had me feeling a little ambivalent.

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Image courtesy of "Destructoid"

Review: Forspoken (Destructoid)

Following its divisive demo, Forspoken finally opens up its mythic world. Chris Moyse ventures into The Break in this review for Destructoid.

To a much lesser degree, this adherence to “toeing the line” is also depicted in the character of Auden, a woman Athian resident who, as the story progresses, seems to clearly fall in love with Frey. Forspoken‘s writing, intentionally or by request, shies away from said risk, ultimately delivering what is a solid story, but feels as if it never wants to truly engage with the core context and themes surrounding the turmoil of its brilliant hero. Aiding Frey in her quest is a mysterious vambrace, “Cuff”, whom is the key to Frey’s initial arrival in Athia, Cuff aids Frey in her journey by providing a litany of magical abilities, while also boosting her strength and movement. She has the cash, she has the cat, and she has — for the first time in her young life — a plan, a purpose, a choice. The Tantas themselves are outstanding in visual design, character, and performance — Tanta Cinta is the relatively chill one, while Tanta Sila has absolutely had enough of your shit. After a brilliant and genuinely moving opening, Frey’s early hours in Athia are a little humdrum, although the inevitable fish-out-of-water humor is very welcome, recalling the fun of Sam Raimi’s Army of Darkness. In addition to her main questline, Frey can accept side-quests, (or “Diversions”), from the people of Athia, which expand the universe’s massive scope and deep sense of lore. While Forspoken‘s world is undoubtedly fun to traverse, (thanks wholly to Frey’s magical parkour abilities), the “Riddler Trophy” approach feels out-of-step with the possibilities provided by the title’s story, characters, themes, and combat. As demo players will be aware, Forspoken is an open-world adventure framed almost identically in the vein of Ubisoft titles such as Assassin’s Creed, Watch_Dogs, and Far Cry. Forspoken depicts the odyssey of the aforementioned Frey, plucked from downtown Manhattan and thrust into the ancient kingdom of Athia, which is smothered by a destructive and all-consuming force which Frey monikers “The Break”. Athia has its own defenders: Four powerful matriarchs of love and war known as “The Tantas”, but The Break has severely affected these guardians, twisting their minds and loyalties and turning Athia’s own founders into its very destroyers. Abandoned as a newborn beneath the Manhattan tunnel that bears her name, shuffled through a litany of foster homes, and with her teen years soundtracked by a cacophony of howling winds and blaring sirens, Frey rolled the dice at birth and it most assuredly came up snake eyes.

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Image courtesy of "IGN"

PSA: Forspoken Spoilers Have Leaked Onto the Internet - IGN (IGN)

We have a warning for those who are excited to jump into the world of Forspoken on January 24 - Spoilers have unfortunately leaked onto the internet.

[Forspoken preview,](/articles/forspoken-the-final-preview) we said, "I’m fairly convinced that there definitely is enjoyment to be found in Forspoken, but its early chapters don’t seem like the place to consistently find it. [Eurogamer](https://www.eurogamer.net/forspokens-opening-hour-leaks-online) has noted that the opening hour has leaked online and, while bits and pieces of what those first few moments of gameplay hold have been previewed and discussed previously, developers usually hold back a few surprises or key story moments that they don't want anyone to experience until the game is finally released. Luckily, it was taken down by a copyright claim by Luminous Productions, but the damage was done and that information is now out there. Please send an email to Have a tip for us? [@AdamBankhurst](https://twitter.com/AdamBankhurst) and on [Twitch.](https://www.twitch.tv/AdamBankhurst)

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Image courtesy of "Eurogamer.net"

Square Enix battles more Forspoken leaks (Eurogamer.net)

The final boss of Forspoken has leaked online ahead of the game's release tomorrow. Last week the game's opening leaked…

[breakdown of the game's various graphical modes](https://www.eurogamer.net/digitalfoundry-2022-the-forspoken-demo-six-graphics-modes-to-choose-from-but-what-do-they-do) so you can better choose how to experience Athia's visuals. [eye-watering PC specs](https://www.eurogamer.net/forspoken-demo-updated-due-to-feedback-pc-requirements-revealed) have also been released. [game's opening leaked](https://www.eurogamer.net/forspokens-opening-hour-leaks-online), showing Frey's early hours in the land of Athia.

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Image courtesy of "Inverse"

Here's exactly when you can start playing Square Enix's 'Forspoken' (Inverse)

Square Enix's open-world action RPG 'Forspoken' launches soon. Here's exactly when you can play it on PC and PS5.

If you pre-order any version on PC, you’ll gain access to the following in-game items at no additional charge: On PC, you’ll have to wait a little longer. However, in the United States, it releases at midnight Eastern on the early morning of January 24, meaning you can actually play it at 9 p.m. Forspoken is an open-world action RPG with an emphasis on story and combat, and while [reviews have been mixed](https://www.inverse.com/gaming/forspoken-review-ps5), it’s one that many players are excited about. Here’s what you need to know to [get started](https://www.inverse.com/gaming/forspoken-pc-requirements-ram-too-high) with Forspoken as soon as possible. [Forspoken](https://www.inverse.com/gaming/forspoken-release-date-trailer-gameplay-voice-actors-story-athia), is nearly here and it’s gearing up to launch exclusively for PS5 and PC.

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Image courtesy of "The Verge"

Forspoken review: it's better than its bad name implies (The Verge)

Forspoken, published by Square Enix, features a fascinating story and incredible parkour action thats mired by lackluster combat and a game lacking ...

But there’s a decent game here, one I enjoyed and one I hope people will give a chance. I won’t reveal it here, but it felt like all of the action leading up to the final battle was cut, swapped out for an extended, partially playable cutscene. The final battle itself was also not great, a longer extension of the game’s “fight big guy with lots of health” standard. I’ve become so used to the seamless transition between controlling a character in gameplay and not controlling them in a cutscene that the fade-to-black transition felt archaic. Once Frey lands in Athia, she’s tasked with killing the four Tantas, benevolent witches who were the leaders of Athia before they went mad and started killing people and spreading a corrupting disease called the Break. Frey powers up her magic with mana that she earns either through traditionally leveling up by fighting monsters or completing quests or by picking it up in the open world. I had the most fun flipping and flying, bouncing off walls and obstacles to get to higher and higher vistas. I almost cried when the plot made Frey lose her home and her “start over fund,” and she was forced to give up her cat and her dream of getting out. The game feels unfinished, like there’s a level of technical polish missing. I became invested in Frey and her story, and I was curious as to how Forspoken would lay it all out. But because it’s almost Christmas and the judge sympathizes with Frey’s struggle to survive without parents or guidance, she is instead let go to return to the abandoned apartment she squats in with her cat Homer. She also dropped a lot of F-bombs, which you don’t really see in games, not even the M-rated ones, and certainly not as frequently as Frey does.

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Image courtesy of "Forbes"

Two Warnings About These 'Forspoken' Reviews (Forbes)

There is not a single PC review out there right now, because Square Enix did not send any PC review codes out to critics. The game launches at the same time for ...

The only thing I can recommend is the music, which is quite dramatic and lovely and really wasted on such a lackluster release. Hell, if I didn’t know what this was and just saw some video I might peg it as a PS3 game, and not even one of the better-looking ones. For a game with such demanding specs that’s only releasing on PC and PS5, the graphics are shockingly last-gen. This is in spite of the fact that the PC requirements for Forspoken are quite demanding, which suggests that many PC players will have trouble running the game (or at least running it at anywhere near decent settings). I’m basically just sitting here waiting for the reports from gamers to start rolling in when the game releases tonight (it’s out on January 24th on PS5 and PC—see what other games release this month That’s at the 720p / 3o fps option, which is pretty damn low for PC gaming (does anybody on PC play at 720p??)

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Image courtesy of "IGN Africa"

PSA: Forspoken Spoilers Have Leaked Onto the Internet (IGN Africa)

Even more alarming was a report from DualShockers that said the final boss fight from Forspoken was leaked onto YouTube. Luckily, it was taken down by a ...

[Forspoken preview,](/forspoken/171633/preview/forspoken-the-final-preview) we said, "I’m fairly convinced that there definitely is enjoyment to be found in Forspoken, but its early chapters don’t seem like the place to consistently find it. [Eurogamer](https://www.eurogamer.net/forspokens-opening-hour-leaks-online) has noted that the opening hour has leaked online and, while bits and pieces of what those first few moments of gameplay hold have been previewed and discussed previously, developers usually hold back a few surprises or key story moments that they don't want anyone to experience until the game is finally released. Luckily, it was taken down by a copyright claim by Luminous Productions, but the damage was done and that information is now out there. Please send an email to Have a tip for us? [@AdamBankhurst](https://twitter.com/AdamBankhurst) and on [Twitch.](https://www.twitch.tv/AdamBankhurst)

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Image courtesy of "IGN"

Forspoken Review - IGN (IGN)

Forspoken's flashy combat can be fun, but it isn't enough to make its barebones world very interesting.

I’m sure there will be diehard completionists out there excited for a chance to put on a podcast and spend dozens of hours clearing every single map marker and opening every single chest (the kind of game Similarly, the parkour system is a mix of straightforward and flashy, sending you nimbly soaring across the environment by simply holding down the Circle button and pointing yourself in a given direction. Her starting magic is basically an earth-based gun that can be fired rapidly or charged for an area-of-effect burst, with skills that root enemies to the ground, up your defense temporarily, and more. Between visits to Cipal, you’re generally given a target on your map and free rein to get as distracted as you’d like along the way. That’s not so offensive on its own, but the real crime is how poorly the writing establishes any of its characters and the relationships between them – it’s like it constantly assumed I must already be invested in these people in a way it never actually made me. The performances throughout can actually be quite good, even when the writing leans heavily into telling rather than showing – but none of it is ever very fun to listen to thanks to long, awkward pauses between lines and occasional crowd noise or background music that’s so loud it drowns out everything being said.

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Image courtesy of "Den of Geek"

Forspoken Review Roundup: Is This Square Enix's Next Hit RPG ... (Den of Geek)

Is Forspoken Square Enix's next big franchise or does this RPG stumble out of the gate? Here's what reviewers have to say so far.

“Where Forspoken should’ve been a striking and appealing fresh start for Luminous Productions, the end result sadly is a game not only bland and unpolished but deprived of a reason to care for its unfolding mystery. At the time of this writing, Forspoken has a 68 Metacritic score and a 69 OpenCritic score. The dialogue between her and Cuff is witty and memorable, and there’s incredible attention to detail in Athia’s world and history through the game’s many collectibles. At the moment, it seems safe to say that reviews of Forspoken are mixed and trending towards slightly negative. Not only did many previews (including [our own](https://www.denofgeek.com/games/forspoken-gameplay-preview-demo/)) point out some of the game’s notable early issues, but full reviews of the game have been embargoed until the day before its release, and many outlets have reported that they did not receive an early review code. [new releases of 2023](https://www.denofgeek.com/games/the-biggest-new-games-in-2023/) so far, but its road to release has been a bit rocky.

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Image courtesy of "Eurogamer.net"

How to clear Monuments in Forspoken (Eurogamer.net)

Rewards for completing Monuments in Forspoken are typically stat boosts for Frey. You can check which reward you'll gain from a Monument by hovering over the ...

We highly recommend visiting and completing as many Monuments as you can to make Frey stronger. You can check which reward you'll gain from a Monument by hovering over the icon for it on the map. You do not need to do anything here, once this begins you have completed the Monument. Meanwhile, understanding [fast travel](https://www.eurogamer.net/how-to-fast-travel-in-forspoken-9305) and [clearing Monuments](https://www.eurogamer.net/how-to-clear-monuments-forspoken-9305) will also help you in Fray's journey across Athia. Without further ado, we're going to explain what Monuments are, how to complete them, and the rewards you can get from them too. If a Monument has been completed, it will still have the same symbol but anything that is Purple will be removed.

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Image courtesy of "GameSpot"

Forspoken Review - Forsaken (GameSpot)

Forspoken is visually stimulating and a musical delight, but boring combat, poor characterization, and loose movement mechanics make for a mediocre ...

Our introduction to her is seeing her on the wrong side of a criminal court case, and that she views the world around her with jaded exasperation--she pushes people away because she's an abandoned orphan and believes no one wants her. Forspoken's movement is far more fun, especially in the latter half of the game when you start unlocking and chaining new mechanics that increase the variety of ways that Frey can journey across Athia, like slingshotting herself through the air with a flaming whip or manipulating gravity to skate across the water. Frey carries that disposition throughout most of the game and it's the primary means by which she views every aspect of Athia, and thus we the player are able to see it. Combat is visually impressive but not all that engaging, and the excellent sound design and the catchy musical score are regularly undermined by unfunny quips from an unlikable protagonist. Frey is one of the weakest parts of Forspoken. The facial expressions of the people in Athia are stilted and uncomfortable, which already creates a bit of a disconnect with the emotional core of Forspoken's story. However, it's not a world that the game is able to adequately convince the player of wanting to stay in and protect. It's an awkward workaround to the problem, however, and not one easy to pull off in the midst of a fight. and Forspoken never delivered a satisfying answer to the question. Frey zips through the environment with stylish flips and jumps, moving so quickly that she skids to a halt. Forspoken's story is one about belonging--finding a place you want to stay and a people you wish to protect. There, she bonds with a sentient brace she nicknames Cuff and then encounters a group of survivors living in the last city that's free from the effects of a dangerous miasma.

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Image courtesy of "CNN"

Forspoken: Overshadowed by its many flaws (CNN)

Protagonist Frey Holland is trapped in the land of Athia and must use her newfound magical abilities to find her way home. Square Enix. From Luminous ...

The NPCs (non-player characters) of Forspoken are indistinct, and the faces lack real nuance. The on-the-hoof dialog between Frey and Cuff (which at least doesn’t freeze you in place) can be repetitive too, which is a shame, because there are some worthy sarcasm-laden exchanges. It’s a shame because, with the engaging characters, explorable world and expansive combat options, there’s a lot to like here. No other AAA title has forced us to stare at a screen the way Forspoken has. We’re here to tell you that the scenes actually loaded faster than the pauses between sections of dialog. But the mystery is presented well, and we were intrigued enough to finish the game. You may even like Forspoken better than other open-world games, because of the limited number of sidequests, which are mostly found in the town. The motive of her sidekick Cuff is more of a mystery. The higher the grade, the greater the loot, the sooner you can rev up your gear. On our first trek past the city gates, we’re met with a rugged moorland, cradled by cliffs, which provides Forspoken with a fabulous sense of scale. Then read on for our impressions of the game to help you decide. Frey Holland, a young New Yorker, finds herself bonded to a chatty armband she names “Cuff” and is transported to Athia, a world in desperate need of saving.

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Image courtesy of "Game Rant"

Expected Release Time for Forspoken (Game Rant)

The long-awaited RPG from Square Enix, Forspoken, is finally about to arrive on PS5 and PC. Although many critics have been disappointed with the latest ...

The PS5 version seems to take up around 90 GB of space, and the PC version asks players to have at least 150 GB of space. It should also launch around 10 PM for those in the Mountain time zone and then 11 PM for those living in Central time. For those that would like to know just when they can expect to play the digital version of [Forspoken](http://gamerant.com/tag/forspoken), this guide will go over the expected release times on PS5 and Steam.

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Image courtesy of "Polygon"

Forspoken settings to try from the start: How to turn off Cuff dialogue (Polygon)

From streamlining busywork to getting Cuff to speak less, here are the settings that make it easier to get used to Forspoken, Square Enix's new action RPG.

(You can essentially unlock of these perks throughout normal gameplay.) But the setting to tweak is spell-switching slowdown. Come on, we all know it’s the one true indicator of telling you how far you are from your objective. (For reference, your carrying capacity starts at 100 slots per item.) And worst of all, to get this stuff, you have to stop and pick each item up. By default, on PS5 at least, this feature is activated, but you can deactivate it in the sound settings menu. (You’ll also see options to reduce the motion blur and, if you have a compatible display, to activate the 120 Hz mode.) Like many modern big-budget games, Forspoken allows you to prioritize either a sharper resolution or a higher frame rate at the expense of the other.

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Image courtesy of "Polygon"

Forspoken beginners guide: 9 things to know before starting on PS5 ... (Polygon)

Frey Holland charges up a magical spell against a dark blue background in key art for Image: Luminous Productions/Square Enix. Forspoken, Square Enix's particle ...

Anything with a plus sign will give you experience, key if you find yourself getting your ass kicked in the current region. Every time you complete a challenge, you’ll gain a permanent increase to your magic stat, plus increase the power of the associated spell. Upward arrows reward a stat boost — similarly helpful, though you could just get the same bonus from a monument for half the effort. You can tell by the associated symbol on your map. You won’t get anything special for 100%-ing a particular region, either, so unless you’re a true completionist to the bone, it’s not worth ticking off every ticky box. Every cloak and necklace comes with a unique perk; once unlocked, you can then apply that perk to other cloaks or necklaces at crafting stations. When you have active spellcraft challenges, every time you make progress toward one, Forspoken will show you a pop-up detailing your progress toward all three challenges. All of the support spells — from the health-stealing tendril to the disperse mini-turret — are enormously helpful for early-game battles. Frustratingly, you can’t rotate the map in its default view. If you’re hopping on the train early (Forspoken is currently out for PlayStation 5 and PC), here are nine things you should know before starting. But most crucially, about a quarter of the way through the game, you’ll be able to access the spellcraft library, which allows you to select challenges that can improve your abilities. Pilgrim’s refuges are Forspoken’s way stations, small chapels that serve as places you can fast travel to and heal yourself at.

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Image courtesy of "Eurogamer.net"

How to Craft in Forspoken, where to find more Crafting Materials and ... (Eurogamer.net)

How to Craft in Forspoken, where to find more Crafting Materials and Crafting Benches explained · Crafting in Forspoken is how you can make and obtain boosts, ...

The easiest way to find crafting materials in Forspoken is to fill your inventory while you are out exploring. Simply hover over the item you want to make and the required materials will be listed at the bottom of the screen. Crafting Benches are not marked on any of the maps, so it's more of a case of you exploring a settlement and area to find some. To craft in Forspoken, you need to find a Crafting Bench or make a Camp. If you use Cuff to scan the area, any collectable materials or important crafting items will be highlighted for a short time. These have a purpose, and it's worth collecting them when you find them. Then proceed to craft items as you would do at a Crafting Bench. Select the item you want to make, and if you have enough materials, you can craft it. [Forspoken](https://www.eurogamer.net/games/forspoken) is a perilous task, so anything that you can take to make the journey easier is a good idea. Crafting in Forspoken is how you can make and obtain boosts, potions, and other useful items. You can still be attacked while sitting at a Camp, so be careful where you place it. Not to be confused with Campgrounds, a completely separate thing, Camps are small rest areas that Frey can create while out exploring the wild areas.

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Forspoken Tips And Tricks For New Players (GameSpot)

Jumping into Forspoken? Here's a list of useful tips that you should keep in mind as you explore Athia.

It’s not worth staying and fighting unless you need to do so to find a point of interest or complete a Spellcraft Challenge. This can be done every once in a while, so be sure to check the map or surrounding area for marked partha to interact with--they're found in several spots across Athia, not just in the Cipal tavern. The Magic menu will also show you exactly where to find these hidden spells, so all you need to do is make the trip and jump in the fount. They’re often marked on your map along with other points of interest, so all you need to do is select them on the map and Cuff will show you the way. In our experience, they offer plenty of healing items, so, as long as you’re dealing enough damage, you should be able to outlast the waves of enemies on the way to the bosses. Complete the tasks to upgrade the spells. Like many open-world games, Forspoken has a fast travel system that requires you to unlock the locations you want to travel to. Open up the Magic menu and hold the Convert prompt over a spell to get that refund. Before you take control of Frey to venture out into the mythical world of Athia, there are a few details you should know about. Frey and the mysterious Cuff will speak to each other often, whether it be to exchange quips, discuss recent events, or just to fill the silence. Forspoken is a brand-new action RPG from Square Enix and Luminous Productions, and we've got plenty of tips and tricks for how to approach the early hours of your playthrough. You'll assume the role of Frey Holland, a struggling young New Yorker who gets transported to another world at a point when life gets tough for her.

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Forspoken | Nails Locations Guide | GodisaGeek.com (GodisaGeek.com)

Frey's painted nails offer all manner of bonuses. Find them all with our super useful Forspoken Nails Loations Guide.

12 Beginner’s Tips](https://www.godisageek.com/2023/01/forspoken-12-beginners-tips/) Spell Locations Guide](https://www.godisageek.com/2023/01/forspoken-spell-locations-guide/) [Forspoken Necklace Locations Guide](https://www.godisageek.com/2023/01/forspoken-necklace-locations-guide/) [Forspoken Cloaks Location Guide](https://www.godisageek.com/2023/01/forspoken-cloaks-locations-guide/) [Forspoken Either way, the easiest route to finding them is to follow out [Forspoken](https://forspoken.square-enix-games.com/en-us/) Nails Locations guide. [Forspoken](https://www.godisageek.com/reviews/forspoken-review/) emart special abilities to protagonist, Frey.

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How does crafting work in Forspoken? (Sportskeeda)

Early in Forspoken, you will gain the ability to construct a variety of useful items. Introduced to you by the orphan Olevia, she shows you the basics of ...

The former are most often found in Locked Labyrinth dungeons, and you can find Necklaces in a wide variety of spots on the map. That’s all you need to know about crafting in Forspoken. You’ll see icons on the map when you will be rewarded with a Cloak or Necklace, so it’s easy to see where these are. You will often find it in wooden treasure chests across each area, so take the time to go pop these open. Each school of magic has a way to increase what you can convert resources into. Feathers, Nuggets, and the most valuable crafting resource of all - Wild Musk. The number of required nuggets and feathers starts at one, but will increase to five nuggets per additional healing draught, or 10 more of each reagent. [Frey](https://www.sportskeeda.com/esports/complete-list-forspoken-cast-present-game) runs around the world of Forspoken. Introduced to you by the orphan Olevia, she shows you the basics of crafting. What do you need to know about crafting in Forspoken, though? They require two Balm Flax, which is a type of grass that grows in the wild. Anytime you are at a crafting table, or in a refuge, you can take the time to create or upgrade the items you have on hand.

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Forspoken - 17 Tips and Tricks to Get You Started (IGN Africa)

At the start of Forspoken, you're thrust into a large and dangerous world, given incredible powers and very little explanation for how to make the most of ...

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Forspoken: Beginner Tips (TheGamer)

The protagonist, Frey, has the entire continent of Athia to explore, with ferocious foes to defeat, tons of spells to collect and upgrade, and plenty of things ...

Once you've unlocked Cuff Search, you should be aware that you can use this ability in the midst of battle to analyze your enemies. To use them for Fast Travel, simply select them in from the map menu and take on their challenge - you can quit from the confirmation menu immediately after teleporting there. There are three places you can spend your Old Coins, which are obtained from the plethora of locked chests that require you to solve sliding panel puzzles to open. Explore this area to find the Curiosity Shop and the Curio Collector inside - he offers some very interesting items in exchange for Old Coins. To find him, you'll need to head to the southern tip of Inner Visoria, which borders Tanta's Demesne and Academy Hills. While the earlier regions tend to be on the easier side of things, there are certain challenges that are best saved for later: For the best quality of life changes, make sure you have Automatic Item Gathering enabled and Item Visibility set to Enhanced Visibility in the Accessibility Settings tab. These are optional, long-term challenges that you can take on three-at-a-time to improve your individual spells. While the UI sort of hints at it, Frey is not limited to her initial set of Frey's Magic for the entire game - in fact, 'Frey's Magic' is only one of four different sets of spells, each of them corresponding to a different element. If you explore the Settings menu, you'll find a great roster of options that will let you personalize your game experience exactly how you want it. If you only want to make the game a little easier, turn on Automatic Support Spell-Switching and Automatically Use Healing Items. Getting to grips with Forspoken can take a while, especially as the game drip-feeds you new abilities gradually.

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How to upgrade gear in Forspoken, including Cloaks, Necklaces ... (Eurogamer.net)

Here's everything you need to know about Cloaks, Necklaces, and Nails in Forspoken, including how to upgrade them.

If you want to upgrade a piece of gear that has full upgrade slots, you'll need to remove one of the existing upgrades and add your new one in. Hover over a design and the list of materials you need for it will appear to the left of the screen. To upgrade your gear in Forspoken, you need to visit a Crafting Bench or set up a Camp. Then, you should see the stats for that piece of gear alter in line with the upgrade. A description of the design and what it does will appear on the right. When you are on your 'Gear' screen, select the 'Necklace' option on the right. Open the 'Nails' menu and you will see a screen like this: This is the same menu you use to equip Cloaks. This is important to pay attention to if you want to boost specific parts of Frey's abilities and strength. Necklaces are another item of gear that can be equipped to Frey to boost certain stats and abilities. After this, you'll have unlocked 'Cloaks' which is one of the three types of gear you can collect. Here, we're going to explain what Gear is, how to upgrade all types of it, and where you can find more.

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'Forspoken' Lands As The 5th Best-Reviewed 2023 PS5 Game, Out ... (Forbes)

Forspoken is out today on both PS5, where reviews came in yesterday, and on PC, which demands a pretty high performance machine to even meet its recommended ...

[Metacritic](https://www.metacritic.com/game/playstation-5/forspoken?ref=hp). “Actually, it’s not as bad as everyone’s saying” seems to be the main point of praise for it right now, which is not especially promising. And this is one case where I don’t think the new “standard” AAA game price of $70 and no day one PS Plus launches like Xbox does with Game Pass is doing the game any favors here. I would be surprised if there was some surge of fan support for the game to propel it to become a hit on PS5 and PC, but I suppose it’s too early to tell. If we instead turn to the grand list of 2022, a 68 Metascore would put Forspoken outside the top 100 of games released on PS5 that year. I watched backlash turn into backlash against the backlash over the course of just a few hours.

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Forspoken: Cipal Mutants Guide (TheGamer)

Despite being the smallest region in Forspoken, the area around Cipal has a hefty number of Mutants to fight.

When the Borophagus roars, it gives itself an attack buff - you'll want to be very wary when this happens, as it can drain your entire health bar in a single hit, which makes it very easy for the smaller enemies' incidental attacks to finish you off. The Altered Ilingoceros is very similar to the Altered Mylodon but is likely a little easier. This encounter with an Altered Mylodon is functionally the same as the one in The Barren Plains, but the terrain is a little tougher to deal with. The Borophagus is weak to Frey's Magic, so equip your best cloak and necklace that boost this. The Gruagach is less threatening, so you can safely ignore it until you deal with the Borophagus. After beating the Kelaino, you can take on the Goliath with the regular strategy (detailed above). Combining Blast Slice with Fusillade is a great combination for maximum damage, especially as the resulting barrage of hits is likely to knock the enemy down, ready for a Finishing Move. Once you've obtained that spell, you can take on the Goliath reasonably. - Equip the necklace with the highest Red Magic stat, and upgrade it further as high as you can manage. This beast has an unblockable attack (with the red indicator) consisting of a short leap at you and then a ground pound. Thanks to this, Blast Slice is the best spell to use, as it's a ranged fire spell. You'll want to put off fighting this beast until you're a fair bit into the game.

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Things to Do First in Forspoken - Forspoken Wiki Guide - IGN (IGN)

When you first arrive in Athia, it's easy to become overwhelmed by how big - and dangerous - this world is. There are four different territories for you.

New Cloaks and Necklaces often come with new and unique buffs, which you can then apply to any other piece of equipment you own. You can get gear by going to certain locations on your map, like Locked Labyrinths or abandoned ruins, and eliminating all the enemies. One of the items you should upgrade as soon as possible is your medicine pouch capacity. Sure, these Mana Pools only give you one Mana Point each, but there are tons of them in the world, and they're usually strategically positioned, so you'll quickly pick them up when parkouring around Athia. This guide will explain all of the essential things you should do as soon as you start playing Forspoken, to help guarantee that you'll have a great experience from day one. One of the first resources you should stock up on is Mana.

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