When Forspoken was first revealed, it carried the weight of being one of Square Enix’s big new IPs, a flashy fantasy RPG designed to show off the power of the PlayStation 5. With a mix of high-speed traversal, open-world exploration, and spell-slinging combat, it promised to be a showcase for next-gen gameplay. But does it deliver on that promise?
Story & Characters
You play as Frey Holland, a young woman from New York who suddenly finds herself transported to the magical land of Athia. The “fish out of water” concept has potential, but the writing often stumbles. Dialogue between Frey and her sentient cuff (literally a talking bracelet) veers between witty banter and grating sarcasm. Some emotional beats land, particularly when exploring Frey’s desire to find belonging, but the story doesn’t always escape its clichés.
The villains, known as the Tantas, are intriguing in concept—fallen matriarchs corrupted by power—but the game doesn’t flesh them out as much as it could. The narrative structure feels stretched, as if Forspoken wants to be an epic but doesn’t quite have the depth to sustain it.
Gameplay & Combat
This is where Forspoken shines. Frey’s magical parkour is easily the highlight—bounding across fields, scaling cliffs, and chaining boosts together feels exhilarating once you get the hang of it. It’s fluid, stylish, and genuinely fun, making traversal one of the best parts of the experience.
Combat is equally flashy, giving you access to a wide array of elemental spells. You’re encouraged to swap between fire, earth, and other abilities mid-battle, creating fast-paced encounters that feel dynamic. When the system clicks, it feels like a spell-slinging dance. That said, the lock-on system can be finicky, and some battles devolve into spamming the most effective spells rather than mixing strategies.
World & Exploration
Athia is gorgeous at times, with sweeping landscapes and towering ruins, but it also feels empty. Many open-world activities fall into the usual checklist routine—find chests, clear enemy camps, repeat. There are moments of wonder, but they’re often buried beneath repetitive design choices that make the world feel more like a backdrop than a living place.
Visuals & Performance
Graphically, Forspoken showcases the PS5’s horsepower in moments. Particle effects from spells explode across the screen, and the environments can be breathtaking at a distance. However, textures and NPC detail aren’t always consistent, and some cutscenes suffer from awkward animations.
Performance modes allow you to choose between fidelity and frame rate, though even on performance mode, frame drops occasionally creep in during chaotic battles. Load times, however, are impressively fast, reminding you of what the PS5 can do.
Sound & Music
Forspoken’s score is sweeping and cinematic, lending a grand sense of scale to the adventure. Voice acting is more uneven. Frey’s actress gives it her all, but the dialogue doesn’t always help her performance shine. The cuff’s dry British sarcasm is an acquired taste—you’ll either find it charming or downright irritating.
Verdict
Forspoken is a game of contrasts. Its magical parkour and flashy combat are genuinely fun and feel fresh, but its story, dialogue, and world design struggle to match the same energy. For those who crave high-speed movement and spell-driven action, there’s enjoyment to be found here, but the uneven writing and repetitive activities hold it back from greatness.
Score: 7/10
A visually ambitious RPG with thrilling traversal and combat, but weighed down by weak writing and shallow open-world design.
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