Kat D

Can't do half stars, but if I could, I'd give it 3.5 I got FORSPOKEN half off and I'd argue that's how much it's worth. It's not a bad game and I do think you should play it if you're curious. Wait for a sale or for it to become a free monthly game on PS. The best things are the traversal and combat systems - they carry the game and are what kept me playing until the end. The particle effects (especially the fire ones) are great and super flashy. The traversal is satisfying and I had lots of fun zooming all over the map. There are some areas that are unreachable until you unlock certain abilities via founts, which can be frustrating at first because there's no indication that you need a specific skill. The combat is enjoyable and I found myself wanting to learn which magic type works best against each enemy. The map is huge and there are things to discover in the various sections but it still feels a bit empty and repetitive. Outside of Cipal, there aren't any NPCs to interact with (other than enemies) and maybe it's just me, but it contributed to the world feeling empty. I understand that the break has corrupted Athia, but having all NPCs inside Cipal makes the world feel rather lonely. My favorite thing to do was collect all the Tanta familiars. The cats were all very cute and I loved the variety of designs. Not only were they adorable, they actually served a purpose, helping collect items and mana along the way. The story/writing is weak. There are some sad things that happen but I never felt that attached to any of the characters so they didn't have much impact. The NPC interactions feel hollow, and their facial animations are stiff. The story was predictable, and maybe that's because I've consumed a lot of fantasy media, but I didn't WANT to know what was going to happen before it did, yet I figured out nearly every major story beat prior to it occurring. I know a major criticism for this game was the dialogue between Cuff and Frey. Their back and forth didn't bother me at first, but as the game wore on, I found the repeated voice lines mildly annoying. I never turned Cuff off, but I did enjoy the quiet when he wasn't around. Frey's use of swears wasn't an issue and I found it relatable, since I tend to say similar things while gaming. Overall, I liked Frey as a character but I wish her backstory wasn't based on tropes. FORSPOKEN is a decent game and it's worth giving it a shot if you're even mildly interested. It has weak spots, but it really shines in combat and traversal.