Forspoken

“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.

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.

“Forspoken takes too long to get started due to a poorly paced story, but its dazzling spellcasting and parkour traversal will reward patient players.”.

I would recommend Forspoken to action and RPG fans, but I wish I could give them one of my save files with total open-world freedom and most of the traversal and combat spells unlocked from the jump. Holding Circle to run while using all of the triggers and bumpers on the controller to use magic stretched the DualSense (and my hands) to their limits. Forspoken does know how to do open-world game design right: there’s always somewhere interesting to go, it’s fun to get there, and you’ll always be rewarded for engaging. She starts with rock- and plant-based skills, but gains access to fire-, wate-r, and energy-based magic as the story progresses. Once players have some time to get comfortable with the controls, running around the vast and well-designed open world of Athia is equally adventurous and exhilarating, with combat acting as a visual spectacle that rewards mastery of its systems. Parkour also plays a part in combat, as players will successfully dodge attacks while utilizing Flow, and can even combo it into more powerful types of magic. By simply holding down the Circle button, players can “Flow” to run fast around Athia and even parkour over more objects. Unfortunately, it takes a while to get to that point, and even once it does, it struggles to remain focused on it. It’s heartening to see a non-white protagonist in a major video game, and Luminous does try to pair that with a racial allegory about a character who feels belittled and out of place in Athia at first. While movie actors making the jump to video games often comes with mixed results, Ella’s passion for Frey comes through in some of the game’s extended monologues, even when they’re full of jargon. But it never goes through the effort to fuse story and gameplay together that well. A narrative twist near the end also adds some intriguing depth to the adventure, making me want to see the game through.

Despite its flaws, 'Forspoken' is a fun adventure that nails the minute-to-minute gameplay with Frey's parkour abilities and magic spells.

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. While it feels unintentional, the situation comes off a bit tone-deaf considering Frey is a black woman in the United States. One of the game’s opening scenes depicts Frey in a courtroom with a judge reading aloud her criminal record. The combat is one of the most fun parts of “Forspoken.” The real-time system from “Final Fantasy XV” puts a bigger emphasis on magic here. What comes after is a journey of self-discovery, finding her place in the world, and lots of parkour. Frey’s east coast origins also provide a really interesting contrast between her and the aristocratic locals in the city of Cipal, Athia’s final stronghold.

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.

'Forspoken' is an ambitious but messy game, with dazzling combat and gameplay that sag beneath an unimaginative narrative.

We love magic and science-fiction in equal measure, and as much as we love experiencing rich stories and worlds through games, we won’t ignore the real-world context in which those games are made. The ambitious combat system and traversal are truly memorable and satisfying, I’m hopeful that a potential sequel or successor could elevate these ideas into something even more special. Most of the story involves figuring out what happened to Athia and its Tanta, and how Frey fits into the grand scheme of things. But two-sentence archive entries aren’t a great way to fall in love with a world. Combat is only heightened by Forspoken’s gorgeous graphics, with dazzling particle effects that make each and every battle feel like a spectacle. A talking bracelet transports Frey to Athia and attaches itself to her arm, and she quickly learns the world has been wracked by a magical cataclysm known as The Break. As you unlock additional magic, you’ll also access new parkour abilities, like gliding over water, leaping up cliffsides, and a grappling move. It’s all too easy to see most of Forspoken’s twists coming from a mile away. Its traversal and combat mechanics shine, but they’re trapped underneath a story and setting that feels painfully average and completely unwilling to engage with more challenging themes. While Forspoken’s story disappoints, its gameplay systems are engaging and rewarding, with progression that encourages thorough exploration. Forspoken casts you as a young Black woman named Frey Holland who was abandoned by her parents as a baby on the streets of New York. After a lifetime spent in the foster system, Frey now lives alone in an abandoned apartment with her adorable cat, Homer.

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.

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)

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.

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??)

Major spoilers from Forspoken are being shared online, as footage from the whole game leaks. This includes a video of the final boss battle, ...

[Square Enix](https://www.thegamer.com/tag/square-enix/) doesn't appear to have commented on the leaks just yet, but this is just one front that Forspoken is facing issues on. They hint that this is because they are based in New Zealand, perhaps getting access to the game early on [PS5](https://www.thegamer.com/tag/playstation-5/) due to an issue with time zones. It remains to be seen how general audiences react when the game drops tomorrow, available for PS5 and PC. As we write this, critic reviews are going live, and it's a disappointing return for the new IP. This includes a video of the final boss battle, revealing a major twist in the story (which fret not, we will not reveal here). However, this was not the first story leak for Forspoken.

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.

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.

Forspoken will take players away to the fantasy land of Athia, but it will take a lot to match the open worlds of Elden Ring and Breath of the Wild.

- From the team behind Final Fantasy XV comes Forspoken, a new open-world action RPG with a heavy emphasis on magical-oriented combat. - Single-player - Genre: While some of these apprehensions may have been dispelled with the release of the demo, Forspoken's gameplay and large open world may struggle to counteract narrative criticisms like its under-fire dialogue. Developers claim it will take 30 to 40 hours to complete the game's main story, with it taking plenty of [combat and exploration in Forspoken](https://screenrant.com/forspoken-gameplay-trailer-combat-exploration-ui/) to complete every side quest and discover everything the large map has to offer. Originally slated for release in early 2022, Forspoken was delayed twice before eventually settling on a January 24, 2023 launch.

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.

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.

Forspoken, the upcoming action RPG by Luminous Productions, is set to launch on January 24. PlayStation users will be able to play the game at midnight in ...

[final boss battle appearing online ahead of the game's release](https://www.dualshockers.com/forspokens-final-boss-fight-leaks/). [ery powerful PC to run effectively](https://www.dualshockers.com/forspoken-pc-system-requirements/), which could be a sign of poor optimization. [Forspoken](https://www.dualshockers.com/tag/forspoken/), the upcoming action RPG by Luminous Productions, is set to launch on January 24. Also available is the questionably expensive deluxe edition for $94.99. According to the [game's Steam page](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1680880/Forspoken/), Forspoken will be available on January 24 at 8 AM PT / 11 AM ET / 4 PM UTC and so on. If you pre-order the standard edition, you will receive multiple in-game cosmetic items for free, but these items differ depending on your platform.

Here's our guide on how to Fast Travel in Forspoken, how to unlock it, and we explain what Pilgrims Refuges are too.

If you head to the close-up map and hover over the icon in the middle of Cipal, you will be prompted to Fast Travel to it. 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. This is why we're going to show you how to Fast Travel in Forspoken, how to unlock it and we explain what Pilgrims Refuges are too. After clicking on it, use the prompted command for fast travel to go to that location. Now that you've found one, you need to activate it if you want to use Fast Travel. There's a lot for you to explore throughout the game, and Fast Travel is by far the easiest way to jump around between the different areas that you've discovered.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Forspoken offers players plenty of options, both when it comes to the difficulty settings and the graphical performance of the game on PS5 and PC.

"Quality-Focused" is the best option for those who want to The best difficulty setting in Forspoken will vary from player to player, though for most, "Default" will likely prove to be the best option. As a result, those looking for the best image quality or difficulty settings in

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.

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.

Frey Holland stands in a grassy field and stares at a locked labyrinth in Forspoken. Image: Luminous Productions/Square Enix. Forspoken was shorter than I ...

Especially toward the end, I found that the chapters progressed more quickly, especially in Chapter 10, which featured a smaller and less complex area to explore than previous chapters. If your goal is to see the story through, however, this rundown should give you a sense of how far along you are to [in my review](https://www.polygon.com/reviews/23564015/forspoken-review-ps5-release-date-demo-square-enix-pc-specs-system-requirements), I completed the story and a healthy (if not completionist) amount of side content in roughly 16 hours.

Square Enix's 'Forspoken transports a New Yorker named Frey to the magical world of Athia. Here's how long you can expect the adventure to take.

All that being said, if you’re looking to 100 percent the game, or even just check off all the open-world icons, you’ll easily be looking at upwards of 50-60 hours. Our own playthrough of Forspoken clocked in at roughly 28 hours, undertaking most of the Detours found in the city, and exploring a bit of the open world. While you’re making your way to the Tanta, you’re highly encouraged to spend time in the open world, explore, and tackle a handful of the hundreds of icons scattered across the map. However, that’d mean you’d be skipping most of the content in Forspoken, as the game leans heavily on side quests and exploration. If you’re simply looking to mainline the story and do nothing else, you can beat the game in roughly 12-15 hours. [open world games](https://www.inverse.com/gaming/pokemon-scarlet-violet-future-franchise) there’s a wealth of things to see and do in [Forspoken](https://www.inverse.com/gaming/forspoken-review-ps5), from making friends with magical cats to taking pictures of landmarks to show to some kids.

Find out which retailers are selling Forspoken standard and Digital Deluxe Editions. Tyler Constable avatar. Deals by Tyler Constable Contributor. Additional ...

We hope the links above have helped you find a copy of, and save some money on Forspoken! Here are the best places to Buy Forspoken in the [UK](https://www.amazon.co.uk/Square-Enix-SQEA60-UK-24ST-Forspoken-PS5/dp/B09NDWQ8BC?tag=vg247-m-21) and [US](https://www.amazon.com/Forspoken-PlayStation-5/dp/B09NBBW4LS?tag=vg247-m-us-20). There are plenty of places to get Forspoken right now, with a handful of retailers issuing the game. [Buy Forspoken Digital Deluxe Edition](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1680880/Forspoken/)- £89.98 on Steam [Buy Forspoken Standard Edition](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1680880/Forspoken/)- £64.99 on Steam [Buy Forspoken Standard Edition](https://store.epicgames.com/en-US/p/forspoken)- £64.99 on the Epic Games Store [Buy Forspoken Digital Deluxe Edition](https://store.steampowered.com/bundle/23691/Forspoken_Digital_Deluxe_Edition/)- $94.99 on Steam Equipped with a mysterious talking bracelet and developing magical powers, Frey sets out to find her way home. [Buy Forspoken Digital Deluxe Edition](https://store.playstation.com/en-us/product/UP0082-PPSA03982_00-ATHIA00000000001)- $94.99 on PS Store [Buy Forspoken Standard Edition](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1680880/Forspoken/)- $64.99 on Steam [Buy Forspoken Standard Edition](https://www.thegamecollection.net/forspoken-ps5?sqr=forsp)- £47.95 at The Game Collection [Buy Forspoken Standard Edition](https://www.argos.co.uk/product/1351758)- £59.99 at Argos [Buy Forspoken Standard Edition](https://www.amazon.co.uk/Square-Enix-SQEA60-UK-24ST-Forspoken-PS5/dp/B09NDWQ8BC?tag=vg247-m-21)- £59.99 (was £64.99) at Amazon [Buy Forspoken Standard Edition](https://www.amazon.co.uk/Square-Enix-SQEA60-UK-24ST-Forspoken-PS5/dp/B09NDWQ8BC?tag=vg247-m-21)- £59.99 (was £64.99) at Amazon [Buy Forspoken Standard Edition](https://www.base.com/Buy/product/forspoken-ps5/dgc-prjathps5.htm)- £45.85 (was £64.99) at Base [Buy Forspoken Standard Edition](https://www.shopto.net/en/ps5fo02-forspoken-p1159405/)- £56.28 (was £64.99) at ShopTo [Buy Forspoken Standard Edition](https://www.game.co.uk/en/forspoken-game-exclusive-2868049)- £59.99 (was £64.99) plus £5 delivery at Game [Buy Forspoken Standard Edition](https://www.amazon.com/Forspoken-PlayStation-5/dp/B09NBBW4LS?tag=vg247-m-us-20)- $69.99 at Amazon [Buy Forspoken Standard Edition](https://www.gamestop.com/video-games/playstation-5/products/forspoken---playstation-5/327767.html)- $69.99 at Gamestop [Buy Forspoken Standard Edition](https://www.bestBuy.com/site/forspoken-playstation-5/6492129.p?skuId=6492129)- $69.99 at Best Buy [Buy Forspoken Standard Edition](https://www.walmart.com/ip/Forspoken-PlayStation-5/924766313)- $69.99 at Walmart [Forspoken](/forspoken-trailer-gameplay-news-rumours) released on 24th January 2023 on PlayStation 5 and PC.

The Forspoken release time is almost here, so your wait is nearly over if you're keen to jump in and start exploring Athia. Forspoken was delayed twice last ...

Forspoken releases globally on January 24, so the release times will vary, depending on your time zone. The Forspoken release time is almost here, so your wait is nearly over if you're keen to jump in and start exploring Athia. Forspoken unlocks globally on PC, whether you're playing on Steam or the Epic Games Store.

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.

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.

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.

Frey will start with the following attack magics: Burst Shot, Shield Shot, and Scatter Shot (each at level 1), along with the support magic Bind. To learn more ...

It works well in tandem with scatter shot for when you want to keep a distance, and it’s also great on flying enemies. Genesis: Genesis is a Surge Magic spell, a powerful attack you can use by pressing L2 and R2, preferably during sticky situations, as it has a long recharge time. It can be used on the ground or in the air and sends a huge vine sweeping around Frey in a large circle. If you’re charging Shield Shot and an enemy tries to attack you from the front, they’re in for a nasty surprise when you counter by blowing up the shield in their face. The order you learn spells is up to you, but if you think you made a mistake, don’t worry–you can always unlearn a spell to get a mana refund to use elsewhere. When enemy defenses are tough, give a charged Burst Shot a try–it can penetrate the defenses of enemies who flaunt shields at you with ease.

Being friendly with the cats of Cipal will lead you to Poppets, one of Forspoken's more mysterious currencies. Forspoken - Frey encounters a cat ...

While you can get a fair number of Poppets early on in the game, you won't be able to trade them until you reach Chapter 7. The nine Poppets that you can obtain in Forspoken are all identical - they are basically a secondary currency type, after Old Coins. There are nine Poppets to collect over the course of the game, and they're all found in Cipal.

Today, Square Enix® announced that the much-anticipated, debut title from studio Luminous Productions, Forspoken, is now available globally on the Pla.

“STEAM” is a trademark and/or registered trademark of Valve Corporation in the U.S. [https://square-enix-games.com](https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=https%3A%2F%2Fsquare-enix-games.com%2F&esheet=53289755&newsitemid=20230124005452&lan=en-US&anchor=https%3A%2F%2Fsquare-enix-games.com&index=7&md5=afdc230a1cf3662fbc11ac4c181c4aab) Square Enix, Inc. [@Forspoken](https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.instagram.com%2Fforspoken%2F%3Fhl%3Den&esheet=53289755&newsitemid=20230124005452&lan=en-US&anchor=%40Forspoken&index=6&md5=c1dbaf1947e0fd052faf2d3491bb1704) Forspoken is now available to purchase on the PS5™ and PC (via STEAM®, Epic Games Store or Microsoft Store). [@Forspoken](https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=https%3A%2F%2Ftwitter.com%2FForspoken&esheet=53289755&newsitemid=20230124005452&lan=en-US&anchor=%40Forspoken&index=4&md5=124f9a49d6f5fa7d703684497d5d04bf) [www.forspoken.com](https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.forspoken.com&esheet=53289755&newsitemid=20230124005452&lan=en-US&anchor=www.forspoken.com&index=3&md5=6280c32d3a7d17d6324c3a26d7231a49) [www.forspoken.com](https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.forspoken.com&esheet=53289755&newsitemid=20230124005452&lan=en-US&anchor=www.forspoken.com&index=2&md5=d974c503e591330be726061ce9f38c0c) Square Enix and Luminous Productions also released a free playable PC demo (via STEAM®, Epic Games Store and Microsoft Store) today. The development team and everyone involved have worked so hard to bring the vision of Forspoken to life and we cannot wait to see fans’ reaction. Forspoken puts players in the shoes of Frey Holland, an ordinary young woman who has been mysteriously transported to Athia, a fantastical land that is devastated by an unknown force known as the Break. In this story-driven action-RPG, players will become extraordinary while utilizing magic-enhanced parkour and wielding a vast array of powerful spells and abilities in order to save the lands of Athia.

'Forspoken' boasts a massive open world packed with things to do, so it can be a bit hard to decide what to prioritize. Here's what you should do first.

There are multiple reasons to take on the Labyrinths, not the least of which is the fact you’ll simply receive quite a bit of experience and mana with all the enemies you take on. The Founts are usually a bit off the beaten path of the main story, but it’s worth detouring to get new spells, and along the way, you’ll usually uncover more activities as well. The world is packed with crafting materials and simply by exploring you’re bound to pick up a ton, so there’s really no reason to hang onto any materials. Whenever you rest at a Refuge you should craft any upgrades you possibly can, including increasing the capacity of your material and healing items pouch, as well as boosting the stats of Frey’s equipment. When Detours are available you should always prioritize them as they can be locked out as you forward your progress in the main story. With so much to see and do, it can be hard to know what to prioritize and do first, especially if you’re not keen on 100 percent-ing everything in the [open world](https://www.inverse.com/gaming/best-games-rpgs-ps-days-of-play-outer-worlds).

Forspoken looked pretty good when we played it in late 2021, but a trailer that dropped in August 2022 left a very different and much less positive ...

[said in December](https://www.square-enix-games.com/en_EU/news/forspoken-demo#:~:text=available%20to%20play%E2%80%A6-,NOW!,a%20brand%20new%20free%20demo!) (opens in new tab). [Forspoken](https://www.pcgamer.com/what-we-know-about-forspoken-square-enixs-next-big-action-rpg/) (opens in new tab) looked pretty good when we played it in late 2021, but a trailer that dropped in August 2022 left a very different and much less positive impression. We'll have our own review of the PC version posted soon. Given that, an opportunity to see how Forspoken will run on your rig without having to rely on Steam's refund policy is probably a good thing. and a lot of snarling, corrupted beasts to engage in battle. It's a beefy download for a demo, clocking in at roughly 43GB on Steam.