Forspoken Review: Is the PS5’s Big New Game Something to Consider?

Forspoken, the first project from Luminous Studios, is an interesting game amidst all the big releases of 2023. Its enchanting world, slick visuals, and varied combat system make it a really appealing open-world action-RPG that can lure in both fans of Final Fantasy and Devil May Cry alike. There is a lot to enjoy with Forspoken, however, the game is so incredibly ambitious (insanely so), that inevitably, it has some missteps and hiccups in other parts of its experience.

So, what is Forspoken? It’s essentially a fantasy action game with some light RPG mechanics thrown into the mix, where you take control of Frey, a cool-kid New Yorker who is transported to a magical world, bestowed with supernatural powers, and bound to a talking cuff on her arm. It’s all very Never Ending Story, and the whole fish-out-of-water narrative in the mysterious land is really captivating. However, the intriguing premise is sometimes pulled down by some long-winded exposition. Instead of finding out a lot about the world as you play, you’re often forced to listen to long conversations in cutscenes about how and why things are the way they are in the world of Athia.

While the way in which the story plays out can be slow, the action is anything but that. Combat is fast, fluid, and gorgeous to look at in Forspoken, whereby players use projectiles, melee attacks, and eye-popping spells, which make up the meat of the combat options. Firing off spells, dodging attacks with acrobatic flips, and kicking monsters in the face is a lot of fun and have great fluidity and momentum. There are a lot of spells too (all of which look like firework displays… of death), allowing you to opt for a more ranged and magical approach, or something a bit more aggressive and in-your-face if you are more inclined to be that type of player.

The combat loop is great, and if people like the ‘shoot, dodge, attack’ nature of other games in the genre, there’s a lot to immerse yourself in here. That also applies to the traversal, which, admittedly, makes up a lot of the time in Forspoken. It’s slick, has great flow thanks to the parkour-inspired animations, and gives a lot of speed to the game. The problem with Forspoken is actually when it slows down.

The story of Forspoken starts off intriguing enough and Frey’s journey from rough-around-the-edges New Yorker to fantasy hero is fun to experience. Still, there are just so many moments that feel superfluous in the game, tacked on with some dialogue that feels very out of place. These portions of Forspoken aren’t game-breakers, but they just feel like speedbumps and periods that prevent it from reaching its potential.

Forspoken may not be the next ‘must-play’ PS5 hit that gamers had hoped for, but it is an enjoyable experience that fans of the genre should have a good time with, despite some of its quirks and attempts to be edgier than it needed to be.

Forspoken is available on PS5 and PC.