![]() Those stereotypes included her “being very angry,” her having “fallen through cracks of society,” and being “on the verge of prison,” before being teleported to Athia. The publisher provided a review copy of this title.My newfound fears weren’t helped when Rymer and Stashwick described Frey’s origin story, which came off as a tired amalgamation of Black stereotypes. Still, while I would never recommend full price for a game that’s this mediocre overall, I can’t help but root for “Forspoken” to succeed just to see what could be done in this universe and with this character in a more accomplished sequel. There are so many mechanics here that work and gameplay structures that are simply fun, and yet they’re all against a backdrop that feels like it should be better. But while the B-movie escapism factor of “Forspoken” is fun enough as a diversion, one wishes it could have been grounded with richer storytelling and world-building. The movement also plays well into combat, allowing Frey’s parkour moves to help dodge and attack from the side or behind.Īnd I’ll admit there’s something addictive about the sameness of “Forspoken.” Over a relatively small 15-hour play time-although I’ve only scratched the surface of side quests and locations to explore that could probably double that time-I found myself enjoying becoming an increasingly powerful wizard. I enjoyed zipping through this world, looking for something new to blast with a spell I just learned or using a new movement spell to reach a different area. Frey has a parkour ability to race across the landscape and climb to unreachable heights that’s pretty addictive. The game works much better when it focuses on its heroine. ![]() Some villages in this world feel half-designed, as if someone stopped working on them before the game was released. There’s a much stronger version of “Forspoken” that puts far more attention into the world of Athia, and one wonders if the pandemic impacted the game's development and caused many corners to be cut. This is one of those RPGs in which you do the same thing over and over-clear enemies out of an infested building, run a challenge for time, explore labyrinths to obtain upgrades, find fast travel refuges-and it’s startling how much of it makes for a boring blend. Sure, there are long-cut scenes in Cipal, the besieged capital you return to regularly, but the bulk of the game takes place over a world that's cold and narratively flat. The world-building in “Forspoken” is its most disappointing aspect. You travel to different regions of Athia, but they all look vaguely the same-hills and valleys with different color palettes slapped on them. Still, the combat in “Forspoken” has a remarkable sameness, amplified by its weak character design and weaker settings. But I was surprised at how quickly I adjusted to the cluttered system, shifting between magic types mid-battle when needed. It’s kind of overwhelming in that you can complete the game without even unlocking a bunch of the spells, much less complete the challenges to upgrade them all. ![]() There are so many options that you’re better off picking your favorites and sticking with them (I used a Burst Shot in the first tree and a support spell that drops a magic-shooting plant), but there will be times when you have to switch between magic types to tap into the vulnerabilities of various enemies. The left trigger button unleashes a “Support” magic that’s typically more defensive, while the right trigger button goes with the more offensive options that give the game the feel of a magical shooter. ![]() Frey eventually learns four different kinds of magic, each with a tree of spells that can be unlocked and upgraded. Before she can battle these beings, Frey must learn the extent of her powers, trained and guided by a magical cuff on her arm voiced by Jonathan Cake (Shade from “ Stargirl”).Ībout those powers: Frey has an ever-expanding arsenal of spells, and I mean an arsenal. That’s exactly what’s set out in front of Frey when she learns that Athia is under the vicious thumb of its version of Wonderland’s Red Queen-powerful magicians known as Tantas, who are voiced by Janina Gavankar, Pollyanna McIntosh, Claudia Black, and Kendall Rae. These saviors usually have magical powers and have to save the day in order to return to their own reality. It’s also a template that owes a great deal to a Japanese form of fiction called an Isekai, which are typically fantasy or sci-fi tales in which someone gets transported to another world where he or she is the savior of this imaginary land. This time, Alice is Frey ( Ella Balinska of the recent Netflix “ Resident Evil” reboot), a New Yorker who has been getting into trouble in the Big Apple when she’s inexplicably transported to the magical world of Athia. “Forspoken” works from such an obvious “ Alice in Wonderland” template that it even drops in literal references to the classic fairy tale. ![]()
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