Part of this is down to Frey’s movement, who can use her newfound magical powers to soar up buildings, dart through the sky, skate across ice, and become the ruler of a world that was once unknown. It builds on the movement, combat, and environmental complexity of its predecessor to create an experience that is infinitely more adventurous. The origins are clear in every frame of Forspoken. The majority of Luminous Productions worked on Final Fantasy 15, a troubled project that spent years in development before finally being rebranded and becoming a game that is now seen as both polarising and beloved. And it still could, but I wish I was more excited. I admire a game that is willing to be different, giving a regional genre like this a global perspective that can allow it to grow into something new. Maybe I’m being too harsh, but JRPGs are known for expressive character designs and worlds that aren’t afraid to lean into the absurd, so when Forspoken opts for hushed tones and relative realism it all grows forgettable. I understood this visual direction, and how all of these luscious effects and sprawling environments would eventually be given an identity, but here we are a handful of months away from launch and this lack of distinction remains. When the game was first revealed it was little more than a next-gen showcase. So, when she’s dropped into Athia, it’s seen as an opportunity to grow and recognise the trust she’s grown so accustomed to pushing aside. Having been brought up in a fractured care system, Frey is unwilling to trust those around her and opts for independence and isolation, her pet cat being one of the only sources of companionship in her life.

This young woman is slowly but surely bursting into adulthood amidst the streets of New York City, finding herself working with unsavoury people and risking a descent into a life of crime. Last week I sat down to watch a hands-off presentation of Forspoken which sought to delve into the story of Frey Holland as she’s transported to the mythical world of Athia. While potential is found across the realm of Athia, most of what I’ve seen feels dull, lifeless, and lacking a spark to bring it to life. It seeks to appeal to a widespread audience I’m not really sure exists, and the results thus far reflect such a scattered direction. This upcoming open world fantasy adventure is helmed by a Japanese development team and western writing talent, hoping to capitalise on a global appeal that genre giants like Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest have perhaps lacked in the past. So far, we know that Amy Hennig, Todd Stashwick, and Alison Rhymer are among the talent involved.Forspoken is a strange game. Forspoken's writing team comes from across “the worlds of film, tv, games, and fantasy literature”, he said on Twitter (opens in new tab). The team writing the story is being led by Gary Whitta, who has written for, among other games, Prey. Frey must defeat the Tantas with the help of Cuff in order to have a chance of returning back to New York City - and her cat. Her magic derives from her 'Cuff' a magical bracelet that can speak to her (and is voiced by Jonathan Cake). In this magical and dangerous world, Frey must learn to harness newfound magical powers in order to defeat monsters and the Tantas, who hold dominion over the land. 'Frey as a character is real, she’s raw, she’s a girl who lost her way - both figuratively and literally - and is a character I immediately connected with, as I feel many people around the world will too when they set off on this adventure.' 'As the first video game I’ve worked on, it’s remarkable to see the incredible world and story of Forspoken come together, blurring the lines between reality and fantasy,' said Balinska what she's seen of Forspoken so far. Before long, she finds herself transported to the world of Athia, 'where fantasies and nightmares are suddenly very real'.

Forspoken is a game about a young woman named Frey from New York City who is about to turn 21 years old.

Forspoken game