Warning: Spoilers for Forspoken ahead
One of the first big AAA open-world games to release this year isForspoken. Gamers have been waiting a long time for it, since it was one of the first games revealed for the PS5. The game shows promise, as it has big names likeUncharted’s Amy Hennig andGod of War’s Bear McCreary working on it. Nevertheless, there have been some doubts that have left some gamers on the fence. The recent leak of the first hour ofForspokengameplay clears up a lot of remaining questions surrounding the game, allowing players to decide whether they want to purchase it or not.
The trailer confirms that the game will be a cinematic, narrative-driven experience. It also reveals that judging Frey Holland too hastily may have been a mistake. However, theleakedForspokengameplaycould also sway gamers away, as it reveals that the game’s open-world remains empty, and it retains its complicated UI.
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The Forspoken Leak Lets Gamers See More of Frey
In the lead-up to the release ofForspoken, there has been a lot of skepticism around Frey and whether she will be able to serve as a good heroine. Somegamers criticized Frey’s dialogue inForspokenwhich can sound somewhat cheesy at times, while others have complained that not much has been done to make Frey likable. With the leaked footage, players can see more of Frey’s character, which helps to make her sympathetic.
From early on, it is revealed that Frey has had a very tough life. She was found as an infant near Holland Tunnel, which may explain her last name. She also has been getting into trouble with local criminals, which has made regularly roaming the streets difficult. As a result, it is not surprising that she wants to leave her immediate circumstances. Her wish is granted, but not quite in the way she expects, as she is warped to Athia. For gamers looking for a cinematic, narrative-based gaming experience,Forspokenappears to be a game that will scratch that itch. It doesn’t waste too much time getting to the action, and within the first hour, players will be encountering dragons and learning to harness magic.
The Forspoken Leak Reveals Some of the Game’s Flaws
Although the embargo for the game is set for the day before its release, gamers have already gotten a little taste of it through the demo. The demo showed how visually stunning the game is, but there were also a few flaws that triggered complaints. Some gamers felt thatForspoken’s UI is too cluttered, and the magic system is too complicated. The leaked gameplay footage reveals that the complicated UI will also make an appearance in the final game. This could be a deal-breaker for some, as it means that players will have to endure a bit of a learning curve before they get the hang of things.
The other issue lies with the game’s setting. From the early trailers, many gamers commented thatAthia looks empty as an open world. This is bad news in an open-world game, where exploration should be fun and rewarding. If the leaked footage is anything to go by, it appears that the fantasy world is still relatively empty. This may be an intentional choice by developers to give Frey space to perform her magic parkour, though not everyone will be happy with it.
Forspokenwill be a test for Luminous Productions. If the game finds success, it could be the beginning of a successful franchise. However, if it fails to impress gamers, it will be quickly overshadowed by the host of otheropen-world games coming in 2023.
Forspokenis scheduled to release on January 24 on PC and PS5.
