Forspoken gameplay is discussed at length as a new 10-minute trailer emerges from Gamescom.

Forspoken Gets a Gameplay Deep-Dive in New 10-Minute Footage

Square Enix’s upcoming open-world RPG Forspoken got a hefty 10-minute gameplay deep dive during this year’s Gamescom convention. The title was already delayed to October this year, and later on, delayed again to 2023. However, it looks like the game is now in the final polishing stages, and they are gearing up for an explosive start in 2023.

Let’s take a closer look at what our protagonist, Frey Holland, will be getting up to at the start of next year!

The Forspoken

Forspoken follows a teenage girl, Frey, as she is mysteriously transported into a fantasy kingdom only known as Athia. Her only companion is a golden magical cuff that has attached itself to her wrist.

She thus discovers that her partnership with “Cuff” allows her to cast powerful spells, jump great distances, and other amazing feats.

The Lands of Athia

Athia has been ground zero for a cataclysmic event called The Break which has corrupted almost every living being there is. We are introduced to three notable areas in the newest Forspoken gameplay footage. First is Cipal, the only safe haven for humanity and the only friendly city that Frey will be able to visit. Just like any RPG, this city will be the major hub that Frey will return to, and will have many useful services and quest givers.

Next is Praenost, a wide open landscape that is more desert than a forest. It is right on the outskirts of Cipal, so while it is relatively safe Frey shouldn’t take that for granted. Think of it as her own personal inhospitable playground.

Lastly is Avolet, a once lush forest that looks somewhat like Limgrave in Elden Ring. While this area still has some greenery to it, these lands have the most corrupted areas in all of Athia. Even the very weather in Avolet is cursed, manifesting only as swirling miasmas of darkness. Even the vegetation here has not been spared, as they have an alien-like purple glow to them.

Exploration at Its Finest

Exploring Forspoken and the lands of Athia will be one of the activities that Frey will be doing, aside from combat. There are many hidden secrets in the world. Treasure, gear, mana, and Forspoken lore are just some rewards waiting to be found.

Ancient Bell Towers in the world will act as survey points that Frey can scan. Doing so will reveal multiple nearby points of interest. She should explore these thoroughly, as they can contain glowing pools of Mana. Frey’s maximum mana will determine what kind of offensive spells she can cast, so it is important to seek these pools out.

Corrupted Monuments to once proud deities lay in shambles, especially in Avolet. Clearing them of their curse will grant Frey some powerful passive upgrades, such as permanent increases to her maximum health.

Pilgrim’s Refuges are also small buildings scattered throughout Athia, similar to the camps in Horizon Forbidden West. These outposts allow Frey a bit of respite from the corrupted hordes. She can also craft new equipment here or upgrade existing pieces.

Good thing that Forspoken has an extremely fluid traversal system. Frey and Cuff can sprint through the lands at striking speeds, fast enough to even run up cliffs and jump across chasms. She has access to a grappling-hook style spell that will help her latch onto and propel herself towards ledges and other floating objects. She can even surf on massive icicles that she creates.

Forspoken Combat

We’ve already seen tons of Forspoken’s visually stunning spell-based combat before, but it is still as exciting to watch now. The game’s framerate has definitely improved a lot since the initial trailers, making the ebb and flow feel much more fluid and dramatic.

Frey will have access to powerful offensive and defensive magic. While it looks like she can only have 3 types of spells equipped, each category can be quickly swapped on the fly thanks to a handy spell selection wheel. It also looks like there will be options for players who prefer spamming quick attacks or those who want heavier more strategic spells.

Another new reveal was that Frey will be graded based on her combat performance. Performing different actions instead of the same one over and over will increase her combat grade. Stringing different spells together, using support magic, hitting enemies from behind, and even performing parkour in combat will all affect this score. Frey’s EXP earned and item drops will be increased to reward flashy and flawlessly executed fights.

Start the Year Right

Forspoken will release on January 24, 2023. This should mark a great year for gaming, as there are many other anticipated titles coming out around this time. The game will release on PC and PlayStation 5. It can be preordered today for $69.99 for the standard edition and $94.99 for the digital deluxe.

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