Forspoken Reviews
It’s never a bad game at all and I think some of the disdain towards the storytelling and writing seen on social media is unjust, but there’s no denying that it is very much a game of two halves. My score reflects how I felt about the game by the end because I really did love those later hours, but expect to have to go through a few tepid moments before Forspoken really hits its stride.
Luminous Productions has quite a way to go to captivate people from the start. A shame, because there’s a lot of potential buried within Forspoken’s flaws.
Deep underneath, there's plenty of interesting lore and directions a potential sequel could go if Square Enix were to make one. However, for the 12-14 hours I played, making my way through the core missions and a handful of additional content, the combat kept me engaged amidst moments of the story, making me want to nod off.
I really wanted to like Forspoken. However, its obnoxious protagonist, generic story, visually unappealing and uninteresting world, and shallow gameplay make it nothing more than an average experience that I’m in no rush to revisit.
As Luminous Productions’ first project after being formed from the developers of Final Fantasy XV, Forspoken is a remarkable yet flawed experience. There’s so much potential here, with an outstanding magic parkour system and a beautiful open world. However, it’s clear that the ambition was a little too high for this studio, as there are just too many incomplete (but great) ideas at work here that just don’t come to fruition.
Forspoken is a promising game that has the potential to provide hours of enjoyment through its open world and various side content. Despite this, it falls short in terms of pacing, an underwhelming story, and mediocre graphics, which greatly detract from the overall experience.
Fans had high hopes that Forspoken would be Square Enix's next potential hit. Unfortunately, the developers of Luminous Productions once again reveal a major weakness in the way the story is told. To make matters worse, there is a fundamentally unsympathetic protagonist who, in the absence of supporting secondary characters, is all the more the focus. Even the unused and well-developed magic system can't save much anymore.
Review in German | Read full review
Without a compelling story or likable protagonist, or a compelling world to explore, Forspoken only has its combat to rely on, and while I always found that fun and engaging, it’s not enough to justify an open world for a decidedly linear game. It tries a lot of things and comes up short in most of them. There’s a really good game in Forspoken. It just needed to be refined, polished, and edited.
Forspoken is a game of unrealized potential. A lot of the bad press it received in the months leading up to its launch was due to its writing and dialogue, which are honestly not that bad when taken in context, but the game has a tendency to use things in excess, making them something that you’d rather miss out on. The combat and traversal mechanics are generally fantastic once they come together, but the half-baked story and lack of immersive storytelling aren’t quite as present compared to the gameplay. It's terribly paced first few hours also don’t help, giving off a misunderstood first impression that may lose players before it gets a chance to recover.
With Forspoken's credits on screen, there's a clear feeling that Luminous Productions' good ideas deserved a much better run and less mess. Many of the mistakes of Final Fantasy 15 have again been made in Forspoken, with so many others on top serving as an excessive burden for what good can do. Parkour's frantic gameplay with magic and narrative deserved better design and execution, not to mention the graphical component, performance, and key elements like the camera. Forspoken has its charm, but makes serious mistakes.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
It’s a good game to play, just not a great game and that’s a shame.
Forspoken's got a lot of potential as a series but it never seems to hit the mark. Movement and battles are fun but they never move past being repetitive.
Forspoken stands on its own as an impressive game and delivers on what it promises, and you will be satisfied if you're into its premise for story or gameplay. It stands on its own as an impressive game, promising enough to join Square Enix's other flagship series in the future. It's just at the threshold of a breakthrough. Despite its narrative being slow and building slowly when everything fits into place and its expansive landscape, the game ultimately engages players to explore every inch of its universe.
Getting open world and narration under one lid is an art in itself. In a free game world, however, you should also be allowed to move freely and make your own mistakes. Here, as elsewhere, one cannot help but get the impression that the developers do not have too much confidence - neither in the abilities of the players nor in their own.
Review in German | Read full review
I came into Forspoken unsure of what I would find. Its initial teasers promised a gorgeous magical world full of incredible sites. Instead, we’ve been given something boring, that runs terribly and has a story full of overused tropes. The combat fares no better, and it’s retailing for $70 at launch. Do yourself a favor and only sate your curiosities once this game is on a deep sale.
Simply dazzling, Forspoken is highly recommended for any gamer looking to leap bounds through a fantasy world that searches for solace while at suffocating through the throttle of its own malevolent demiurge.
While the cheerful combat with cool parkour moves were exceptionally fun, 'Forspoken' has been lacking in so many ways for players who have endured its delay announcement for twice. All those cute cats fill Frey's room only serve to double the loneliness that is already been full in Athian world.
Review in Korean | Read full review
Overall, there is very little in Forspoken worth mentioning. Seemingly a product without any clear direction and with any and every idea allowed to be added, Forspoken is a muddled, boring, toneless mess.
There is no denying that Forspoken is a fun game that you can get lost in for hours. The mix between Frey’s ill-formed speech and the medieval-style dialect of the Athians is amusing, while the emotions displayed keep the story grounded. The tale of Forspoken may feel generic at the start, but it quickly sets itself apart from old-school fairy tales and blossoms into an enjoyable story with a lovable main character.
Square Enix and Luminous Production's attempt to create a new IP by combining various unusual elements and different cultural approaches is certainly appreciable, but there are several slightings that make Forspoken only half a successful title.
Review in Italian | Read full review