What works and what doesn't in Forspoken on PS5

In 2012, Square-Enix unveiled a tech demo designed to showcase what the then next-generation of consoles might be able to deliver from a visual perspective. The demo was called Agni's Philosophy and it was our first taste of the Luminous Engine which would go on to power the gorgeous Final Fantasy 15. A second demo, known as Witch Chapter 0, was created and shown three years later, focusing on the same lead character while expanding its technology. Now, more than ten years later, this convergence of technology and world building come together in a shipping game: Forspoken. Powered by Luminous Engine and inspired by the world of Agni's Philosophy, Forspoken channels a different era of Square-Enix, when new concepts flowed freely, bound not by the Finality of its most popular Fantasy series. In that sense, Forspoken melds Japanese design with Western sensibilities to create a unique fusion.

Developed by Luminous Productions - including many of the same people that worked on Final Fantasy 15 - Forspoken is only the second game in 10 years to be powered by Luminous Engine. The trailer showcased impressive visuals and imaginative gameplay scenarios but it also raised many questions, and the hype leading up to release has remained somewhat tepid. As such, I went into the game filled with uncertainty - pre-release media never managed to perfectly convey what the game is about and the demo raised more questions than answers.

At its core, Forspoken is an open world action RPG with a focus on magic and high-speed traversal. Taking control of lead character Frey, equipped with her initially unwanted companion, Cuff, you'll explore the world of Athia, engaging with its countless characters and creatures as you'll begin to uncover the nature of this world and your connection to it. The game opens with a rather hamfisted introduction sequence that has Frey narrowly avoiding prison time, running from gun-toting gang members and escaping an abandoned building she calls home as it burns to the ground. It's a lot to process but shortly after, she finds herself whisked away to a new world - Athia.

Read more