During the September 9 PlayStation Showcase, Forspoken debuted a new gameplay trailer. Developed by Luminous Productions and published by Square Enix, Forspoken is an action-adventure fantasy story designed specifically to be played on the PlayStation 5. The new trailer is over three minutes of action-packed, narrative information letting players know what to expect from the game.
Previously called Project Athia, not much was known about Forspoken before the PlayStation Showcase. A short teaser trailer showed quick glimpses of what was to come in the game, including a fantasy landscape, a hellish beast, and a girl who looks somewhat out of place in her surroundings. Actual gameplay footage hinted at powerful magical abilities as well, but nothing was actually revealed about what the story was or who the characters would be.
The new trailer gives fans a much more in-depth look at the story and gameplay to come and gave Forspoken a new release window for Spring of 2022. Additionally, Raio, a creative producer on the game, gave some additional insights about Forspoken in a PlayStation blog. Interestingly, all embodied characters in the Forspoken trailer are women - a stark contrast to most titles in the fantasy genre. Here is everything that Forspoken's newest trailer revealed about what players can expect from the game.
Who Forspoken's Protagonist & Main Characters Are
The central character in Forspoken is Frey, who also serves as the player character. From the trailer, Frey is having a rough go of it in her life in New York, shown getting beaten up and telling her cat Homer that they are going to leave for a better life. She gets her second chance upon being transported to Athia, a fantasy realm with otherworldly beasts. It's quickly revealed Frey is a Chosen One-type hero, the only one who can save the realm from a growing threat. She's also on an internal journey, transforming from a directionless 21 year-old with waning hope in life in NYC to someone who understands her own worth. From her dialogue, Frey seems to be a quick learner with an even quicker wit, more than capable of overcoming the challenges of the game.
Tanta Sila seems to be the primary antagonist and final boss in Forspoken, described in the trailer as "the strongest and most formidable of all the Tantas." She is shown mercilessly beating Frey down, most of her face hidden by a veil of metal scales. According to Raio, Tanta Sila used to be a protector of Athia, but somewhere along the way became warped with power. The other Tantas of Athia are likewise described as "destructive and twisted all-pwerful matriarchs," and it's likely they will be mini-bosses throughout the game.
Cuff is the second character players are introduced to in Forspoken's trailer, a talking bracelet that magically appears on Frey's arm after she is transported to Athia. He seems to function in a similar manner as Tony Stark's Jarvis, an omnipresent, and at times cryptic, voice that can hold data for Frey and give her tips and lore throughout the game. For example, in the trailer, when Frey asks where on Earth she is, he responds, "Athia. And technically not Earth. Well, not what you would call Earth anyway." It will be interesting to get to know him as the game's narrative progresses, especially if it comes to light Cuff has an ulterior motive. It's implied at one point in the trailer that he is responsible for Frey's powers in Athia; she can be heard saying "Did I just do that?" to which Cuff responds, "We did." If that turns out to be true, it will be interesting to see Frey engage in the world without her powers.
Johedy and Auden are only briefly shown in the new trailer, but both will reportedly be main characters throughout Forspoken's narrative. In the PlayStation blog, Johedy is described as a "hard-nosed activist" whose primary role seems to be as a kind of mentor for Frey, guiding her through the external plot points. Auden, meanwhile, seems to be an emotional cheerleader for Frey who will help spur her personal growth. The trailer shows Auden encouraging the protagonist, calling Frey special, a meaningful term for a girl without purpose.
What Forspoken's PlayStation Showcase Trailer Revealed About The World Of Athia
The bulk of the game takes place in the fantasy realm called Athia, and Forspoken is set to be an open-world experience. The trailer shows the land is a vast, diverse space, with sequences showing off rocky terrain, open plains, and massive natural landmarks. The civilized portions of Athia are in a medieval fantasy style; Frey initially finds herself atop a balcony in a large palace, and several fight scenes take place across city rooftops or amidst ruins. Not to mention, of course, Athia is a magical realm. Frey is able to move items with her mind, create balls of power to shoot at enemies, set traps, and manipulate fire, among others. From the trailer, it looks like Frey's magic takes on different hues depending on its use - red when activating a hookshot, yellow when flying through the air, and blue when walking on air. Forspoken's magic also allows a portal to be opened between Athia and New York City, though it's unclear if there will be any back and forth between the two locations once Frey is initially brought to Athia.
Athia is full of fantasy beasts, from a dragon in a castle courtyard to flying enemies to warriors who resemble spiky skeletons. At one point, Frey is shown fighting centurion-like soldiers, implying her foes will be human and magical in nature. As the trailer was focused on Forspoken's narrative and gameplay, it's still unclear what the human population in Athia looks like beyond the Tantas, Johedy, and Auden. However, given the world's massive scope, it's likely there will be plenty of NPCs for Frey to interact with on her journey.
Though New York City is only featured for a small portion of the trailer, it's important to note it as part of the world within Forspoken. In the PS5 exclusive game, Frey is used to the roughness and violence of the city streets, something that has ultimately shaped her character and will influence how Frey interacts with the world. Even on first meeting Cuff in the trailer, Frey takes a very New Yorker approach - aggressive and demanding. It's likely players will get to interact with Frey's home, and her cat, as part of gameplay, even if only in the Forspoken's opening moments.
Source: PlayStation
