From managing spells to navigating the open world of Athia, here are some tips that’ll start you off right in Forspoken, Square Enix’s PS5 and PC action RPG.
Forspoken, Square Enix’s particle effects showcase that comes with a side of high fantasy RPG, is probably unlike any game you’ve ever played. You use “magic parkour” to zip around a realm from another dimension where the rules of physics don’t apply. Forget loadouts — you juggle literally dozens of spells at once. Also, your companion is a talking cuff named, uh, Cuff.
But in spite of its weirdness, Forspoken has undeniable charm — one of those oddball action RPGs that seems destined for cult classic status in five years. If you’re hopping on the train early (Forspoken is currently out for PlayStation 5 and PC), here are nine things you should know before starting.
Bucking decades of game design trends takes a while to get used to, and Cuff’s defensive prowess isn’t impenetrable: You’ll occasionally still lose some health. That said, when you’re out of stamina (indicated by the diamond-shaped nodes above your health bar), Cuff. That’s when you should run and hide for a few seconds.
Similarly, Cuff can protect you from certain falls. If you have a full stamina bar, falling from a great height will deplete your stamina with no impact to your health. If you’re out of stamina, though, you’ll take damage when you hit the ground. In other words, be careful when you’re fighting on a bridge!
Pilgrim’s refuges are Forspoken’s way stations, small chapels that serve as places you can fast travel to and heal yourself at. There, you can also craft items and upgrade existing gear. And if you interact with the pulpit (located in the threshold of each refuge), you’ll reveal undiscovered locations in other parts of the map.
