Forspoken For Pc Review

Forspoken’s PC port is, frankly, a mixed bag, offering a visually stunning world and dynamic combat that’s often hampered by significant performance issues, even on high-end hardware.

While the game’s unique traversal system and engaging magic mechanics provide genuine moments of fun, the technical hiccups, inconsistent frame rates, and demanding system requirements make it a challenging recommendation for many PC gamers, especially at launch.

It’s a prime example of a game that needed more time in the oven for PC optimization, ultimately undermining an otherwise ambitious open-world action RPG.

Here’s a comparison of some top-tier PC gaming hardware and accessories that could, in theory, help tame a demanding title like Forspoken, or at least provide an optimal experience for other graphically intensive games:

• NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090

  

  • Key Features: Top-tier performance, 24GB GDDR6X VRAM, DLSS 3.0, Ray Tracing Cores, Tensor Cores.
  • Average Price: $1,600 – $2,000+
  • Pros: Unrivaled gaming performance, excellent for 4K and high refresh rate monitors, future-proof for several years, superb for content creation and AI tasks.
  • Cons: Extremely expensive, high power consumption, physically very large and may not fit in all cases, often overkill for 1080p or 1440p gaming.

• AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D

  • Key Features: 16 Cores/32 Threads, 3D V-Cache technology for gaming, high clock speeds, AM5 platform.
  • Average Price: $600 – $700
  • Pros: Best-in-class gaming CPU, excellent multi-core performance for productivity, lower power consumption than some competitors, highly efficient.
  • Cons: Requires a new AM5 motherboard and DDR5 RAM, can be expensive for the full platform upgrade, 3D V-Cache benefits are game-dependent.

• Samsung 990 Pro SSD

  • Key Features: PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 SSD, up to 7,450 MB/s read speed, 2TB capacity often recommended, DRAM cache.
  • Average Price: $150 – $250 for 2TB
  • Pros: Blazing fast load times for games and applications, excellent for direct storage DirectStorage API can benefit from this, reliable Samsung reputation, good for content creation.
  • Cons: PCIe 5.0 SSDs are emerging though less common, still more expensive than SATA SSDs per GB, benefits over PCIe 3.0 are not always immediately obvious in every game.

• Corsair Dominator Platinum RGB DDR5 RAM

  • Key Features: High-speed DDR5 memory e.g., 6000MHz CL30, stylish RGB lighting, excellent build quality, optimized for Intel XMP and AMD EXPO.
  • Average Price: $150 – $250 for 32GB kit
  • Pros: Crucial for modern gaming performance, especially with AMD CPUs, visually appealing, reliable brand, strong overclocking potential.
  • Cons: DDR5 is still more expensive than DDR4, RGB may not be for everyone, specific timings and speeds can vary in performance.

• Dell Alienware AW3423DWF QD-OLED Monitor

  • Key Features: 34-inch ultrawide, QD-OLED panel, 3440×1440 resolution, 165Hz refresh rate, 0.1ms GtG response time, FreeSync Premium Pro.
  • Average Price: $800 – $1,000
  • Pros: Incredible contrast and vibrant colors OLED, exceptionally fast response time, immersive ultrawide aspect ratio, great for single-player games, G-Sync/FreeSync for tear-free gaming.
  • Cons: Risk of burn-in though mitigated by QD-OLED tech, still pricey, 16:9 content will have black bars, brightness can be lower than some IPS panels.

• Logitech G Pro X Superlight 2 Gaming Mouse

  • Key Features: Ultra-lightweight 60g, LIGHTSPEED wireless technology, HERO 2 sensor 32,000 DPI, long battery life, optical-mechanical switches.
  • Average Price: $150 – $170
  • Pros: Extremely precise tracking, comfortable for long sessions, virtually no input lag, excellent battery life, highly favored by esports professionals.
  • Cons: Expensive for a mouse, limited buttons for some MMO players, only available in a few colors, shape might not suit all hand sizes.

• SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless Headset

  • Key Features: Multi-system connectivity PC, PlayStation, Xbox, hi-res audio, active noise cancellation ANC, swappable batteries, ClearCast Gen 2 microphone.
  • Average Price: $300 – $350
  • Pros: Exceptional sound quality for gaming and podcast, comfortable for extended wear, versatile connectivity, hot-swappable batteries prevent downtime, clear microphone.
  • Cons: Very expensive, ANC is good but not best-in-class, requires a base station, can feel bulky for some users.

The PC Port’s Rocky Launch and Initial Impressions

When Forspoken hit PC, it landed with more of a thud than a flourish. Square Enix and Luminous Productions had painted a picture of a visually groundbreaking title, leveraging cutting-edge technology. The reality for many players, however, was a jarring experience marked by inconsistent performance, even on systems well above the recommended specifications. This wasn’t just a minor optimization issue. it was a fundamental problem that colored the entire initial perception of the game.

Performance Woes and Frame Rate Instability

The most glaring issue on PC was undoubtedly the game’s frame rate instability. Even high-end GPUs like the RTX 3080 or Radeon RX 6800 XT struggled to maintain a consistent 60 frames per second at 1440p, let alone 4K, without significant sacrifices to graphical settings.

• Variable Frame Pacing: Players reported wild swings in FPS, often dropping from 60+ down to the 30s in busy combat encounters or when traversing dense city areas like Cipal. This erratic behavior made the game feel less fluid and more like a constant battle against the engine.
• CPU Bottlenecking: Surprisingly, the game appeared to be quite CPU-intensive, with many users seeing high CPU utilization, even on modern multi-core processors. This suggested poor thread optimization, leading to bottlenecks that even powerful GPUs couldn’t overcome.
• Impact on Gameplay: For an action-RPG where precise timing and fluid movement are key, these performance issues were detrimental. They detracted from the exhilarating parkour and flashy magic combat, turning what should have been a spectacle into a frustrating stutter-fest.

Visual Fidelity vs. Optimization Compromises

Forspoken can be a beautiful game on PC when running optimally. The world of Athia is vibrant, with diverse biomes and impressive particle effects during combat. However, achieving this visual fidelity often meant enduring a slideshow or significantly dialing back settings.

• High-Resolution Textures: The game boasts impressive high-resolution textures, particularly on character models and environmental details. However, these textures come at a VRAM cost, with 8GB GPUs struggling at higher resolutions and settings.
• Ray Tracing Implementation: Forspoken incorporates ray tracing for shadows and ambient occlusion. While it adds a layer of realism, the performance hit was substantial, making it practically unusable for anyone aiming for a smooth 60 FPS experience, even on RTX 40-series cards at launch. It often felt like a feature added more for marketing than for practical playability.
• FSR 2.0 and DLSS Support: The inclusion of FSR 2.0 and DLSS was a welcome addition, offering upscaling technologies to boost performance. While these technologies did help improve frame rates, they often introduced a degree of visual softness or artifacts, particularly at lower quality settings. For many, relying on these to hit playable frame rates felt like a workaround rather than a solution to underlying optimization issues.

Frey’s Journey: Story, Characters, and World Building

Forspoken’s narrative centers on Frey Holland, a young woman from New York City who finds herself inexplicably transported to the magical, hostile land of Athia.

Accompanied by a sentient, talking cuff named Cuff, she navigates a world ravaged by a blight known as the Break and ruled by formidable sorceresses called Tantas.

The story attempts to blend an urban, modern sensibility with high fantasy, with varying degrees of success.

Frey and Cuff: A Dynamic Duo Mostly

The core of Forspoken’s storytelling lies in the dynamic between Frey and Cuff.

Their banter is constant, serving as both exposition and comic relief.

• Frey’s Sarcasm and Growth: Frey’s initial cynicism and street-smart attitude are a refreshing change from typical fantasy protagonists. Her dialogue is sharp, often sarcastic, and provides a relatable anchor in a fantastical world. Over the course of the game, she gradually evolves from a reluctant hero to someone more invested in Athia’s fate.
• Cuff’s Role: Cuff acts as Frey’s guide, confidant, and encyclopedia for Athian lore. Their conversations drive much of the plot and provide important background information. However, the sheer volume of their dialogue can sometimes be overwhelming, leading to a feeling of constant chatter that some players found grating.
• Chemistry and Repetition: While their chemistry has its moments, the constant back-and-forth can become repetitive. Certain lines and jokes are recycled, diminishing the impact of their dynamic over time.

The World of Athia and Its Lore

Athia is a land rich in history and magic, but also one scarred by a devastating magical plague.

The world-building attempts to create a sense of ancient grandeur and contemporary ruin. Viewsonic Elite Xg320U Review

• The Break: The central mystery of Athia is the Break, a corrupting force that transforms living beings into monstrous creatures and twists the land itself. Understanding its origin and how to stop it forms the backbone of the main quest.
• The Tantas: The four Tantas were once benevolent rulers, but the Break has corrupted them into formidable, tyrannical figures. Each Tanta presides over a distinct region of Athia, offering unique environmental challenges and boss encounters. Their tragic backstories are slowly unveiled, adding depth to the lore.
• Open-World Design: Athia is divided into several large, distinct regions, each with its own visual theme and hazards. While visually appealing, the open-world activities often fall into familiar patterns:
  • Side Quests: Fetch quests, monster hunts, and exploration challenges.
  • Founts of Blessing: Discovering these grants Frey permanent stat boosts.
  • Refuges: Safe havens for crafting and rest.
  • Old Coins: Collectibles used to unlock new abilities.
  • Trials: Combat challenges that test Frey’s magical prowess.

Pacing and Narrative Impact

The story’s pacing can be uneven.

The early hours are exposition-heavy, establishing Frey’s predicament and the world’s rules.

There are moments of genuine emotional impact, particularly as Frey confronts the consequences of her actions and delves deeper into Athia’s history.

However, some plot developments feel rushed, and certain character arcs could have benefited from more development.

The overall narrative, while attempting to be unique, occasionally leans into familiar fantasy tropes.

Combat and Magic Parkour: Frey’s Unique Skillset

Forspoken’s combat and traversal system are undeniably its strongest suits, offering a unique blend of fluid movement and flashy magical attacks.

This is where the game truly shines, providing moments of exhilarating action that few other titles can match, provided the PC port holds up.

Spellcasting and Elemental Variety

Frey’s primary mode of attack is magic, and she gains access to a wide array of spells across different elemental schools.

• Four Elemental Tantas: As Frey defeats each Tanta, she unlocks their elemental magic:
  • Frey’s Earth Magic Purple: Focuses on offensive spells like rapid-fire projectiles, AoE bursts, and defensive shields.
  • Sila’s Fire Magic Red: Emphasizes close-range, high-damage attacks, fiery explosions, and charging abilities.
  • Prav’s Water Magic Blue: Offers crowd control, defensive barriers, and tracking projectiles.
  • Olas’s Air/Lightning Magic Green: Specializes in high-speed, long-range attacks and area-of-effect damage.
• Support vs. Attack Spells: Each element provides a mix of “attack” spells primary damage-dealers and “support” spells utility, status effects, minor damage. Switching between these on the fly is crucial for effective combat.
• Charge Attacks: Many spells can be charged for more powerful effects, encouraging strategic timing during battles.
• Spell Customization and Upgrades: Frey can unlock and upgrade new spells using experience points earned through combat and exploration. This progression system allows players to tailor Frey’s magical arsenal to their preferred playstyle.
• “Surge” Magic: This powerful ultimate ability is charged by dealing damage. When activated, it unleashes a devastating, cinematic attack unique to each elemental school, often clearing large groups of enemies or heavily damaging bosses.

Magical Parkour: Traversal Reinvented

The “magical parkour” system is the game’s standout innovation for movement, offering an incredibly fluid and exhilarating way to traverse Athia’s open world.

• Effortless Movement: By holding down a button, Frey automatically performs acrobatic leaps, slides, and bounds across the environment. This isn’t just a simple run. it’s a dynamic, context-sensitive dash that makes crossing vast distances surprisingly enjoyable.
• Environment Interaction: Frey can scale cliffs, glide across water, and quickly move through dense forests using her parkour abilities. The system intelligently navigates obstacles, making exploration feel seamless.
• Stamina System: While magical parkour is generally free-flowing, it’s governed by a stamina bar that depletes with extended use. This encourages short bursts of speed rather than continuous, uninterrupted dashing, adding a minor layer of strategic resource management.
• Upgrades and Perks: Frey can unlock additional parkour abilities and perks, such as being able to chain more jumps, cover greater distances, or recover stamina faster. These upgrades enhance the already satisfying movement system.
• Combat Integration: The magical parkour isn’t just for exploration. it’s seamlessly integrated into combat. Frey can quickly evade attacks, reposition herself, and gain aerial advantage mid-fight, leading to highly dynamic and fluid combat encounters. This verticality and speed differentiate Forspoken’s battles from many other action RPGs.

Enemy Variety and Boss Fights

While the core combat mechanics are strong, the enemy variety can feel a bit limited, particularly in the early game. Lyndacom From Linkedin Review

However, the boss fights against the Tantas are highlights.

• Standard Enemies: Most common enemies are corrupted animals or humanoids, often falling into predictable archetypes melee, ranged, tank. Their elemental weaknesses encourage switching between Frey’s different magic sets.
• Mutated Variants: As Frey progresses, she encounters more powerful, mutated versions of existing enemies, which offer increased challenge and require more refined tactics.
• Tanta Boss Fights: These are the true tests of Frey’s abilities. Each Tanta has unique attack patterns, elemental affinities, and environmental mechanics that require players to master dodging, parrying, and utilizing their full magical arsenal. These encounters are visually impressive and mechanically engaging, making them a significant highlight.

PC Specific Features and Optimization Efforts Post-Launch

While the initial PC launch was rough, Luminous Productions did release several patches post-launch aimed at addressing performance issues and improving the overall experience.

These efforts, while appreciated, highlight the importance of solid optimization from day one.

Post-Launch Patches and Performance Improvements

The developers acknowledged the PC performance issues and released several updates.

• Driver Updates: Both NVIDIA and AMD released game-ready drivers specifically for Forspoken, which were crucial for even baseline performance. Players installing these drivers often saw immediate, albeit minor, improvements.
• Game Patches: Luminous Productions released multiple patches addressing various technical issues. These included:
  • CPU Optimization: Attempts to reduce CPU bottlenecking and improve multi-core utilization. While some improvements were noted, the game remained relatively CPU-heavy.
  • Shader Compilation Stuttering: Reductions in stuttering caused by shader compilation, a common issue in modern PC games.
  • VRAM Management: Improvements in how the game handles VRAM, particularly for systems with less than 12GB.
  • DLSS and FSR Enhancements: Further refinement of the upscaling technologies, sometimes improving visual quality at lower resolutions.
• Results: While these patches did lead to a more playable experience for many, they didn’t fundamentally transform the game into a perfectly optimized title. High-end systems still struggled to maintain locked 60 FPS at higher settings, and mid-range systems often had to compromise significantly on visual fidelity. The game remained demanding.

Graphics Settings and Customization

Forspoken offers a comprehensive array of graphics settings, allowing for a good degree of customization.

This is standard for PC titles but becomes critical when performance is a concern.

• Texture Quality: Options for high, medium, and low. High textures are very demanding on VRAM.
• Model Detail: Affects the geometric complexity of objects and characters.
• Shadow Quality: A significant performance hog, especially with ray tracing enabled.
• Ambient Occlusion and Global Illumination: Important for realistic lighting, but also resource-intensive.
• Particle Effects: Crucial for the magical combat, but can cause slowdowns during chaotic battles.
• Anti-Aliasing: Options for TAA, FSR 2.0, and DLSS.
• Ray Tracing: Separate toggles for ray-traced shadows and ambient occlusion. Turning these off significantly boosts performance.
• Scaling Resolution: Manual resolution scaling options in addition to the upscalers.
• Performance Impact of Settings: Players found that reducing settings like Shadow Quality, Ambient Occlusion, and disabling Ray Tracing offered the most significant performance gains. Textures could be kept higher if VRAM allowed, but lower resolutions were often necessary for smooth gameplay on anything but the beefiest rigs.

Ultrawide Support and Controller Options

The game does offer standard PC features that are generally well-implemented.

• Ultrawide 21:9 Support: Forspoken supports ultrawide resolutions out of the box, providing an immersive experience for those with compatible monitors. Cutscenes generally rendered correctly, a welcome change from some other PC ports that struggle with non-16:9 aspect ratios.
• Controller Support: Full controller support is present, with customizable button mappings and vibration feedback. The game generally feels better with a controller for its fluid movement and combat, making it a natural fit for players accustomed to console action games.

PC System Requirements and What They Really Mean

Understanding Forspoken’s system requirements is crucial, as the game proved to be far more demanding than many anticipated. The official specifications often felt like a bare minimum for a playable experience, rather than a smooth one.

Minimum Specifications 1080p / 30 FPS

These are the specs to just get the game running, likely at low settings and a console-like 30 frames per second.

• OS: Windows 10 64-bit Version 1709 or newer
• CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 1600X / Intel Core i7-3770
• RAM: 16GB
• GPU: AMD Radeon RX 5500 XT 8GB / NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 6GB
• Storage: 150GB HDD SSD recommended
• Interpretation: This configuration will allow the game to launch, but expect significant compromises. Frame rates will be inconsistent, and visual quality will be notably reduced. The game heavily benefits from an SSD, so an HDD for this title is a bad idea. The CPU requirements here are surprisingly low compared to the game’s actual CPU demands, suggesting a very poor 30 FPS target.

Recommended Specifications 1440p / 30 FPS

This tier aimed for a better visual experience at 1440p, but still only targeting 30 FPS. Rune Factory 4 Special For Pc Review

• CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 3600 / Intel Core i7-8700K
• RAM: 24GB
• GPU: AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT 12GB / NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 8GB
• Storage: 150GB SSD
• Interpretation: The jump to 24GB RAM and higher-end GPUs for a mere 30 FPS at 1440p raised eyebrows. Many players with these specifications found that even achieving a stable 30 FPS required turning down several settings, especially if they wanted higher than “medium” quality. The 8GB VRAM on the RTX 3070 could also be a bottleneck at 1440p with higher textures.

Ultra Specifications 4K / 60 FPS

This was the aspirational target, aiming for the best visual quality at a smooth frame rate.

• CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 5800X / Intel Core i7-12700K
• RAM: 32GB
• GPU: AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT 16GB / NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 16GB
• Storage: 150GB NVMe SSD
• Interpretation: Even with these top-tier components, achieving a consistent 60 FPS at 4K often required the use of DLSS or FSR, and even then, some settings had to be tweaked, especially if ray tracing was enabled. An RTX 4090 or a very high-end AMD GPU was often needed to hit native 4K 60 FPS consistently with most settings maxed out. The 32GB RAM requirement underlines the game’s memory hunger.

Storage and DirectStorage

Forspoken was one of the early titles to implement Microsoft’s DirectStorage API, designed to improve load times by allowing the GPU to decompress game assets directly from an NVMe SSD, bypassing the CPU.

• NVMe SSD Essential: While the minimum specs list an HDD, an NVMe SSD is virtually a requirement for a good experience. Load times are significantly faster, and the game world streams more efficiently, reducing stuttering.
• DirectStorage Benefits: While the theoretical benefits of DirectStorage are substantial, in Forspoken, its impact was somewhat masked by the overall performance issues. Load times were fast, but the underlying engine optimization issues still presented challenges. It highlights the potential of the technology, but also that it’s not a magic bullet for all performance woes.

The Verdict: Is Forspoken Worth It on PC?

So, after grappling with performance issues, exploring Athia, and mastering Frey’s magic, is Forspoken worth your time and money on PC? The answer, unfortunately, is still a nuanced one, leaning towards a cautious recommendation rather than an enthusiastic endorsement.

The Good: Strengths That Shine Through

Despite its flaws, Forspoken has undeniable strengths that can provide genuine enjoyment.

• Dynamic Combat: The spellcasting system is deep and visually spectacular. The ability to switch between elemental styles and unleash powerful “Surge” attacks keeps combat engaging, particularly in larger skirmishes and boss fights.
• Visual Spectacle When Optimized: When running smoothly, Athia is a stunning world with vibrant environments and impressive particle effects. The game can look gorgeous, showcasing the power of the Luminous Engine.
• Unique Protagonist: Frey’s modern, sarcastic attitude is a breath of fresh air in the fantasy genre. Her journey of growth, while sometimes clunky, provides a different perspective.
• DirectStorage Implementation: While not perfectly seamless, Forspoken was an early adopter of DirectStorage, paving the way for faster load times in future titles.

The Bad: Where the PC Port Stumbles

The technical issues on PC are significant and hold the game back from its full potential.

• Subpar Optimization: The most critical flaw. Even with patches, the game remains exceptionally demanding and struggles to maintain consistent frame rates, even on very powerful hardware. This often necessitates significant compromises in visual quality.
• CPU Bottlenecking: The game’s heavy reliance on the CPU is unusual and leads to performance issues even when the GPU has headroom.
• High System Requirements: The barrier to entry for a truly smooth experience is incredibly high, making it inaccessible for many PC gamers.
• Inconsistent Visuals: While some parts are stunning, others especially character models outside of cutscenes can look less polished, and the overall fidelity often has to be sacrificed for performance.
• Repetitive Open-World Activities: While the traversal is fun, the actual content within the open world often falls into predictable patterns, leading to a sense of grind.
• Dialogue Fatigue: The constant banter between Frey and Cuff, while sometimes amusing, can become repetitive and irritating over long play sessions.

Conclusion and Recommendation

For those with high-end PC hardware RTX 4070/RX 7800 XT or higher and a willingness to tweak settings, Forspoken offers a unique action RPG experience with satisfying combat and truly innovative traversal. If you’re looking for a game that pushes graphical boundaries and enjoy a different take on fantasy, and you can get it at a discount, it might be worth a look.

However, for anyone with mid-range hardware or who expects a perfectly optimized, smooth experience from day one, it’s a much harder sell. The performance issues significantly detract from what could have been a truly standout title. Waiting for further optimizations, or picking it up during a steep sale, is likely the most sensible approach. Ultimately, Forspoken on PC is a game with brilliant ideas and technical ambition, but one that sadly falters in its execution on the platform, demanding patience and powerful hardware to truly appreciate its strengths.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Forspoken well optimized for PC?

No, Forspoken was notoriously poorly optimized at launch for PC, struggling with inconsistent frame rates and high CPU utilization even on high-end hardware.

While patches have improved performance, it remains a demanding title.

What are the main issues with Forspoken on PC?

The main issues include poor frame rate stability, significant CPU bottlenecking, high VRAM usage, and a generally demanding engine that requires very powerful hardware to run smoothly at higher settings. Master Dynamic Mg20 Wireless Gaming Headphones Review

Does Forspoken support DLSS and FSR on PC?

Yes, Forspoken supports both NVIDIA’s DLSS Deep Learning Super Sampling and AMD’s FSR 2.0 FidelityFX Super Resolution to help improve performance through upscaling.

What graphics card do I need to run Forspoken at 60 FPS?

To consistently run Forspoken at 60 FPS at 1440p or 4K, you generally need a very powerful GPU like an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080/4070 or AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT/7800 XT or higher, often with DLSS/FSR enabled and some settings adjusted.

Is Forspoken CPU intensive?

Yes, Forspoken is surprisingly CPU intensive, leading to bottlenecks even on modern multi-core processors, which contributes significantly to its performance issues on PC.

How much RAM does Forspoken require on PC?

Forspoken’s recommended specifications list 24GB of RAM, and the Ultra specifications recommend 32GB, indicating it’s quite memory-intensive.

Does Forspoken benefit from an SSD?

Yes, an NVMe SSD is highly recommended for Forspoken.

It significantly improves load times and helps with asset streaming, reducing stuttering, especially due to its use of DirectStorage.

Is Forspoken a good game despite the PC issues?

Forspoken has genuinely strong elements like its magical parkour movement and dynamic spell-based combat, but its overall enjoyment on PC is often hampered by the technical performance issues.

What is magical parkour in Forspoken?

Magical parkour is Forspoken’s unique traversal system where Frey uses her magical abilities to effortlessly leap, slide, and dash across the environment, making exploration fluid and engaging.

How many elemental magic types are there in Forspoken?

Frey gains access to four main elemental magic types: Earth Frey’s original purple magic, Fire Sila, Water Prav, and Air/Lightning Olas, each with distinct spells and combat styles.

Are there any performance mods for Forspoken on PC?

While some community-made tweaks and settings guides exist, there aren’t widely adopted, major performance-enhancing mods that fundamentally fix the game’s core optimization issues. Eset Endpoint Protection Standard Review

Can I play Forspoken with a controller on PC?

Yes, Forspoken has full controller support on PC, and many players find the fluid combat and movement more intuitive with a gamepad than with a keyboard and mouse.

Is Forspoken’s story good?

Forspoken’s story attempts to blend urban fantasy with high fantasy, and while it has moments of charm and character development for Frey, the pacing can be uneven and the narrative sometimes falls into familiar tropes.

What are the Tantas in Forspoken?

The Tantas are powerful sorceresses who once ruled Athia but have been corrupted by the Break, becoming formidable antagonists that Frey must confront.

What is the Break in Forspoken?

The Break is a mysterious, corrupting magical blight that transforms living beings into monsters and twists the land of Athia, forming the central threat of the game.

How long is Forspoken’s main story?

The main story of Forspoken typically takes around 15-20 hours to complete, with additional time for side content and exploration.

Does Forspoken have New Game Plus?

Yes, Forspoken includes a New Game Plus mode that allows players to carry over their progress and abilities into a new playthrough.

What is the final verdict on Forspoken for PC?

The final verdict is mixed.

It has great core gameplay ideas parkour, combat but is severely held back by its demanding and inconsistent PC performance, making it a challenging recommendation for many.

Should I buy Forspoken on PC at full price?

Given the persistent performance issues and high system requirements, it’s generally recommended to wait for a significant discount or further optimization patches before purchasing Forspoken on PC at full price.

Are the boss fights in Forspoken good?

Yes, the Tanta boss fights in Forspoken are generally well-regarded, offering challenging and visually impressive encounters that test Frey’s full magical arsenal. Logitech Pen Review

Does Forspoken have character customization?

Frey’s appearance is largely fixed, but players can customize her cloaks and necklaces, which offer different stat bonuses and visual flair.

How does DirectStorage work in Forspoken?

DirectStorage allows the game to decompress game assets directly on the GPU from an NVMe SSD, reducing CPU overhead and speeding up loading times compared to traditional methods.

Can I run Forspoken on a laptop?

Running Forspoken on a gaming laptop is possible, but it would require a high-end gaming laptop with a powerful CPU and GPU to achieve playable frame rates, similar to desktop requirements.

Is Forspoken an open-world game?

Yes, Forspoken features a large open world called Athia, divided into several distinct regions, which players can explore freely.

What kind of enemies are in Forspoken?

Enemies in Forspoken are primarily creatures corrupted by the Break, ranging from mutated animals to twisted humanoids and powerful boss-like creatures.

Is the banter between Frey and Cuff annoying?

The constant banter between Frey and Cuff is subjective.

Some players enjoy it for the character dynamic, while others find it repetitive or irritating over time.

Does Forspoken support ray tracing on PC?

Yes, Forspoken supports ray-traced shadows and ambient occlusion on PC, though enabling them significantly impacts performance, making them difficult to use for smooth gameplay.

What are Founts of Blessing in Forspoken?

Founts of Blessing are discovery points in Athia that, when found, grant Frey permanent boosts to her stats or unlock new abilities.

Are there side quests in Forspoken?

Yes, the open world of Forspoken features various side quests, including monster hunts, fetch quests, and exploration challenges, though some can feel repetitive. Watchguard Panda Adaptive Defense 360 Review

Has Forspoken been patched to fix PC performance?

Yes, Luminous Productions released several patches post-launch aimed at improving Forspoken’s PC performance, but a perfect, consistent experience on all hardware remains elusive.