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Over the last few weeks, we’ve explored Forspoken’s spectacular magic-based parkour, and the game’s intense combat system. Today, we’re going to give you a look at the world of Athia itself!
When Frey Holland is transported to this new land, she quickly discovers that behind its beauty is a twisted brutality. A phenomenon called the Break has ravaged the land, turning people and animals alike into savage, snarling beasts.
As one of the only beings to be seemingly unaffected by this creeping corruption, it falls on Frey to explore the vast landscapes of this ruined world, uncover its secrets and perhaps even become its savior.
It’s a big job, and there’s a lot to keep her busy – Athia is full of things to discover, from Monuments and Photo Spots that will test your parkour skills, to hidden dungeons full of powerful enemies. You can get a preview of what to expect in our latest deep-dive video:
Read on, and I’ll tell you more about some of these awesome activities:
Monuments are found all over the broken world of Athia, and it’s well worth seeking them out!
These sacred stones still store a piece of the Tantas’ power, and if Frey can free them from the corruption of the Break, she’ll be richly rewarded with boosts to her stats! Each monument offers a different boost – some may give you more health, others increase your defense, magic power or more.
Of course, while freeing these monuments is straightforward, getting to them is not. Some are easy to find, but others are placed in hard to reach areas that will test your mastery over Frey’s parkour skills.
It’s worth the effort though, because that extra power may just be the edge you need in battles ahead…
Some monuments hold challenges called Flashbacks. These take you back in time to an earlier point in Athia’s history, so you can experience how the Break first affected the world.
The exact nature of these challenges can vary – some ask you to kill enemies within a time limit, protect citizens against hordes of enemies, or reach a destination with parkour as quickly as possible.
Completing Flashbacks will give you Mana (for unlocking new spells) and other rewards. You can replay Flashbacks direct from the map screen – the better you do, the better the reward, so keep trying until you’ve earned everything on offer!
These beautiful pools of water are found over the world and bestow Frey with a blessing that boosts her magical skills. You’ll be excited whenever you find one, because they’re a key way to expand Frey’s skills, giving her entirely new spells to work into her repertoire.
They have a resonance, so you’ll know if one is nearby. It’s up to you to actually locate it though. Remember – Forspoken rewards the curious and observant.
Another way to upgrade Frey’s magic is through Spellcraft Challenges.
Inside Refuges (a safe space, where Frey can rest up and craft items), you’ll find ancient books. These task you with using your abilities in different ways – for example, work a certain parkour move into your traversal a number of times, hit multiple enemies with a single attack and many more varied challenges.
Completing Spellcraft Challenges lets you make your abilities more powerful. They’re also a great way to explore the magic system in Forspoken – they may inspire you to use abilities in ways you hadn’t thought of before…
As you explore Athia, you’ll sometimes collect Old Coins. These can be found in locked chests or hidden in the nooks and crannies of the beautiful landscapes.
You can spend these coins at trading spots to get valuable items that can enhance your crafting and more.
Certain people in Cipal will also sometimes request special items from out in the world. If you can find it, and deliver it to them, they’ll reward you for your efforts.
Hidden under the ground, all over the world, are Locked Labyrinths. These are very dangerous to explore – comprised of wide rooms and twisting corridors that contain valuable items, crafting materials, and some very dangerous monsters.
You’ll have to use all your combat skills, and sometimes some inventive parkour, to make it through to the powerful mini-boss that lurks within. Defeating it won’t be easy, but it will be worth it.
In some safe spaces, such as The Shady Tree pub in Cipal, you can try your hand at rolling a Partha.
Partha are dice-like objects, made out of animal bones, and if they land on a symbol, they’ll bestow useful boosts on Frey. For example, roll a spear, and her magical abilities will be strengthened, while a seed gives her the ability to regenerate health.
Sadly, these boosts are only temporary, but they can make all the difference when you’re out in the Break.
Spare a thought for the poor children of Athia. Once they had a whole world to run around in, but thanks to the corrupting touch of the Break, they’re now trapped within the walls of the city of Cipal.
They’d love nothing more than to see what the world beyond looks like, and Frey’s the perfect woman to show them.
You’ll find photo spots all around the world that highlight this world’s awe-inspiring architecture and stunning landscapes. Use parkour to reach these points and get that perfect shot.
The more pictures you take for the kids, the more features you’ll unlock for photo mode.
Magical cats! Fuzzy, adorable magical cats!
Tantas’ Familiars are usually found prowling around special monuments. If you want to befriend them – and again, they’re magical cats, so why wouldn’t you? – you’ll have to be very careful.
These mystical moggies are pretty skittish, so you’ll have to approach them subtly. If you do manage to win their trust, they’ll relocate to refuges, so you can hang out with them any time!
The Break that ravaged Forspoken’s world has mutated its beasts, creating terrifying monsters full of rage and aggression. But among this menacing menagerie are even more corrupted creatures – an ultimate class of Breakbeasts.
The sheer scale and power of these creatures has to be seen to be believed. They are perfect predators… and Frey is their prey.
Fortunately, she’s not exactly helpless herself. Should you manage to take down one of these super-strong enemies, you’ll be richly rewarded.
Once you’ve located one of these creatures, you can take it on at any time. Just be ready – these represent some of the biggest challenges in the game. Only those with the best equipment, the strongest spells and the skill to use them will survive.
Are you brave enough?
There’s a lot to discover in the vast world of Forspoken, and to say more now would ruin the fun. Frey’s journey across Athia is full of mystery, action and surprises – as you’ll discover yourselves on January 24, 2023, when Forspoken launches for PlayStation 5. Pre-order available at PS Store.