Over the past few weeks, we’ve been exploring Forspoken’s spectacular magic-based parkour and the game’s intense combat system. Today, we’re going to give you a glimpse into the world of Athia itself!
When Frey Holland is transported to this new land, she quickly discovers that behind her beauty lies a twisted brutality. A phenomenon called the Break has ravaged the land, turning people and animals into savage, snarling beasts.
As one of the only beings unaffected by this rampant corruption, it’s up to 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 plenty to keep it occupied – Athia is packed with things to discover, from monuments and photo spots that will test your parkour skills, to hidden dungeons full of enemies powerful. You can get a preview of what to expect in our latest detailed video:
Read on and I’ll tell you more about some of these awesome activities:
Monuments can be found all over the shattered world of Athia, and it’s worth looking for them!
These sacred stones still store some of the Tantas’ power, and if Frey can free them from the Break’s corruption, she will be richly rewarded with stat boosts! Each monument offers a different boost – some can give you more health, others increase your defense, magic power or more.
Of course, while liberating these monuments is simple, accessing them is not. Some are easy to find, but others are placed in hard-to-reach areas that will test your mastery of Frey’s parkour skills.
It’s worth it, because that extra power might just be the edge you need in the battles to come…
Some monuments organize challenges called Flashbacks. These take you back in time to an earlier point in Athia’s history, so you can experience how the Snap first affected the world.
The exact nature of these challenges can vary – some ask you to kill enemies within a time limit, protect citizens from hordes of enemies, or reach a destination with parkour as quickly as possible.
Completing flashbacks will give you mana (to unlock new spells) and other rewards. You can replay Flashbacks directly from the map screen. The more successful you are, the better the reward, so keep trying until you’ve won it all!
These beautiful pools of water are found throughout the world and grant Frey a blessing that enhances her magical skills. You’ll be excited every time you find one, as they’re a key way to expand Frey’s skills, giving her entirely new spells to incorporate into her repertoire.
They have resonance, so you’ll know if there’s one nearby. It’s up to you to locate it. Remember – Forspoken rewards the curious and observant.
Another way to improve Frey’s magic is to use Spellcraft Challenges.
Inside the safehouses (a safe space, where Frey can rest and craft items), you’ll find ancient books. These ask you to use your abilities in different ways – for example, working a certain parkour move into your traversal multiple times, hitting multiple enemies with a single attack, and many more varied challenges.
Completing Spellcraft challenges allows you to make your abilities more powerful. They’re also a great way to explore the Forspoken magic system – they can inspire you to use abilities in ways you haven’t thought of before…
While exploring Athia, you will 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 in trade locations to get valuable items that can improve your crafting and more.
Some people in Cipal will also sometimes request special items from around the world. If you can find it and deliver it to them, they will reward you for your efforts.
Hidden underground all over the world are locked labyrinths. These are very dangerous to explore – made up of wide rooms and winding corridors that contain valuable items, crafting materials and very dangerous monsters.
You’ll need to use all of your combat skills, and sometimes inventive parkour, to reach the powerful mini-boss that lurks within. Defeating him won’t be easy, but it will be worth it.
In some safe spaces, like The Shady Tree pub in Cipal, you can try your hand at rolling a Partha.
Partha are dice-like objects made from animal bones, and if they land on a symbol they will give useful bonuses to Frey. For example, throw a spear and his magical abilities will be enhanced, while a seed will give him the ability to regenerate health.
Unfortunately, these boosts are only temporary, but they can make all the difference when you’re on break.
Spare a thought for the poor children of Athia. They once had a whole world to run around in, but thanks to the Break’s corrupting touch, they’re now trapped within the city walls of Cipal.
They would love nothing more than to see what the world beyond looks like, and Frey is the perfect woman to show them.
All over the world you will find photo spots that showcase the awe-inspiring architecture and stunning landscapes of this world. Use parkour to reach these points and get the perfect shot.
The more pictures you take for the kids, the more features you will unlock for the photo mode.
Magical Cats! Adorable and fuzzy magic cats!
Tanta Familiars usually prowl around special monuments. If you want to befriend them – and again, they’re magical cats, then why wouldn’t you? – you will have to be very careful.
These mystical moggies are quite skittish, so you’ll need to approach them subtly. If you manage to gain their trust, they will move to shelters, so you can hang out with them anytime!
The Break that ravaged the world of Forspoken mutated its beasts, creating terrifying monsters full of rage and aggression. But among this menacing menagerie are even more corrupt creatures – an ultimate class of Breakbeasts.
The scale and power of these creatures must be seen to be believed. They are perfect predators… and Frey is their prey.
Luckily, she’s not exactly helpless herself. If you manage to defeat one of these super powerful enemies, you will be richly rewarded.
Once you locate one of these creatures, you can confront it at any time. Just be prepared – these represent some of the biggest challenges in the game. Only those with the best gear, the strongest spells, and the skills 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 spoil the fun. Frey’s journey through Athia is full of mystery, action and surprises – as you’ll discover on January 24, 2023, when Forspoken launches on PlayStation 5. Pre-order available on PS Store.
