Luminous Productions and Square Enix have released a new Forspoken “Exploring Athia” deep dive video today that takes fans through the Break-plagued, magical world of Athia and its many secrets. Athia is filled with arcane landmarks, strange beasts, and underground locations that hold both treasures and great dangers for Frey.
Watch the Forspoken Exploring Athia deep dive video below:
When the confused New Yorker Frey is suddenly transported to Athia, she finds this new magical world afflicted by a corrupting force known as the “Break.” Frey’s versatile parkour abilities prove to be of much use to Athia’s inhabitants, who provide Frey with plenty of side quests. Frey can undertake more side quests by interacting with other points of interest marked on her map, each bearing their own self-contained story.
Sacred Stones called “Monuments” are scattered across Athia. These Monuments were used by Athia’s “Tanta” matriarchs to store portions of their power, but are now infested by the Break. Cleansing these Monuments of the Break levels up Frey’s stats, and some Monuments bear “Flashbacks,” which are special challenges that provide Mana and other rewards upon completion. Players can initiate these directly from the in-game Map and repeat them as many times as they wish for better scores and rewards.
Frey can unlock additional magical abilities at sacred locations called “Founts of Blessing,” and can also upgrade her magic through Spellcraft challenges which are found in ancient books across Athia. “Old Coins” are also important collectibles that are used as currency at trading spots in exchange for valuable items. Further valuables and powerful equipment can be obtained by conquering “Locked Labyrinths,” which are dangerous underground locations with great rewards to match.
Forspoken also includes a variety of leisure activities. Frey can unwind by playing games such as “Partha:” a makeshift dice game which can provide stat buffs. Frey can also use her phone (a holdover from our world) to take photos at Photo Spots, and can entertain Athian children with these photos as well as unlocking more Photo Mode features. Players will also encounter a range of non-human NPCs across Athia, from the befriendable “Tantas Familiars” that can be found around special Monuments to terrifying mutated beasts that Frey can defeat in thrilling Combat Challenges.
Forspoken: Exploring Athia is the final entry in the Forspoken Deep Dive series. The first Forspoken deep dive video “Magic Parkour” was released on October 27 and focused on Frey’s magic-infused movement abilities, stamina management, and upgrades through completing Spellcraft challenges. The second video, Forspoken Deep Dive: Magic Combat, was released on November 3 and explained Forspoken’s elemental-magic combat system and its wide arsenal of offense, defense, and support options in great detail.
Square Enix‘s Forspoken comes out January 24, 2023 for PC and PS5, and can be pre-ordered now. Check out the gameplay trailer from Tokyo Game Show 2022, introducing Forspoken’s supporting cast and showing off some truly terrifying dragons.