One of the most interesting aspects of Forspoken that is yet to be fully explored is protagonist Frey Holland's talking bracelets, known simply as Cuff, who has yet to dominate the spotlight in the game's many trailers. Luminous Productions' upcoming action-RPG has had a somewhat troubled development journey so far. First revealed as Project Athia back in 2020, it has subsequently been delayed several times. Despite this though, the game has shown plenty of promise. With a release date set for January 2023, many details about Forspoken including its world and characters, are now known, but Cuff has taken a backseat.
When Frey enters the world of Athia, she finds herself conversing with a voice which she initially assumes is in her head. Upon further investigation though, she realizes the voice is actually tied to a collection of bracelets which appeared on her wrist the moment she entered Athia. This being, named Cuff, serves as Frey's companion throughout her adventure, and could well have a very important role to play.
Cuff is a Mystery Yet to Be Explained
Based on footage released so far, Frey Holland may have a hard time proving to be a likeable protagonist. After the troubled loner is very quickly pulled from Earth and thrust into the mystical land of Athia, she discovers that she has new-found powers and magical abilities. Many gamers have found Frey to be irritating from footage and dialogue revealed so far, and her range of sarcastic quips have not quite had the desired reaction. Frey has shown some endearing qualities though, and she looks to be on a journey of self discovery as she transitions from a young troubled adult into a powerful being in a magical land with the help of her permanent companion, Cuff.
Forspoken's deuteragonist Cuff, voiced by Jonathan Cake, appears to be a sentient bracelet of unknown origin. Acting as a sort of guide for Frey, he seems determined for her to help the citizens of Athia, despite her initial misgivings. His knowledge of Athia should prove to be extremely useful for Frey in her quest against the mysterious Tantas. Despite being made up of a collection of bracelets, Cuff displays his quirky and humorous nature when he playfully jokes with Frey as she is trying to work out exactly where his voice is coming from. In contrast to this though, he also appears to have a serious side and can be very demanding. There seems to be a connection between him and Frey's use of magic somehow.
Gamers have already seen Cuff show concern for Frey's safety, although whether this is due to his feelings for her or his reliance on her is up for debate. Cuff has shown enough of a personality for gamers to speculate that he could well be a real person, who is somehow trapped in this collection of bracelets. It is entirely plausible that Cuff will not be bound to these bracelets for long, and perhaps he may find himself in human form at some point in the adventure. His relationship with Frey is likely to blossom as the game progresses, with both finding out more about each other and their origins. Cuff's fate is likely intertwined with Frey's, and he may even have knowledge of this, which would explain why he is so keen for Frey to stick around.
Despite its development troubles, Forspoken developer Luminous Productions seems to have created an interesting looking world which gamers are looking forward to exploring. Forspoken's characters, like the evil matriarchs known as the Tantas and the talking bracelet Cuff, have added to the intrigue surrounding the game. Players worldwide who are eager to unravel these mysteries hope there are no further delays in the pipeline.
Forspoken is set to release on January 24 for PC and PS5.