Forspoken has been teased by Luminous Productions for a long time, though frequent delays have prevented gamers from playing it. Nevertheless, it has managed to maintain the gaming world’s attention thanks to its exciting traversal methods, and the mystique of the magical land of Athia. Forspoken also features an interesting cast of characters, including some villains with striking designs.
At the center of Forspoken is Frey Holland, a New Yorker who is ripped from her miserable life and pulled into a fantasy adventure that has her up against the malevolent Tantas. Reception to Frey has been mixed thus far, and gamers have been unsure what to make of her. It appears that her life story may have set her up with some quirks that might make it difficult for some players to click with her.
Introducing Frey Holland
Gamers have also been quite intrigued by Forspoken’s protagonist, Frey Holland. She is played by Ella Balinska, and through the trailers that Luminous Productions has released, players have gotten to learn a little more about her. She is feisty and at times sarcastic, though she has a difficult past. In New York, her only friend appears to be her white cat named Homer, and she wishes to leave the city and escape all the problems to somewhere with clean air and bright skies. Her wish is granted, just not in the way she hopes.
Frey is warped to Athia, though it has not yet been revealed precisely how and why she is warped to this strange land. She discovers that the land is plagued by a strange force known as the Break which turns everything it touches into a twisted version of itself. However, for some strange reason, Frey is unaffected by the Break.
It appears that Forspoken is embracing the Isekai genre, which typically has the protagonist being thrust from ordinary life into a fantasy world. The genre is popular in anime, although examples of it are also frequently found in Western media. In typical Isekai fashion, Frey may discover that she fits in more in Athia as opposed to New York, especially when she learns to master her magic powers. Much like Isekai anime, it also appears that Forspoken will have a large cast, which is a good thing, as Frey will need all the help she can get.
Understanding Frey a Little Better
Reception to Frey has been mixed. Some gamers like her confidence, as she appears to be the perfect character to take on a challenge and not give up until she succeeds. She also arrives at quite a fortunate time when the gaming industry is more embracing than ever of bold heroines like Aloy and Returnal’s Selene. However, there has also been a sizable audience that has found Frey to be annoying thus far, mostly due to her dialogue which has been described as cringe-inducing. As trailers have shown, Frey is quite a talkative character, and she is constantly making sarcastic quips even when there is nobody around to hear them. She is far from the only character in gaming to do this, but she appears to do it more than most.
With seasoned writers like Amy Hennig on Forspoken’s development team, Frey’s quirks are likely no coincidence. Her sarcastic nature is likely a defense mechanism she has built up for herself to cope with her rough upbringing. The constant talking to herself should not be unexpected either, as it highlights Frey’s outsider status. Gamers will notice similar behavior from Aloy, another outcast heroine who will frequently make comments to herself as she is out on her adventures.
Will Frey be Completely Unlikeable?
Frey will likely be a bit rough around the edges, which is not out of place for any outcast. Once again, this is a trait she shares with Aloy, who has a heart of gold but can be abrasive and can lack social tact at times. While players may find this unpleasant, such as during moments when Aloy is unsympathetic towards Beta’s emotional needs, it is an integral part of her personality and a product of her history.
Although Frey will probably not be incredibly charismatic, it is also not the case that she is doomed to be completely unlikeable. It has been revealed that she will make a few companions in Athia, which proves that there is something in her that others are drawn to. Her closest companion will be Cuff, a talking bangle that will offer her great aid. Frey will also have some human friends in Athia, including Johedy, who is a clever archivist. He is a former blacksmith, and players meet him in Cipal, which is a central settlement. She will also befriend Auden in Cipal, and she is an important character, as she sees potential in Frey and believes in her. With friends like Johedy and Auden around, Frey may shed her defensive exterior, revealing a much nicer interior.
Dangers Await Frey in Forspoken
Though Frey may have escaped her miserable life in New York, Athia has its own hosts of dangers. The magical land is being terrorized by Tantas, who are destructive matriarchs. Each Tanta possesses a unique strength, and they all view Frey as an enemy. Luminous Productions has revealed a few of the Tantas that players will face. The most powerful Tanta is Sila. She was once a benevolent ruler who protected Athia, but now she rules over the land with a dictatorial rage.
To make it back home, Frey will have to defeat all the Tantas, which will mean mastering magic. Although gamers were expecting to jump into Frey’s adventure in 2022, the game has been pushed to 2023, giving developers extra time to polish the upcoming game. After the very long wait for the game, players will finally get to explore Athia and make up their own minds about Frey soon.
Forspoken is scheduled to release on January 24, 2023 for PC and PS5.