PS Plus December 2024 Offers a Divisive Game a Second Chance

PS Plus December 2024 Offers a Divisive Game a Second Chance



Summary

  • Forspoken faced mixed reviews due to ambitious but flawed elements, falling short upon its release in 2023.
  • Despite its promising features like stunning visuals and combat, Forspoken also had flaws, such as an empty open world and repetitive combat.
  • PS Plus subscribers can now experience Forspoken for free, providing the game with a second chance and potentially reigniting interest in it.



Each month, PS Plus offers subscribers the opportunity to revisit classic titles through its Essential, Extra, and Premium tiers. This approach not only introduces new players to timeless games but also allows long-time fans to relive their favorite experiences. In December 2024, PS Plus continues this tradition by including a particularly divisive game from 2023 in its lineup, which simultaneously provides the game itself with a renewed opportunity to engage players and potentially reshape its legacy within the gaming community. That game is Square Enix and Luminous Productions’ 2023 action RPG title, Forspoken.

What made Forspoken such a contentious game is the mixture of its best and worst elements, all attempting to deliver what could have been a solid gaming experience all around. Unfortunately, Forspoken largely fell flat when it launched in 2023 and was quickly forgotten, especially in light of the fact that its release year is widely considered to be one of the best years that gaming has ever had. Now, however, PS Plus subscribers can revisit it for “free” starting on December 17, 2024, potentially reigniting interest in it now that it has been some time since its initial launch.


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PS Plus December 2024 Is a Second Chance for Forspoken

Forspoken Was a Divisive Game When It Launched in 2023

Forspoken is widely recognized as one of 2023’s biggest disappointments, simply due to the fact that it looked so great and yet fell so far. In the end, it seems its large-scale ambition got the best of it, leading to an uneven execution of all the elements it contained and even overshadowing the elements that it arguably got right. Ahead of its release, it caught the attention of fans with its stunning visuals, unique traversal mechanics, and action-packed combat, and, for the most part, those things turned out to be its best features.


Forspoken‘s open world is impressive to bear witness to, both in terms of its scale and the detail of its scenery. As its protagonist, Frey, learns more magical parkour abilities, the freedom offered by its traversal mechanics is both innovative and fun. Forspoken‘s combat is also another one of its strengths, though only certain aspects of it. Firstly, Frey’s combat skills are visually dynamic in their ability to mix different elements for a colorful fireworks display. The skill system also allowed for fast-paced and fluid combat to showcase the supernatural power of Frey’s newfound abilities.

Unfortunately, many of these strengths also have simultaneous weaknesses. Forspoken‘s open world, for instance, regardless of how beautiful it may be, feels incredibly empty most of the time, with extensive gaps between objectives and locations and nothing to show for the in-between. The combat also has several downsides, with it often resulting in repetitive strategies, despite the number of abilities players have access to. In addition to these shortcomings, Forspoken‘s dialogue is another major contentious point of the game, as it often feels far too humorous for how serious the game’s premise is. Finally, the narrative is a bit cliche and unoriginal, with a sincere lack of world-building, especially in light of its potential.


Forspoken
also launched with some severe technical issues, which never bodes well for a game’s reception.

PS Plus Subscribers Have Nothing to Lose When Playing Forspoken

All of that said, now that Forspoken is coming to PS Plus Extra and Premium on December 17, subscribers to the service really have nothing to lose but time when playing it, and despite its mixed reception in 2023, it would still be time well spent. If nothing else, Forspoken‘s presence on PS Plus in December 2024 might reignite interest in it now that it has had a chance to step out of the shadow of every other major hit in 2023. Arguably, Forspoken deserves better attention than what it received when it launched last year, so hopes are that its place on PS Plus this month will provide that much for it.

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