Forspoken

Though it has some annoying problems, and takes too long to get good, this third-person fantasy action/adventure game is ultimately rather fun. In Forspoken, you play as Frey, a woman from modern-day New York City who finds herself transported to a medieval and magical realm. Aided by a sentient, talkative, and knowledgeable vambrace (a series of interlocking bracelets), and newfound magical powers, Frey has to fight enemies and monster alike, while helping the locals get a better life. But while her powers are magical in nature, this initially feels like a shooter, since Frey's first batch of spells have her shooting rocks and energy bolts. Later on, she gains new (and in some cases, better) spells that include ones based on fire and water. She can also dodge incoming attacks using her magical parkour skills and super speed, which also help her explore the game's massive open world.

But as engaging as this tale becomes, it has some problems. It takes way too long to get halfway decent (at least 4 hours by estimate into the main plot), and then even longer to start getting good, which happens when you learn the fire sword spells (another 6 or 7 hours). Too bad the same can't be said for when you learn the liquid spells (another 5 hours afterwards), since they feel like you're throwing water balloons. It also doesn't help that, throughout, the controls feel slightly off, especially when you're parkouring or running fast. Frey also tends to get stuck on things like small boulders. Then there's the fact that the game's side objectives often seem more like skill-based challenges than something an adventurer would do. Or how a steady stream of cutscenes tends to slow down any of the story's momentum. None of which ruins Forspoken, but it does undermine what could've been a more exciting and epic adventure.