The combat inForspokenholds a layered experience that excels at giving players multiple styles to flex its four different classes of magic. However, only one of these classes manages to consistently offerS-tier magicthat gives the combat a type of power fantasy that action titles likeYakuzacapture so well: Sila magic.
In a game that pits players against giant monsters and hordes of mindless zombies, the choice to make Frey a god-like entity who can mow down enemies is a welcome one. While all the magic classes inForspokenoffer their own strengths, Sila’s Magic is best able to deliver the tactile feel of slicing through enemies and punching holes in Nightmares.
RELATED:Forspoken’s In Tanta We Trust DLC Has One Huge Narrative Problem Already
The Yakuza/Like a Dragon Power Fantasy
TheYakuzaseries does a lot to keep players engaged for the hundreds of hours it takes to complete each entry, from compelling side quests to interactive mini-games. However, the one thing Ryu Ga Gotoku Studios succeeds best with, especially on the Dragon Engine, is delivering an impressive power fantasy as the player character grows into a fighter who can battle hordes of enemies alone. That’s all without getting intoYakuza’s narrative plotlinesthat pit characters like Kiryu and Majima against insurmountable odds, sometimes going to war with the entirety of the Yakuza organization.
Explosive stories aside, wielding Kiryu’s fists is a cathartic experience as he’s able to stomp down street thugs and rival Yakuza with ease. There are few games that manage to deliver on the feeling of being so powerful, where seeing a group of 10 enemies feels like it is the first fair fight to appear over a given gameplay session. It’s this specific level of power fantasy thatForspokenemulates after beating Tanta Sila.
RELATED:Forspoken DLC Needs to Answer One Huge Question Regarding Frey
Tanta Sila’s Melee Combat
Though Frey only has access to a limited number of spells at the start ofForspoken, her roster of magic increases every time she takes down one of thefour Tanta bosses. The first of these bosses is Tanta Sila, who unlocks a spell class that relies heavily on fire-based melee combat utilizing a sword, spear, or fists. Of the four classes of magic, this is the only one that primarily focuses on melee, with many of the support spells bolstering Frey’s damage closer to her enemies.
Through Tanta Sila’s magic,Forspoken’s fantasy open-worldis able to lean on making Frey feel like a powerful force of nature in Athia. Sila’s magic is the only one that doesn’t emphasize pulling Frey away from the action and engaging with enemies like a third-person shooter. The result is an immensely satisfying feeling where the player can slice through a horde of Breakzombies, or even go for a head-to-head brawl with a giant, mutated bear and come out victorious.
There is also a risk/reward aspect to Sila’s magic, as the melee focus makes Frey more vulnerable to being caught in an opposing attack. This is also whereForspokendips into Soulslike territory, as success while using this style of magic requires the player to be aware of their positioning and able to quickly react to oncoming attacks. When getting into a flow with Sila’s magic, controlling Frey can be just as satisfying to the power fantasy as throwing Kiryu’s fists around in the bestYakuzatitles to date.
Forspokenis available now on PC and PS5.
