Forspoken on PS5: does final update solve technical issues?
Forspoken on PS5: does final update solve technical issues?
Forspoken: From Open-World Mess to a Night-and-Day Improvement
Have you ever played a game that promised the world and left you feeling disappointed? Well, that was the case with Forspoken. When it was first revealed on the PS5, it looked like a death-defying parkour adventure with stunning visuals. But at launch, it fell flat with repetitive gameplay and dated graphics. However, a dedicated patching campaign seems to have turned things around for Forspoken, bringing it closer to its initial promise.
Let’s start with the improvements to performance and resolution. The launch version of Forspoken had serious performance issues, dragging down the experience with dips in frame rates. But with the recent patches, the game now runs at a steady 30fps and even offers 60fps during combat. The different modes also perform well, with quality and RT targeting 40fps and performance mode at a smooth 60fps. While occasional dips still happen, the majority of performance issues have been resolved, making the game a joy to play.
But it’s the lighting that truly shines in the new patch. Forspoken had poor ambient occlusion and relied on basic solutions, resulting in unrealistic lighting conditions. However, version 1.2 has completely overhauled the ambient occlusion, creating more subtle shading and realistic lighting. This transformative improvement breathes new life into scenes, making them properly lit and visually appealing.
While the lighting has significantly improved, there are still a few hiccups. The new ambient occlusion can sometimes look heavy-handed and darken areas more than necessary. Thick AO coverage around foliage can also appear excessive, especially in sparse grass patches. And, unfortunately, aliasing issues can be distracting in performance mode. But overall, the lighting changes have brought Forspoken closer to what you’d expect from a current-gen game.
When comparing Forspoken to another recent Square-Enix release, Final Fantasy 16, it’s clear that there’s a stark difference in graphical quality. Final Fantasy 16 excels in character rendering, materials, and lighting, showcasing the potential of the developer’s internal technology. In comparison, Forspoken falls short in certain areas, with clothing materials looking shiny and character faces occasionally falling apart in close-ups. However, Forspoken still offers excellent hair animation, and its action combat, while sometimes disconnected, can be visually stunning.
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It’s a shame that Forspoken didn’t achieve the graphical benchmarks set by the Luminous Engine, which powered some impressive demos and Final Fantasy 15. It seems like a missed opportunity for Square-Enix to produce two action RPGs with such different visual outcomes. Nevertheless, the patches have brought Forspoken closer to its initial promise and have addressed some of the major graphical flaws.
Unfortunately, it appears that we’ve seen the last of Forspoken as the game’s development studio has been disbanded. It’s a bittersweet ending for a game that had its ups and downs. But for those interested, the visual and performance improvements make Forspoken a much more enjoyable title than it was at launch.
So, if you’re willing to give it a chance, Forspoken has transformed from an open-world mess into a visually appealing and smoother experience. It may not be perfect, but it’s definitely worth a playthrough with its improved lighting, performance, and overall graphical enhancements.
Note: All comparisons to Final Fantasy 16 are meant to showcase the differences between two major Square-Enix action RPGs and are not meant to bash Forspoken’s flaws.
