Forspoken Forspoken

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Forspoken review: Outspoken with little to speak of

Wait for a sale

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It doesn’t take a lot to create a decent roleplaying game. All you need is a fish-out-of-water character, a vast open map, and a seemingly endless list of objectives. Though it has all three, Forspoken struggles to keep up with its pretenses as a Western roleplaying game.

First, the good

Credit to where it’s due, Forspoken is a fun game for the first few sections. Exploring the incredibly huge map with magical parkour is enjoyable. Eclipsed only by Elden Ring’s Torrent, magic parkour is one of the most innovative ways to quickly traverse large distances, especially after learning more advanced techniques.

Likewise, fighting balanced enemies with limited powers provides enough of a challenge to keep players on their toes in Athia. Neither the player nor the first enemies feel overpowered.

Unfortunately, the game’s novelty quickly evaporates after you figure out that you have to repeat the same motions dozens upon dozens of times. Forspoken’s map is much larger than it ever should have been. Though abundant in number, every point of interest is separated by large distances, some platforming challenges, and a battle sequence. The greater map is empty. Do this over and over, and the game gets stale quick. With adequate rewards, this shouldn’t be a problem, but Forspoken also suffers from a communication issue.

A communication issue

For most roleplaying games, completing an objective on the map usually nets palpable rewards for the player: a significant experience boost, new skills, new gear, or a bag of loot. An open-world game necessitates a lot of exploring. Even if a game is repetitive, earning substantial rewards is satisfying, at least. Forspoken does not have this — not in an easily discernible way, at least.

Treasure chests, which account for most of the points of interest on the map, reward players with a litany of crafting materials. Most of which will go unused because the game doesn’t easily tell players how to use them. After a dozen hours of collecting materials, I had a wealthy cache of each ingredient to make practically anything. Even then, I had little idea where each one went.

The map’s major rewards — new cloaks, new nail arts, and experience — also do little to explain how Frey improves with each completed objective. Clearing out an enemy camp, for example, rewards players with +1 magic. The game does not tell you how much damage that conveys. Certainly, after completing a few of these, Frey feels stronger, but it’s not easy to see how much stronger, especially when most enemies are bullet sponges with absurd health pools anyway.

Plus, these don’t even scratch the surface of objectives wherein the main reward is literally just a lore dump you have to read from a menu.

Forspoken

Difficulty shouldn’t always mean more enemies

Another issue with clearing out Athia’s large map is how Forspoken handles difficulty. Though there are options to adjust difficulty, the game relies on a limited bag of tricks to make it more difficult for players: increasing enemy health and quantity. In moderation, relying on this strategy works. However, Forspoken does this to an obnoxious level.

Prepare to fight five mini-bosses in one encounter for a lore entry. What compounds this issue more is an insane enemy health pool which causes encounters to last a lot longer than they should. One mini-boss encounter took me 15 minutes, even with appropriately leveled gear and the right spells.

Because of the sheer number of enemies, an encounter can stun-lock Frey for an absurd amount of time. The player can hardly prevent this since it relies on chance. Despite offering a wide array of moves, the risk of knockbacks shoehorn players into a slow run-and-gun tactic (which might not even play into an enemy’s weaknesses), instead of using each ability to the max.

On paper, Forspoken’s combat offers a fluid way to take down enemies by seamlessly switching between spells and moving through the battlefield with magic parkour. Unfortunately, an imbalance in enemy strategies bogs the game down in prolonged sequences that often reward players with only middling boosts.

Forspoken

A lack of optimization

For a game released on modern hardware, Forspoken took a while to launch. The game was delayed a few times. Given how delays often work, you’d think that it would release in a fairly optimized state. It’s not.

Though I haven’t hit major game-breaking bugs, there were a number of performance dips throughout the game. Even on performance-focused settings, framerates dropped to a standstill when there were high particle effects on screen. Frey constantly clipped through the terrain and found herself stuck on finnicky edges (which sometimes required reloading from previous saves).

The game is also dragged down by numerous cutscenes. Though not a bug per se, it’s not a great sign of optimization that the game has to pause for a cutscene just to show enemies arriving. For a game featuring fluid movement and combat, Forspoken often takes players out of the action by pausing for unnecessary cutscenes.

Forspoken

Better on sale

Overall, Forspoken is persistently flawed. However, amid the game’s shortcomings, the title still has an exciting combat and movement system. Plus, if you disregard the tedious open world, Forspoken’s linear story, featuring the wide range of abilities, are enjoyable. My interest always bounces back after beating one of the game’s main bosses.

Still, it’s hard to call Forspoken a game worthy of its AAA price tag. It might be better to wait for a discount.

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Gaming

Match Pulse: ROG Xbox Ally X

The handheld finally feels like it belongs in your hands.

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October 15, 2025

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ROG Xbox Ally X

We’ve spent enough time with the ROG Xbox Ally X to say this: it’s no longer just a novelty, it’s a handheld that finally knows what it wants to be.

The first Ally from 2023 was exciting — a bold step toward making PC gaming portable. But after a few sessions, it felt more like a prototype for what was coming next.

This one? It feels complete.
So, in this edition of Match Pulse, let’s talk about how the Ally X grips better, plays longer, and why it finally deserves the Xbox badge printed on it.

First look

ROG Xbox Ally X

The first touch felt awkward — the kind of feeling you get when you’re not sure how to hold something new. But the longer you hold it, the more it starts to make sense.

The redesigned grips, patterned after Xbox controllers, give it a natural curve that rests well in your palms. It still doesn’t dig in as much as I’d like to – the way it does on the Legion Go S – but it’s certainly an improvement.

It’s subtly heavier than the original, but the weight works in its favor. The balance feels right. The texture, more grounded. It feels made for long sessions, not quick demos.

This is where ASUS seems to have listened. What was once a bit slippery now feels like an extension of your hands. The matte finish stays clean, the edges no longer bite. It’s a small but significant shift — and one that makes a world of difference in how it’s used.

First date

ROG Xbox Ally X | NBA 2K26

We tested it the same way we tested the original Ally: unplugged, Turbo mode, 25W TDP, NBA 2K Quick Play.

Back then, we couldn’t finish more than a single game and a few minutes of freestyle practice before the battery flatlined.

This time, it’s double that.

Two full games before reaching for the charger — and that’s without dialing down the settings. The new 80Wh battery doesn’t just promise endurance; it delivers it.

The cooling system has also been reworked, quieter yet just as efficient. It’s the kind of update that doesn’t make headlines, but you hear it – or I guess In this case, not hear it as much.

Together, these tweaks make the Ally X something the original never quite managed to be — a handheld that lets you play longer unplugged.

First impressions

ROG Xbox Ally X

The Xbox influence is everywhere, and it’s not just branding. The Ally X now boots straight into the Xbox app, with the familiar button logo acting as your home key. Press it, and you’re instantly back in the Xbox ecosystem.

It feels less like a PC pretending to be a console, and more like a handheld that understands both worlds.

You can still jump into Steam or Game Pass with ease, but the default experience is unmistakably Xbox — intuitive, familiar, and cohesive.

All these refinements add up to something simple but powerful: this finally feels like a true successor.

The ROG Xbox Ally X doesn’t reinvent the idea of handheld gaming, but it refines it where it matters — in the way it feels in your hands, in how long it lasts, and in how effortlessly it connects to what you want to play.

If the original was a promise, this one is fulfillment – still with room for improvement, sure, but I trust you get the gist.

Learn more: https://ph.rog.gg/playALLYourgames2025
Where to buy: https://ph.rog.gg/wheretobuy2025 

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A Pokémon leak reveals an MMO-style remake of Hoenn, Sinnoh

It’s scheduled to launch in 2028.

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October 14, 2025

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For a company that’s notoriously litigious, The Pokémon Company has done a remarkably poor job at keeping its details safe from leaks. Today, a new Pokémon leak has revealed so much more about what the franchise has in store for gamers in the coming years.

Exactly a year ago, a massive leak called the Teraleak revealed a trove of information for the series. At the time, the leak focused mainly on the upcoming Legends: Z-A (which coincidentally launches later this week) and the mysterious tenth generation.

Now, via Centro LEAKS, the team behind the Teraleak has uncovered more information. Most importantly, the upcoming tenth generation of games will feature MMO-inspired elements. It will feature a central hub where players can interact with others online. It will also have co-op raid bosses and the ability to explore underwater.

The tenth generation will reportedly have the name Pokémon Wind and Wave, scheduled for a 2026 release. Supposedly, they even found a logo for the duo already.

Past 2026, the leak says that a new Legends game is coming in 2027. This time, the faster paced franchise will take players to the Galar region.

Then, in 2028, the developers are reportedly releasing a dream project that will make every older Pokémon fan’s heart flutter. Project Seed is supposedly a multi-region remake set in a new region between Hoenn and Sinnoh. Being in between worlds, players will get the ability to traverse the two aforementioned regions from the past. It’s also an MMO, so it’s a big dream come true for fans.

That said, these are leaked plans from 2020. As crazy as this slate sounds, there’s still a chance that TPC’s plans have already changed today. As with all leaks, take it with a grain of salt.

SEE ALSO: Massive Pokémon leak reveals plans for Gen 10

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What to Expect at gamescom asia x Thailand Game Show 2025

Bangkok gears up for Southeast Asia’s biggest gaming weekend yet

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October 13, 2025

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gamescom asia thailand game show

The Queen Sirikit National Convention Center in Bangkok is about to become ground zero for gamers across the region as gamescom asia x Thailand Game Show 2025 takes over from October 16 to 19. With global heavyweights like Bandai Namco Entertainment Asia, Capcom, and Ubisoft leading the charge, fans can look forward to four packed days of world premieres, hands-on demos, cosplay, esports, and exclusive merch.

Bandai Namco’s biggest booth ever

Bandai Namco Entertainment Asia (BNE Asia) is going all out this year with its largest-ever title showcase, bringing both blockbuster releases and new surprises to Bangkok.

Playable titles include Little Nightmares III, MY HERO ACADEMIA: All’s Justice, Digimon Story Time Stranger, Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree, Once Upon A KATAMARI, and PAC-MAN WORLD 2 Re-PAC, plus localized Thai demos of Little Nightmares III and ELDEN RING Tarnished Edition.

Fans can also look forward to Square Enix titles like FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE INTERGRADE and DRAGON QUEST I & II HD-2D Remake showcased within the same space. Completing the experience are exclusive freebies via a stamp rally, a photo op for CODE VEIN II, and a special guest appearance by Final Fantasy VII Remake Battle Director Teruki Endo on October 18.

Capcom brings new reveals, live shows, and cosplay power

Capcom’s lineup blends nostalgia, live entertainment, and fan engagement. Headlining the booth is the first Southeast Asian demo of Mega Man Star Force Legacy Collection, featuring all seven remastered titles in the series.

On the main stage, fans can catch developer sessions for Onimusha: Way of the Sword and Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection, featuring Producers Kadowaki Akihito, Satoru Nihei, and Ryozo Tsujimoto.

Meanwhile, Thai YouTuber Gssspotted will host live gameplay demos of Resident Evil Requiem and PRAGMATA, followed by a Street Fighter 6 showcase led by Shuhei Matsumoto and Takayuki Nakayama — complete with a Top 16 tournament and a 30,000 THB prize pool.

Fans can also expect a daily cosplay gathering at 4 PM hosted by emcee YUKI, alongside exclusive Capcom merchandise and a custom illustration wall by artist Ryuta Fuse.

Ubisoft celebrates 10 years of Siege and showcases new games

Ubisoft is marking a major milestone with the 10th anniversary of Rainbow Six Siege, kicking off with a fireside chat featuring Creative Director Alexander Karpazis on October 16.

Across the weekend, the Ubisoft x Intel booth will feature hands-on gameplay for Anno 117: Pax Romana, Morbid Metal, Just Dance 2026, and Rainbow Six Siege, with exclusive goodies and cosplay meet-and-greets.

The publisher is also giving away a custom Intel x Siege PC — fans can join by snapping a photo at the Siege X booth and posting it online. Esports fans can catch daily 6v6 Siege showmatches, a creator exhibition match, and the Rainbow Six Siege Thailand Finals happening live on October 19.

A celebration beyond the main stages

Beyond the major showcases, the event floor will also be buzzing with more booths and interactive zones from top hardware brands like AMD, Intel, Predator, SteelSeries, Nubwo x EGA, and SIGNO. Visitors can explore even more game and publisher spaces from Nintendo, Xbox, HoYoverse, The Pokémon Company, Mytona, 4Divinity, Amazing Seasun, Razer Game Services, Staika, Ukiyo Studios, VNGGames, NCV Games, and Thermite Games — each bringing demos, merch drops, and activities that keep the energy going from one hall to the next.

Whether you’re there for Final Fantasy nostalgia, Monster Hunter reveals, or the Siege anniversary showdown, gamescom asia x Thailand Game Show 2025 is shaping up to be the ultimate celebration of gaming culture in Southeast Asia — a rare crossover event uniting the world’s biggest publishers under one roof, all in the heart of Bangkok.

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