So far, it seems as though the Tantas work in quite an isolated fashion. However, gamers have only gotten a few trailers, and there is definitely more to the story. It would be great for Forspoken’s world-building if the game goes in-depth regarding the Tantas and their relationships with each other.
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The Tantas of Forspoken
As gamers have been shown through trailers, Forspoken is an open-world fantasy game featuring an unwilling heroine named Frey Holland. After being transported from New York to the magical land of Athia, she learns that the place used to be paradisaical before the Break and its influence started spreading. It has led to everything becoming a corrupted version of itself, but Frey is somehow immune to it. If she hopes to ever find her way home, she will have to overcome the Tantas that stand in her way.
Before the Break, the Tantas were a group of benevolent matriarchs that ruled over Athia fairly. However, after the Break, their virtues have been twisted into ugly vices. For example, Tanta Sila was once the Tanta of strength who used her power to protect the nation. She now uses it to oppress Athia’s inhabitants. Likewise, Tanta Prav was once a matriarch of justice who kept the peace. Following the Break, she has become a despotic executioner that only trusts her own judgments.
The Tantas have been presented as interesting antagonists that also illustrate how positive traits taken to extremes can become harmful. From the sneak peeks gamers have gotten, the designs of the Tantas are also stunning, and they wear outfits that accentuate their central traits. Developers have only shared scarce details of Forspoken’s Tantas, so there are likely still many mysteries left to uncover and secrets to reveal. One of the questions that still linger before the game’s release regards how the Tantas interact with each other and whether they work as an efficient team.
The Relationships Between the Tantas
Although the reveal of the Tantas has made them appear quite intriguing, gamers have yet to see the Tantas interact with each other. This leaves gamers with many questions. Players are pondering whether the Tantas worked together as a harmonious council before the Break, or if they were isolated matriarchs who strictly stuck to their roles. Additionally, fans are wondering if there is a hierarchy among the Tantas, aside from Tanta Sila being the most powerful. It is also a mystery how the Break affects their relationships with each other. Currently, it appears as though the Tantas are operating in a deranged and isolated manner, yet they all share the goal of stopping Frey.
If Forspoken wants to get its world-building right, it needs to illustrate the relationship the Tantas have with each other, how their rule over Athia is organized, and how their relationships are affected by the Break. Internal conflict among the Tantas could bring an additional level of complexity to the characters. However, having the Tantas work mostly independently also has its benefits, as it gives each Tanta enough space to shine.
Forspoken has faced numerous delays, and it is now set to release in early 2023. Reception to the trailers thus far has been mixed, with many praising the gameplay and graphics while others criticize the dialog and empty-looking open-world. Fortunately, gamers won’t have to wait much longer to discover if they enjoy what Luminous Productions has been cooking up.
Forspoken is set to release on January 24, 2023, on PC and PS5.
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