In Tanta We Belief is a uncommon instance of DLC higher than the primary sport it is primarily based on, however that does not imply you want to rush out and purchase a PS5 copy of Forspoken so as to play it. This non-obligatory enlargement trumps the unique marketing campaign purely as a result of it does not have to hassle with the luggage of an open world expertise: huge stretches of land and tedious aspect actions. This can be a streamlined, tightly-packed enterprise that proves persistently pleasing, if just a little too quick.
Whereas the DLC tells you it takes place after the occasions of the primary sport, the overwhelming majority of the story really serves as a prequel. Protagonist Frey Holland is transported again in time to the Purge of the Rheddig, a struggle that ravaged Athia and despatched the Tantas crazy. The twist is Frey finds herself in another person’s physique and is accompanied by Tanta Cinta, who’s out to save lots of town by any means crucial.
It is a pretty primary premise that is given little time to arrange many twists or additional stakes because the enlargement will be completed inside two and a half hours. There may be one open space that is roughly the identical measurement as a single area from the bottom sport, however in addition to that, it is linear routes and encounters. Whereas that is no unhealthy factor by itself, there’s hardly sufficient time to actually floor your self within the new location and get to know its quirks earlier than the DLC is over. Worse nonetheless is you possibly can’t backtrack to that greater zone — you’d want to begin one other playthrough when you miss something gear or lore-wise.
This condensed construction does have its positives, although: much less time spent wandering the outback and extra in fight encounters. Frey in a short time unlocks a complete new set of powers to make use of — it is like the unique sport’s skill tree on steroids — which work in tandem with the talents of Tanta Cinta. When you meet her, she’s by your aspect always, and your melee and ranged powers will be mixed for big injury and lethal blows.
Utilizing primary assaults, you may cost up a spear — this may be swapped out for different assaults — that may be thrown into enemies. You may then be given a button immediate that prompts Tanta Cinta’s skill to unleash a big space of impact assault that downs most enemies in a single hit. Inside a single encounter, this transfer will be charged up two extra ranges, every dealing additional injury over a wider radius. At its strongest, you possibly can fairly actually take out greater than 10 enemies in a matter of seconds. It is extremely satisfying, turning giant teams of combatants into an attractive alternative relatively than one thing to run away from.
None of Frey’s powers from the bottom sport carry over, so that is the fight loop you have to work with — talents unlocked over the course of the three chapters present the range you would possibly have to maintain issues contemporary. As a microcosm of the Forspoken fight expertise, all of it works very well.
And whereas it’s comparatively small when stacked up towards the primary sport, the only open space In Tanta We Belief affords is each visually pleasing and enjoyable to traverse. With an enormous tree at its centre, crystals shoot out from the bottom whereas the city wraps round it in a circle. You possibly can sprint in all places, and with a brand new traversal possibility that acts quite a bit like a whip, you possibly can cross chasms and nice stretches of land shortly.
There’s a little bit of open world busywork to tempt you off the primary path (collectibles and character upgrades) however there’s not sufficient to the place you’d tire of it. Perhaps add one other half-hour onto that two-and-a-half-hour playtime when you see the whole lot the DLC serves up.
What the enlargement by no means will get away from, although, is that is in the end extra Forspoken. Meaning extra banter (a brand new possibility at the least enables you to flip the ambient dialogue off), extra disjointed graphics, and extra one-note characters. You in all probability already know whether or not you jive with the humour of Frey and Cuff or not by this level.
Conclusion
In Tanta We Belief is a DLC higher than the sport it is primarily based on, however that is extra as a result of it strips the Forspoken expertise of its open world busywork than the rest. An enlargement that focuses extra on fight, the only open space is a condensed model of what the bottom title affords, turning it right into a extra tightly packed enterprise that will get you in amongst the motion a lot sooner. It is extra Forspoken, however a greater model of it.
