Rated on base model PlayStation 4
“Horizon Forbidden West” basically has everything focused on it, as it follows an already excellent game in “Zero Dawn”. But with the way it managed to take what its predecessor had and expand on them in every way, I believe it’s safe to say Guerilla Games’ new open-world title is in talks for the best game. sequels of all time.
(Photo: Guerrilla Games)
Latest generation hardware doesn’t matter
If you’re a little worried that “Forbidden West” won’t look great on last-generation hardware, put those fears to rest. Guerilla made sure this game doesn’t leave PS4 owners in the dust. As a result of their efforts, “Forbidden West” is a game that is definitely the next generation on last-generation hardware: a feat I never thought possible. I can’t remember another game on PS4 that looks as good as this one – maybe “Ghost Of Tsushima” is, but “Forbidden West” is more or less in a league of its own.
Despite running on hardware that’s nearly a decade old, “Horizon Forbidden West” ran well enough on the base PS4 with a consistent frame rate and quality. However, there were a few quirks due to the old hardware: assets sometimes don’t load fast enough, especially in a cutscene. There was a case where Aloy Aloy showed nothing, but a second later the entire rock face was displayed.
All in all, the beauty of the game is simply mesmerizing. Several times I just stopped to take in the incredible vistas and vast landscapes full of intimidating, deadly machines – a stark contrast to the beguiling beauty of this post-apocalyptic paradise.
Strong narrative start, but poor finish
The story of “Horizon Forbidden West” can be described in one word: disappointing. And in more ways than one.
I felt like that ending was notably a bit out of the way and didn’t make much sense. Usually that’s okay, but I think they may have gone overboard with the sci-fi explanations that shed light on what really happened during the first game’s story.
(Photo: Guerrilla Games)
However, there are still many pluses. I especially love Aloy’s character progression from “Zero Dawn”, for example. She’s now more mature and self-possessed, with a confidence that comes from the skills she’s acquired and the experience she earned in the first game. People still underestimate her – to their peril – as she continues to prove them wrong. This is how you create a strong female character in games. They don’t have to be superheroes; they only need willpower so strong that it is enough to be a force of nature in itself.
As for the rest of the game’s characters, they didn’t really do much. It was good to see old friends like Erend, Varl, Talanah, don’t get me wrong. But their presence didn’t matter. They just didn’t. That was a huge disappointment, as I was expecting something like Witcher 3’s Battle of Kaer Morhen – where the number of allies you bring with you could determine the outcome of your mission.
It’s a good enough sci-fi story, all things considered. It’s just not as groundbreaking as I expected.
(Photo: Guerrilla Games)
Play however you want period
To say that the gameplay in “Horizon Forbidden West” has been improved over “Zero Dawn” through competitions is a huge understatement. That’s because Guerilla Games went metal on this thing.
The biggest change for this game was the pre-customization. It goes way beyond just choosing the difficulty, and allows you to completely change the way the game works based on your preference. This makes the game extremely accessible to anyone who wants to play, and I commend the developers for that.
For the battles, there are now a total of six skill trees from the original four from ‘Zero Dawn’. This allows players to really build Aloy to their personal specifications. Do you want to be Artemis incarnate and be the greatest archer in the land? You can do that. Want to be sneaky and adept at unknowingly trapping enemies? So can you. Or maybe you want to be a tireless, unstoppable melee specialist. So can you.
(Photo: Guerrilla Games)
Despite all the great things “Forbidden West” has done to the gameplay, it’s not without its problems. The biggest problem it still has that strangely still hasn’t been solved? The mounted controls. GODAWFUL is the word I would use to describe this. I never liked the mounted controls in “Zero Dawn” either, but the way this game handled it actually made me miss driving around during the first game. It is so bad.
(Photo: Guerrilla Games)
Also Read: Horizon Forbidden West Tops PS5, PS4 Boxed Sales Charts In UK
A ‘new’ country that still feels very familiar
As an open world game, “Forbidden West” is not immune to the problems that have plagued other open world games for years. The core content of “Zero Dawn” returns: machine hunts, hunting grounds, bandit camps to clear up, and cauldrons to lift machines. But these are all generic open-world trippers that can be ignored, because other than giving XP and materials to craft weapons and armor, you don’t really need them. The story-driven side missions are the only ones worth their salt.
Review verdict ‘Horizon Forbidden West’
I honestly believe that “Horizon Forbidden West” deserves its place among the greatest video game sequels of all time. The only thing that keeps it from getting a perfect score is the presence of generic open world filler and a disappointing story with a weak finish.
SCORE: 8.5/10
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Written by RJ Pierce
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