Horizon Forbidden West review: A crowd-pleasing sequel
Our Verdict
Horizon Forbidden West is an exceptionally crafted sequel, delivering a thrilling open-world experience that fans of the original game will love.
For
- Stunning, highly detailed graphics
- Thrilling campaign
- Variety of engaging gameplay mechanics
- Vast open world to explore
Against
- Doesn't distinguish itself from its predecessor
Tom's Guide Verdict
Horizon Forbidden West is an uncommonly crafted sequel, delivering a thrilling open-globe experience that fans of the original game volition honey.
Pros
- +
Stunning, highly detailed graphics
- +
Thrilling entrada
- +
Variety of engaging gameplay mechanics
- +
Vast open globe to explore
Cons
- -
Doesn't distinguish itself from its predecessor
Horizon Forbidden Westward
Platforms: PS4, PS5 (reviewed)
Price: $60 (PS4), $70 (PS5)
Release Appointment: Feb xviii, 2022
Genre: Activity/run a risk
Horizon Forbidden W doesn't endeavor to reinvent the proverbial wheel with new gameplay mechanics or a controversial story. It is a truthful sequel to Horizon Zero Dawn, delivering more of what fabricated the first game successful. This is a double-edged sword, of course. Serial fans will delight in seeing protagonist Aloy fighting against both man and machine during her quest to save the planet. However, those who weren't impressed with the original installment volition find little to sway them in this new entry.
While there were moments during my playthrough when I wanted to see the gameplay and narrative do something truly unexpected, I was having also much fun to dwell on Forbidden Westward's shortcomings. The game focuses on giving activity/adventure fans a rousing and enjoyable experience. In that respect, Forbidden W prevails.
This title has everything I look for in open-world games: a large map full of unique environments, meaningful side quests and loads of collectibles. It too has an engaging narrative that ties all the disparate gameplay elements into a cohesive whole. It'southward likewise early to consider Forbidden Westward as a Game of the Year candidate, but it's one of the nearly entertaining titles I've played so far in 2022. Even if Horizon Forbidden West isn't a true "next-gen" title, as information technology's likewise available on PS4, it's still an all-around gripping experience.
Read on for our full Horizon Forbidden West review.
Horizon Forbidden West review: Story
Horizon Forbidden Westward takes place nigh six months after the conclusion of Horizon Zippo Dawn. Even though that story had a definite conclusion, the world remains in peril. The terraforming process that gave life to the mail-apocalyptic land continues to malfunction, causing plant life to wither and rot. This spells doom for the humans and animals who already have a hard time surviving in a world overrun by killer robots (chosen "machines" in-game). As before, Aloy and her allies must do what they can to salvage the planet.
Because so little fourth dimension has passed betwixt the events of Forbidden Westward and Zip Dawn, the story initially feels like a continuation of the previous adventure. Eventually, the narrative expands, and a new threat emerges to takes things in an interesting direction. I won't spoil things hither, but it's a clever bit of plotting that expands on a blink-and-y'all'll-miss-it piece of worldbuilding from the showtime title.
Speaking of worldbuilding, the various side quests and errands practice a great job of making the primitive-hereafter world of Forbidden West feel accurate. Side quests tend to tell cocky-contained stories, but as well add to the larger narrative tapestry. Whereas some games have side content that feels superfluous, Forbidden Westward's optional quests feel like natural extensions of the main plot. Even traditional fetch quests and collectible hunts tell miniature stories. It's worth your time to complete them, peculiarly since you'll earn rewards, such as items and experience points.
Open world games often fall prey to meandering campaigns. While there is an element of that in Forbidden W, the cadre plot remains fairly focused and follows a typical three-act construction. If you simply stick to the critical path, you lot'll experience an entertaining and cinematic story, on a par with the likes of Ghost of Tsushima, Marvel's Spider-Homo and God of State of war. While the narrative doesn't take many risks, it is exceptionally well-told. I don't foresee people having major complaints near Forbidden Due west's overall structure.
Horizon Forbidden West review: Gameplay
Horizon Forbidden West has the standard gameplay trifecta for an action/run a risk title: combat, platforming and puzzles. The latter element isn't equally prevalent, but you'll get heaping doses of the former two. Sprinkle in some light stealth mechanics, and y'all've got a slew of gameplay elements that keep you engaged with sheer multifariousness. You'll never get bogged downwardly in 1 particular activity for long, which is nifty.
Yous'll fight about enemies from a distance using specialized bows and arrows. Other weapons, such every bit the Ropecaster and Slingcaster round out your arsenal. If machines get as well close for comfort, you tin can fight them off with your spear, which you likewise utilize to override and control machines.
Battling machines can become pretty intense. Perhaps my memory is fuzzy, simply I don't recall robots being this aggressive in the previous title. To survive, you'll need to land attacks in-between dodges, or otherwise use the surroundings for cover. Each automobile has weak spots, or is susceptible to certain elemental attacks. Scanning robots for said weakness prior to an engagement is essential. Focusing attacks on specific parts ensures you're not stuck in long engagements. Considering the ferocity that the machines display, you'll want to end battles as apace equally possible.
As the game progresses, you'll either buy or find upgraded weapons and armor. You tin upgrade your current gear at workbenches in villages or shelters scattered across the map. Upgrading equipment is a straightforward process. And then long every bit you lot have the requisite materials for an upgrade, y'all're gilded. Thankfully, the game has a feature that shows yous where to discover whichever parts you need on the map. This way, you can make a beeline to a herd of machines, or a cluster of plants, to retrieve the necessary crafting items. I'thou usually not a fan of crafting in games, just Forbidden West includes it in a relatively unobtrusive manner. Plus, upgrading equipment keeps you alive longer, so it's in your best involvement to upgrade often.
Battling foes and completing missions earn you experience points. You lot'll gain skill points whenever you reach a new level. Finishing quests tin can also cyberspace you skill points. The skill tree has an extensive corporeality of unlockable skills, focusing on different areas of gameplay. Warrior skills make you more constructive at close-range combat, while Hunter skills add new bow-and-arrow abilities, for instance.
Each skill tree has Valor abilities, which are effectively super-moves-. For case, initiating a Hunter Valor skill increases your chances of landing critical strikes with ranged weapons. Using an Infiltrator Valor skill will temporarily render yous invisible to all enemies. The Valor meter fills upwards relatively fast, which encourages you to -utilize whatever skill y'all've enabled often.
It'due south easy to develop an Aloy that suits your detail playstyle. Like using smoke bombs and explosives? Then drop some points into Trapper skills. Desire to give yourself more wellness and elemental resistance? The Survivor tree volition go along you in the proverbial game for longer. Of form, you can also do what I did, and unlock a balanced number of skills beyond all branches. The option is yours.
There's no shortage of places to climb or otherwise traverse in Horizon Forbidden W. Aloy'south Focus (a pocket-size device she wears close to her right ear) highlights handholds and ledges yous tin can use to surmount natural and manmade structures. Scaling tall mountains with the new grapple claw or jumping betwixt steel beams is fluid for the most part. You're never truly in danger of falling, but the platforming sections are a welcome respite from combat. Y'all'll also exercise enough of climbing and jumping when scouring areas for out-of-the-way loot. As such, it's practiced that platforming is every bit but as fun in Forbidden West equally it is in Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Drove.
The map is blimp with a bevy of optional content. In addition to the aforementioned story-focused side quests and collectibles, y'all'll as well detect challenges in and around most of the main villages. These include archery challenges, machine hunts, wrestling matches (with weapons) and even an in-depth board game. 1 of the larger villages has an loonshit where you lot'll get up against machines in gladiatorial matches. Some of these encounters can be more brutal than anything y'all'll encounter in a mission or out in the wild. Merely if you want to earn the very best gear Forbidden Westward has to offer, this fighting loonshit is the place to go.
There are even more activities Forbidden West has to offer, but I don't want to spoil all the goodies you'll discover. Suffice it to say, there's a lot to see and practise in this game.
Horizon Forbidden West review: Visuals and sound
Horizon Forbidden West, similar its predecessor, is a visual powerhouse. I played the PS5 version, and was blown away by the graphical presentation. Everything from dense forests, barren deserts, towering mountains, humid swamps and old-world ruins come up to life in exquisite detail. At that place were many moments when I stopped to let myself appreciate whatever environment I was currently exploring. Humans and machines likewise have an impressive amount of detail — especially the latter.
On PS5, yous'll find two visual modes. Quality mode delivers 4K resolution with "full graphical settings" at 30 frames per 2d. Operation mode runs at a variable resolution and at 60 frames per 2nd.
While Quality mode looks crisper and does an excellent job of removing jagged edges via anti-aliasing, I opted to play in Performance mode. Having Forbidden West running at a (by and large) smooth sixty fps during both gameplay and cinematic scenes more than made up for any losses in resolution or visual effects (most of which I found imperceptible anyhow). Merely whichever fashion you decide to play on, you're in for a visual feast.
The music does a practiced chore of immersing yous without always drawing besides much attention to itself. Most of the soundtrack consists of tribal-like music you'd expect from a world where humans live in primitive, about-Stone-Age societies. Just given the sci-fi nature of Forbidden West, there'south a good helping of synthetic sounds that clot well with the tribal percussion.
Horizon Forbidden Westward review: Verdict
Horizon Forbidden West is a slam dunk for PlayStation users. While information technology's non a revolutionary game, it delivers a solidly crafted feel that most players will autumn in love with. It'south hard to knock a game for giving people exactly what they desire. As well, information technology's a relief to get an open up-earth experience that doesn't completely exhaust yous with extraneous content. The fact I want to continue playing this game, despite having finished this review, speaks volumes. It's a nail.
If yous own a PS4 or a PS5, you tin't become wrong with Horizon Forbidden West. If this game is any indication of what nosotros tin can expect on PlayStation in 2022, then we're off to a brilliant start.
Source: https://www.tomsguide.com/reviews/horizon-forbidden-west
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