Guerrilla Games, in collaboration with PlayStation, presents the highly anticipated sequel to Horizon Zero Dawn: Horizon Forbidden West. Continuing the epic journey of Aloy, a Nora huntress, this instalment takes us to the breathtaking landscapes of the Forbidden West. Here, in a futuristic Earth where machines rule, a mysterious blight threatens to destroy everything. At Player Opinion, we picked up our bows and ventured into this decaying world, uncovering its secrets.
Horizon Forbidden West Game Review
Gameplay Experience: 21/25
Similar to its predecessor, Horizon Forbidden West features controls that are easy and natural to learn, making gameplay intuitive and enjoyable. The game’s difficulty scales appropriately, providing a balanced challenge that is fun to experiment with. The captivating and beautiful game world encourages exploration beyond the main story, drawing players into its rich environments and side quests. While in-game decisions are limited, primarily affecting starting skills rather than the broader game world, this does not significantly detract from the experience. Progression is satisfying, with new skills feeling powerful and impactful. Occasionally, new items can feel godly and game-breaking, adding excitement to the gameplay. Overall, Horizon Forbidden West delivers a deeply satisfying and immersive experience that keeps players engaged in Aloy’s journey.
Presentation & Immersion: 22/25
Aloy’s journey through the Forbidden West is an absorbing tale of self-growth, ultimately revealing that not everything can be accomplished alone. Horizon Forbidden West is immersive, both in its main story and its environment. While some side quests occasionally feel bland, the visuals and unique areas on the map keep you engaged throughout the playthrough. As the landscapes change to warm climates, so too does the machinery you encounter, adding variety and depth to the exploration. The game feels polished, with an intuitive and clean HUD that enhances rather than detracts from the experience. The sounds of the game, especially the machine noises and the tactile clangs of combat, make each hit feel damaging and solid, contributing to the overall atmosphere.
Design & Technical: 19/25
Character design in Horizon Forbidden West is realistic, featuring gritty and lifelike characters instead of Hollywood exaggerations. The characters are gritty, filled with personality and life, contributing to a sense of realism that is unmatched in most games or media. The game’s content is rich and diverse, featuring intelligent and aggressive AI, and settings that are flexible and customizable. However, we did encounter some clipping issues during our playthrough. Initially, these glitches were charming, but they soon became problematic as Aloy got stuck multiple times in the environment, particularly while swimming. Additionally, in Cauldron: Kappa, we faced a bug where the end machine vanished, disrupting the gameplay experience. These issues suggest a need for additional polish and playtesting compared to the more refined experience of Horizon Zero Dawn.
The Skinny About Horizon Forbidden West
Final Considerations: 22/25
Overall, Horizon Forbidden West (Steam Link) is a deeply satisfying game, offering more play value than its predecessor. The world feels expansive, with a wealth of content to explore. While some areas of polish are lacking, others effectively compensate for these flaws. At Player Opinion, we believe that PlayStation exclusivity can be somewhat exclusionary, creating unnecessary divisions among gamers instead of fostering a unified gaming community. We think that games should be accessible to all players across different platforms to ensure that everyone can enjoy the work of developers. Despite this minor gripe, Horizon Forbidden West is a superb single-player RPG experience, free of microtransactions. It offers significant replay value and is well worth the cost for those eager to explore all its content.
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