Horizon Forbidden West review

 

             Be warned there will be SPOILERS* involved in this review. With that being said let's get into it.

I've always wanted to do video game reviews. Besides movies and comic books it is my favorite form of media. And what better game to start with then Horizon II Forbidden West. A game that in my eyes couldn't come out fast enough. So with that being said I hope you like my first attempt at a video game review, if it does well and people like it I will be doing a lot more in the future. 

Back in 2017 Guerrilla Games unleashed Horizon Zero Dawn into the world exclusive to the Playstation 4 console. Games fell in love with the world, lore and characters. I immediately took to it and upon playing through to completion I have no issue calling it not only my favorite PS4 game of all time but one of my favorite games period. I spent close to 100 hours with Horizon Zero Dawn hovering up everything it had to offer including a pretty hefty DLC which opened up an entirely new area with even more new characters in what looking back on now was a brief glimpse at what was to come down the line. My time spent with Horizon Zero Dawn was special and looking back on it always leaves me with a sense of pride and just pure enjoyment. It wasn't a masterpiece but for a developers first attempt at a AAA open world game filled to the brim with lore, giant machines and a unique narrative it really was something I'd never experience before. Character wise the protagonist Aloy immediately became a Playstation icon. She now stands high among the top of a list that includes Nathan Drake, Kratos and others. She was strong, had a great sense of compassion and overall was just very, very likable. Not to mention her voice as she was brought to life by the brilliantly talented Ashley Burch who nailed the role and made Aloy her own. What set Aloy apart from other video game characters at least for me was getting the chance to not just see her from a newborn state but also getting to play as her once she gets just a little bit older. It puts you right into her shoes from the beginning as both the player and Aloy's relationships are put to the forefront. So with all my time spent with Horizon Zero Dawn you can imagine my utter surprise and shock when Horizon II Forbidden West was announced during Playstations PS5 showcase in June of 2020. I was overjoyed, Aloy was back and this time she was venturing out into the Forbidden West which for quite some time was shrouded in mystery. The countdown was officially underway and on February 18th 2022 Horizon II Forbidden West launched on PS4 and PS5 to amazing critical and fan response. It's scores were high into the 8's and 9's with people praising it's many improvements made to not only the combat but the world building and overall gameplay which in fairness did need a few tweaks. Guriella however went above and beyond here enhancing pretty much everything the game from how you scale Tallnecks which are now little puzzles within themselves. They also added new moves to combat and a vastly improved skill tree. The newest addition that really impressed me is the diving mask. It's a game changer in a sense as it allows you to explore deep sunken caverns to look for treasure. The diving mask comes into play during a major part in the story in what were some of my favorite moments from Forbidden West. Another new thing in form of transport is the Shieldwing which is mainly used a was to descend from high points within the world. From the top of a Tallneck to the tip top of a snow covered mountain it's a satisfying addition to Aloys ever growing tools. 

What's also satisfying is the skill tree which I touched upon earlier. It is really beefed up ranging from improving melee combat, to harvesting skills and even mastering the many machines in the Forbidden West. It progresses along really well as you go about your journey in the game. I love how each skill tree is different from one another offering up so many ways to play. Character wise Horizon Forbidden West offers up plenty of diversity when it comes to not just the machines but also in it's many tribes who populate the Forbidden West. Aloy comes in contact with some truly memorable characters from those who aid her to those who do not. It's in these moments where Forbidden West's major improvements come into play when it comes to visuals and animations. Gone is the stiff, almost robotic like animations of the first game in it's place is beautifully rendered cutscenes where the characters are so well animated which in turn makes each cutscene seem much more grander and important. There is major battles, intense action set pieces but also some really tender and sweet moments between characters. The story of Forbidden West is a lot more refined too with it much bigger in scale and scope. It just feels like such a step up as Guerrilla's confidence and ability has really grown and it shows. 

Horizon Forbidden West is a BIG game. It's map is truly gigantic with so much to delve into and uncover. I clocked in around 55 hours before the credits rolled and there is still more to go and find out about from a lot more lore to things to collect to even an arena where you get to fight the various machines in the West with each round becoming more and more difficult but you do get the best gear in the game if successful. Nothing feels put in here for the sake of padding. It all feels important and worth doing adding more to the overall experience. I absolutely adored my time with Horizon Forbidden West. Feelings aside from the first game which is as I said one of my favorite games of all time I have to admit that Forbidden West has not only surpassed my expectations but it shattered them into tiny pieces. This is a must own for any Playstation gamer. Whether it be PS4 or PS5 Guerrilla have once again delivered a masterpiece of gaming that will be remembered for some time to come. Miss this at your peril!

5/5