The previous generation of consoles will also be remembered for the introduction of multiple intellectual properties with a bright future. One of them was Horizonwhose protagonist, Aloy, quickly won over the PlayStation gaming community. Five years after the launch of Zero Dawnand when we are still in the take-off stage of the PS5, Guerrilla Games brings us the long-awaited sequel, Horizon Forbidden West.
The game was certainly scheduled to arrive at some point in 2021. However, the Dutch studio needed more time to deliver a title that lived up to the enormous expectations. It was worth the wait? Yes, totally. Yes Horizon: Zero Dawn was a studio talent show beyond kill zone, Horizon: Forbidden West reveal your master’s degree in multiple sections What makes a video game great?
The second installment improves in many aspects to its predecessor. The first of them: the narrative. The story of Zero Dawn He took us by the hand through a journey of personal discovery for the protagonist. She was exploring her origins, learning to fend for herself in a world full of dangers and to relate to people who, at first, excluded her. Once a solid plot base was established, it was time to embark on a much more ambitious adventure.
Horizon Forbidden West, as its name suggests, takes us to the Western region of what was once California, in the United States. Six months after the events of Zero DawnAloy and her family must face a mysterious plague that endangers all humanity. Its red tones begin to settle in the territory, damaging the biosphere and nobody understands the reason for its existence. What is certain is that they must act as soon as possible, otherwise they will bid farewell to the habitability of the planet.
Generally speaking, the history of Horizon: Forbidden West is as interesting as the previous title. Much of this is due to that mystery component that remains in force almost from beginning to end, and that manages to transmit to you the same desire that Aloy has to discover the origin of the plague and other situations that, despite not being as significant as avoiding the end of the world, bring a lot of variety to the narrative.
The fact of reaching unknown territory is, again, a challenge for Aloy. Beyond the danger represented by the machines, which I will delve into later, it is again important to start forming alliances with the tribes of the region. The problem is that not all of them are willing to cooperate with the cause and one in particular, the Tenakth, will be a headache. The plague is the axis of the campaign, yes, but conflicts with humans continue to have great relevance.
One thing you will notice right away is that the microstories that await you in the Forbidden West, including those that develop secondary characters in a profound way, really enrich a whole. In Zero Dawn I came to feel that some quests, thankfully not in a worrying amount, were simply there to add to the length of the adventure, but not to add anything really worthwhile. This has been left behind Forbidden West.
Of course, the plot twists again they are insured. Be careful, several events are related to what happened in the first title, so my recommendation, of course, is that you finish the main missions of Zero Dawn before jumping to Forbidden West. And it is that the latter already assumes that you completed the previous adventure, so do not expect explanations about the appearance of certain characters or about how the most basic mechanics work. Even so, at the beginning you will have a super summary of the previous facts.
Already entering the playable section, Horizon Forbidden West is a evolution of what has already been seen in the predecessor. An evolution that, by the way, covers the room for improvement left Zero Dawnbut which also takes the opportunity to introduce novelties that substantially change your experience; mainly in regard to traveling the wide territory. Exploration is again a mainstay, and the game puts at our disposal a set of new mechanics that make the journey easier.
This release offers a new “free” climbing systemwhich is clearly inspired by The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. The objective? Make the game more vertical. Aloy will be able to climb most obstacles and surfaces that are presented to her until she reaches elevated areas. And if a climb looks difficult, you can always lean on the Focus to highlight some indicators that serve as a guide. The system works quite well and the protagonist’s movements are very natural and fluid.
Now, at a certain point you will have to go back down… right? Guerrilla has thought of everything and therefore also gives us the Shieldwing, a tool to plan and descend from heights. Its control is precise and, beyond being an additional means of transportation, it also becomes an attack tool. Yes, it is possible to surprise enemies with the Shieldwing, without forgetting that the descents allow us to appreciate extraordinary panoramic views of the open world.
Third, but not least, we have the hook, a kind of hook whose purpose is to make it easier for us to reach elevated surfaces quickly. However, it also serves to propel them to the heights in moments of combat and even to flee when the fight does not favor you. In addition, there are some activities and areas that require the mandatory use of the hook to interact with elements of the stage.
Thus, these three additions complement each other so that Horizon Forbidden West explode your upright gameplay. However, none of this would be possible if the scenarios were not prepared for it. The outstanding open world design, as well as the levels, encourages the continuous use of the tools described above. At this point I can also include the diving mask, which allows marine exploration. None of them feel wasted and using them is a joy due to the good sensations they transmit.
Another element that evolves favorably is combat. Zero Dawn he had some weaknesses in close combat. To solve this, Guerrilla Games has devised a more complex system that relies on a Greater variety of moves, combos, and abilities. However, it is clear that the game still gives priority to ranged attacks through the bow, Aloy’s inseparable companion. This, by the way, has also improved thanks to the new types of arrows. In addition, it can be combined with the Shieldwing or the grappling hook to shoot from the air.
As for the arsenal, there are also news. They have introduced a good number of explosives and weapons with special attacks, some of them with amazing destructive power. But, in addition, you will have the opportunity to reuse those of the first installment, so options to stand up to the enemies will not be lacking in Horizon Forbidden West. That yes, each one has its skill and the effectiveness can change depending on the machine you face.
Horizon Forbidden West is, above all and just like its predecessor, an action game with RPG elements. The progression system is back, but now it’s slightly more robust. To get started, the skill tree has changed significantly regarding the first game; there’s much more to unlock as you level up, and each “branch” covers a specific style of play. For example, stealth or ranged attacks. On the other hand, now it is essential to pay attention to the outfits we wear, as these reinforce the character’s statistics and abilities.
There’s a key reason why Aloy has a wide array of resources to roam and deal with the threats of the Forbidden West. Yes, she has weapons and abilities that make her deadly, but that’s because the dangers out there are also at the same level of dangerousness. The new machines that you will find in the Forbidden West are, for the most part, deadly. Believe me, more than one will cost you multiple attempts because of how challenging it is to defeat them.
Again it will be essential to study their movements, their attack patterns and identify their weaknesses. Once this information is obtained, the next thing is to choose the appropriate weaponry to cause damage to them. It looks easy on paper, but it’s a strategic component which takes place in a matter of seconds. The design of the new machines, mainly those that serve as final bosses, It is outstanding. Not only because of how majestic they can be in terms of size and visual appearance, but also because of their firepower.
Be careful, not all of them will be a threat, since there are new machines that can become your allies. One in particular will leave you stumped by what it means for open world transfers. Guerrilla Games kept it “secret” and I won’t be the one to spoil the surprise. I can only tell you: get ready to take to the skies—and I’m not referring to the use of Shieldwing.
Much has been made about the intergenerational release of Horizon Forbidden West and how this decision, so controversial at first, could take its toll on the visual section of the game in its variant next-gen. However, you can rest assured, because we are facing one of the greatest visual exponents of open worlds. The title looks amazing on both PS4 and PS5, although it’s the latter where you’ll be stunned. I’m not exaggerating, the difference between the two is very big.
I must first highlight Guerrilla Games’ attention to detail. Regardless of the grand resignations of the setting, there is not a single corner of the Forbidden West that has been neglected. Textures, object and character modeling, animations, particles and lighting; everything has a excellent quality level and very much in line with the requirements demanded by PlayStation Studios projects. The artistic section is brilliant and it is not only evident in the visual, but also in the auditory with very well achieved sound effects, a soundtrack that is once again epic and a dubbing at the height of an AAA title.
The above elements, together, manage to form a staging that raises the bar for the genre. Wherever you go, it is perceived that the territory has a life of its own, either due to the presence of the machines in their “habitat”, due to the detailed settlements of the tribes or simply because nature did its thing to cover the ancient world. Touring the stage can become a contemplative experience because its diverse landscapes will steal your gaze over and over again. This is also influenced by the fact that the HUD is much cleaner.
Technically speaking, you can’t really fault Horizon Forbidden West. The only negative is that there were certain moments -few- in which I could notice that the loading of some textures took longer than expected. Despite the above, it is clear that the Decima Engine, the graphic engine of the European study, has stepped on the right foot of the new generation. are offered two graphics modes, one that prioritizes resolution (4K) and the other performance (60 FPS). In addition, virtually all of the character’s interactions take great advantage of the adaptive triggers and haptic feedback from the DualSense.
Horizon Forbidden West It’s everything you’ve been waiting for. Impressing us again after an outstanding first installment was no easy task, but Guerrilla Games found the right formula for Aloy and his new adventure, which can easily stretch over 50 hours, to escalate into a level very close to excellence. Without fear of being wrong, I can tell you that, for now, It is the best exclusive title in the PlayStation 5 catalog; one that cannot be missing in your library. Get ready for February 18.