Horizon Forbidden West Review
Six months after saving the world from the deranged AI HADES, Aloy finds herself facing an even greater threat in Horizon Forbidden West. Guerrilla Games' ambitious sequel takes everything that made Zero Dawn special and amplifies it across a vast, gorgeous recreation of post-apocalyptic western America. From the sun-drenched beaches of California to the neon-lit ruins of Las Vegas, the Forbidden West is a marvel to behold, populated by both familiar and entirely new mechanical creatures that roam these diverse landscapes. The moment you step into this world, it's immediately apparent that this is one of the most technically impressive games ever created, especially on PlayStation 5. Every blade of grass, every weathered building, and every intricate mechanical beast has been crafted with meticulous attention to detail that borders on the photorealistic. The lighting system creates breathtaking moments whether you're watching sunrise paint the desert golden or exploring bioluminescent underwater caverns. But Horizon Forbidden West isn't just a pretty face – beneath its stunning exterior lies a refined gameplay experience that builds meaningfully upon its predecessor. Aloy feels more agile and responsive than ever, with new traversal mechanics like swimming, climbing, and gliding that make exploration feel more fluid and dynamic. The combat system has been expanded with new weapons, abilities, and enemy types that demand tactical thinking and quick reflexes.
Horizon Forbidden West refines and expands upon Zero Dawn's already excellent combat system with remarkable success. The core loop of hunting mechanical beasts remains as satisfying as ever, but new weapons like the spike thrower and shredder gauntlets add welcome variety to encounters. Each weapon type feels distinct and purposeful, encouraging players to adapt their loadouts based on enemy weaknesses and combat scenarios. The addition of new traversal mechanics transforms exploration into a joy rather than a chore – swimming through coral-filled ruins, free-climbing cliffsides, and gliding across vast distances with the Shieldwing all feel natural and responsive. Aloy's expanded skill trees offer meaningful choices that genuinely affect gameplay, whether you're focusing on stealth takedowns, elemental damage, or resource gathering. The climbing system has been significantly improved, with clearer visual indicators and more freedom in route selection. However, some activities still feel repetitive after dozens of hours, and certain side quests fall into familiar open-world busywork patterns despite generally strong quest design. The machine override system returns with new robotic mounts that each offer unique traversal options, from the speedy Clawstrider to the aquatic Sunwing that finally gives players true flight capabilities in the series.
While Horizon Forbidden West delivers an epic scope that matches its visual ambitions, the narrative occasionally struggles under the weight of its own complexity. Aloy's personal journey remains compelling as she grapples with her unique burden and the loneliness that comes with being humanity's savior, but the supporting cast feels somewhat underdeveloped despite the game's lengthy runtime. The central mystery surrounding the ecological collapse and the ancient technology trying to restore Earth provides plenty of intriguing revelations, particularly for fans invested in the series' deep lore. Voice acting is generally strong across the board, with Ashly Burch delivering another excellent performance as Aloy, though some dialogue can feel expository and heavy-handed. The various tribes Aloy encounters each have distinct cultures and believable conflicts, from the aquatic Quen to the technologically advanced Zenith. However, pacing issues occasionally bog down the main storyline, particularly in the middle act where multiple plot threads compete for attention. Side quests range from genuinely moving character studies to more generic fetch missions, though the best ones rival the main story in terms of emotional impact and world-building. The game tackles themes of environmental responsibility, technological dependence, and sacrifice with appropriate gravity, even if the execution doesn't always match the ambition of its ideas.
Horizon Forbidden West is nothing short of a visual masterpiece that pushes current-generation hardware to its limits. The sheer diversity of environments is staggering – from lush tropical jungles teeming with life to stark desert wastelands dotted with ancient ruins, each biome feels meticulously crafted and lived-in. Character animations, particularly facial expressions during cutscenes, reach unprecedented levels of realism that occasionally blur the line between game and film. The mechanical creatures are the true stars of the show, with intricate designs that make each encounter feel like observing exotic wildlife, complete with believable behaviors and movements. Weather effects and day-night cycles create constantly shifting visual spectacles that make screenshot-taking an irresistible compulsion. On PlayStation 5, the game offers multiple visual modes that balance fidelity and performance admirably, though even the performance mode maintains stunning visual quality. The audio design deserves equal praise, with a sweeping orchestral score that perfectly complements both intimate character moments and epic boss battles. Sound effects are incredibly detailed – from the mechanical whirs and clanks of robot dinosaurs to the ambient sounds of wind through ruins – creating an immersive soundscape that brings the world to life. Voice acting maintains high standards throughout, though some performances feel more natural than others. The 3D audio implementation on PS5 adds another layer of immersion, making it easier to locate enemies and environmental hazards during intense combat encounters.
Horizon Forbidden West launched in remarkably polished condition, with only minor technical issues marring the experience. On PlayStation 5, both performance and fidelity modes run smoothly, with the performance mode maintaining a stable 60fps during most gameplay scenarios. Loading times are impressively brief thanks to SSD optimization, making fast travel and area transitions nearly instantaneous. The PC version, released later, offers extensive graphics options and generally solid performance across various hardware configurations, though some players reported shader compilation stutters at launch that have since been largely addressed through patches. Guerrilla Games has been responsive to community feedback, releasing regular updates that address both technical issues and quality-of-life improvements. The game does occasionally suffer from minor glitches like NPCs getting stuck in geometry or audio cutting out briefly, but these instances are rare and rarely impact gameplay significantly.
Horizon Forbidden West succeeds brilliantly as a showcase for current-generation gaming technology while delivering a satisfying continuation of Aloy's story. Despite some narrative pacing issues and occasional repetitive open-world elements, the game's stunning visual presentation, refined combat mechanics, and expanded traversal options create an experience that feels genuinely next-generation. Guerrilla Games has crafted a world that demands to be explored, filled with secrets, spectacular vistas, and memorable encounters that will stick with players long after the credits roll. The improved climbing and traversal mechanics address many of the original game's movement limitations, while the expanded weapon variety keeps combat encounters fresh throughout the lengthy campaign. While it may not revolutionize the open-world formula, Horizon Forbidden West executes that formula with such technical excellence and artistic vision that it stands among the best examples of the genre. This is essential gaming for anyone who appreciates stunning visuals, engaging combat, and richly detailed world-building, even if the story occasionally stumbles under its own ambitious scope.