The opening hours of Horizon Forbidden West are a treat
Guerrilla Games’s sequel starts slowly, but it’s a welcome return to the post-post-apocalypse nonetheless
The first thing that once notices while playing Horizon Forbidden West is that the game is gorgeous. There’s an incredible amount of detail in the environments, the use of color is clever and substantial, and the mountains, sunsets, or other views off in the distance are stunning. Just like 2017’s Horizon Zero Dawn, this game is an incredible visual treat.
After a relatively short time with Forbidden West, I’m happy to report that the rest of the game backs up these incredible visuals (at least so far). Everything that I loved about the original game — the compelling narrative, the breathtaking action, the interesting characters — is back, with all the improvements and new features one would expect from a new game. I haven’t played enough to render a full judgement, but I can say that what I’ve experienced to date has been fantastic.
The three pillars of the Horizon franchise are gameplay, graphics, and story. The visuals — as I explained above and as most reviews have also pointed out — are fantastic. The same is true of the action. Players control the protagonist Aloy as she battles enormous machines and human enemies, and the thrill of taking down monstrous foes is just as appealing as it was back in 2017.
The “hook” of Horizon gameplay is that one gets to take on massive mechanical monsters. Usually shaped something like a robot dinosaur, these creatures look essentially invulnerable. They’re fast, armored, and incredibly satisfying to vanquish. These games aren’t the first to pit players against mammoth creations, but the feeling of going toe-to-toe with these beasts is something I think every fan of video games should experience.
The story, so far, is also good. The central narrative of Zero Dawn is one of the most compelling in a game that I’ve ever played, even if some of the dialog felt stiff and unrealistic. This time around, the conversations feel much more organic and all the characters more well-rounded. It’s clear that developer Guerilla Games put a great deal of effort into the storytelling. It remains to be seen just how good the overarching plot is, but I’m intrigued so far.
It’s worth pointing out that Forbidden West takes its time before fully opening up the world map. There’s a set of linear levels, followed by a contained open area, which is finally followed by the entire map. It may be slightly frustrating for anyone who wants to dive straight into the full game, but it’s a smart way to introduce mechanics and re-familiarize players with the mechanics before fully opening up.
For anyone just now picking up the game, I’d recommend spending as much time as possible in the opening area. Some of the side quests set up future adventures in the full map, but even just talking to all of the available characters is a treat. There’s also a neat little moment where some of the side quests intersect, a moment that I imagine would be less rewarding without completing all of them. It’s also nice to explore a smaller area before the more overwhelming vistas fully open up.
It’s impossible not to see the influence of games like Breath of the Wild¹, The Witcher, or even Ghost of Tsushima (which in turn was heavily influenced by Zero Dawn). Whether it’s gameplay tweaks, well-written storylines, or a visual style, Forbidden West stands on the shoulders of some previous games. So far, I’m having a great time.
Notes
¹Horizon Zero Dawn had the singular misfortune to launch mere days before Breath of the Wild in 2017. It looks like launching before Elden Ring is also unfortunate for Forbidden West, but perhaps not to the same degree now that the Horizon series is more established.
The views expressed are mine alone and do not represent the views of my employer or any other person or organization.
