An instant classic was born in 2017, as Horizon Zero Dawn took the world by storm. Protagonist Aloy, voiced by industry icon Ashly Burch, quickly worked her way into the hearts of gamers around the globe as she embarked on a journey of self-discovery; all whilst taking down the villainous rogue artificial intelligence HADES.
Horizon Forbidden West is an incredible accomplishment / Picture Credit: Sony
Of course, when something is as successful in its debut as Horizon Zero Dawn was, the pressure of building upon the foundations laid with something even bigger, bolder and better becomes immense. So, did developer Guerrilla Games do a good job?
Aloy isn’t one for celebration. She’s also not a fan of being called ‘The Saviour’. In fact, this whole new life that has opened up in front of her is in complete contrast to the solitary living she has learned to love; so much so, that those who care about her the most have been left in her dust, hurt by the cold shoulder she inadvertently gives them.
Fortunately for her, she’s got a new mission to conquer. With a collapsing biosphere and a mysterious Red Blight plaguing the lands, which causes anybody who gets close to start coughing, she wants to know exactly why the infectious plant is spreading and, what she can do to stop it. Assuming she needs a hard copy of GAIA - a highly-powerful artificial intelligence that helped rebuild humanity and society following its collapse in the apocalypse - to do so, she sets out on a journey to the titular Forbidden West, coming across new volatile machines and complicated personalities along the way.
One of the first things you’ll remember about Aloy is that she likes to talk. A lot. If she sees a ladder, she’s going to let you know about it. If you hesitate for even a second whilst going into captured territory, she’ll remind you that it might be a good idea to approach with stealth. It makes sense, as she’s an outsider and somebody who has spent a lot of time on her own, but boy, does it sometimes get grating. It borders on hand-holding, which is probably necessary for those new to the franchise, but is a little patronising for those of us who have ventured into this world before.
Still, that’s a minor annoyance, and one that you’ll quickly become used to. What will truly take your breath away is the sheer beauty of the open world that you’re encouraged to explore. With countless Side Quests to complete alongside the main Campaign, you’ll want to venture into every nook and cranny, using the new climb mechanics that allow for a level of immersion that far surpasses that experienced in the original game.
Climbing is a lot of fun, but you can’t help but be pulled out of the game when you see Aloy’s legs swing through a solid wooden beam, or rocky surface. It also feels a little restrictive to have pre-set climbing routes, rather than allowing the player the freedom to climb whatever they like. Again, these are minor grievances but, when you come into a game like Forbidden West with your expectations sky high, even things like this will stick out like a sore thumb. You want perfection, but that’s unrealistic.
Perhaps my biggest problem with the game, came with its lighting. Once you begin to venture out into the Forbidden West, the sky turns a shocking yellowy-orange, which makes your compass extremely hard to read and follow at times, to the point where I had to angle the camera downwards so I could figure out the direction in which I should go in. It may even be a good idea to turn the compass off entirely, flicking onto the map for help when you want to know which objective to head towards next.
Combat is as exciting and engaging as it always was, feeling a little more difficult to get to grips with than it was back in 2017’s release; or maybe I’m just not as quick to react now that I’m about to enter my 30th year. Arrows, traps, bombs and tripwires make a welcome return, so that you can confront your enemies in whichever way you see fit, upgrading your arsenal as you go to become the deadliest hunter in the wild all over again.
Aloy’s six skill trees allow further customisation in the way you want to play. I for example, focused on putting as many points as I could into the Hunter branches, because I favour using the traditional bow and arrow in a conflict.
Where Horizon Forbidden West shines most brightly however, is in its characters. Those you meet are fully fleshed out, with vibrant back stories and opportunities to allow you a glimpse into their often-chaotic lives. As Aloy’s life intertwines with theirs, the narrative becomes a more complicated and personal one. You’re not just willing Aloy forward in her journey because you’re playing as her; you want her to bring some level of peace to those she meets along the way.
Utterly cinematic in its presentation, there are times in which the player may feel as though they’re actually a part of an interactive movie, where you make decisions on behalf of its leading character, rather than a video game. It’s a stunning feat of realism and as you watch cutscenes, characters look as amazing as you could ever imagine.
If you fell in love with Horizon Zero Dawn, then get ready for your heart to be captured all over again here. Guerrilla has done a fantastic job of bringing back all of the aspects of the first game that did so well, building upon them and, adding some fresh takes to this sequel. A gorgeous offering that I just know I’ll be venturing back into for some time to come, if only to take some stunning photography in the awesome Photo Mode. An incredible showcase for the PlayStation 5 console’s capability.
Horizon Forbidden West is available now, exclusive to PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4 consoles. A code for the game on PlayStation 5 was given to Female First, in exchange for a fair and honest review.
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