Horizon Forbidden West - Review

"It's not about the distant hope of creating a new world. It's about preserving the one we have" – A review of Horizon Forbidden West. 

I didn't hate Horizon: Zero Dawn, but neither did I love it. The gameplay was fun, Aloy was a great protagonist, but the story was just predictable. With that said, I was excited to see what the sequel would bring, and was more than happy to be pleasantly surprised – so would I be?

The sequel arrived with a lot of anticipation, following the commercial success of its predecessor. The sequel promised to build upon the foundations laid by the original, offering an expansive world, refined gameplay, and a captivating narrative.

Set in a post-apocalyptic world where advanced machines roam what's left of human civilisation, Horizon Forbidden West follows Aloy, a highly skilled hunter and archer. Tasked with uncovering the source of a mysterious plague threatening the land, Aloy's journey takes her to new regions full of danger and intrigue. The story attempts to balance personal growth and world-building – but alas, I once again did not fall in love with it.

Forbidden West does introduce improvements over Zero Dawn, including enhanced mechanics such as swimming and climbing, and a more dynamic environment. The sequel expands on the amount of mechanical creatures to be found and there are richer character interactions and more nuanced moral dilemmas, which does set it apart from the earlier title. Sadly, though, I once again found myself slightly bored with the story. There were no real risks taken, and it shows – the story is fine, but I found it to be repetitive and predictable, much like the first game.

The world of Forbidden West is honestly stunning, full of environmental detail and a real sense of history. From dense forests to sun-drenched deserts, each location feels immersive. The game is full of mechanical creatures and people, so it does feel alive – just not as much as I'd want it to. I really wanted to love this game, especially as I think Aloy is such a great character, but the pacing is often slow, with certain side quests just feeling unnecessarily long.

Horizon Forbidden West isn't a bad sequel. It builds on the first game, offers visually stunning locations and a decent experience. I didn't hate it; I did have fun – I just wanted more. If you enjoy a fairly basic story and a lot of exploration, you'll likely enjoy this game.

Written by Tam Page

Posted by Mr. Tomney

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