General Information:

The game starts shortly after the events of the first installment with the same characters. It assumes players are familiar with them. However, like many, I barely remember the characters or story except for Aloy, which reflects the weaker story and character development of the first game. If you haven’t played the original, I recommend doing so—not just to understand the story but because it’s a fantastic experience, especially the PC version.

Story:

The story picks up six months after the first game as Aloy journeys to the Forbidden West to save Earth from an impending threat to humanity and all living creatures. While the concept of the story and the world is unique and intriguing, much like the first game, the story lacks depth to fully engage players—especially during the early stages.

There are action-packed sequences, adventure, and cinematic moments, but most of the characters feel unremarkable, except for Aloy and one other character who appears in a single mission. While the story isn’t bad, it doesn’t quite match the overall brilliance of the game, which compensates with its other aspects.

Gameplay:

In this installment, you play as Aloy, taking down a variety of mechanical beasts, ranging from flying robots to ones shaped like elephants or hippos. Each enemy has specific strengths and weaknesses, such as vulnerabilities to fire or frost. Exploiting these weaknesses and targeting specific parts of their structure is essential for defeating them.

Players have access to a wide range of weapons, primarily bows and arrows, with variations like poison-tipped arrows, explosive arrows, fire bombs, and sticky grenades. These weapons unlock as you progress through main or side quests. Like games such as Assassin’s Creed or The Witcher, you’ll need to complete side activities to level up for main missions. However, the system is forgiving—you can attempt missions even if under-leveled and return to the boss later after improving your gear.

The game also introduces new tools like a diving mask, a glider for high-altitude jumps, and a grappling hook for navigation. These additions make exploration even more enjoyable.

Graphics and Technical Performance:

As expected from a Sony exclusive, the graphics are top-notch. I played the game on PS4, and it still delivers a visually stunning experience. According to developers, the game was primarily designed for PS4, with PS5 offering an enhanced version. This ensures PS4 players get an optimized experience rather than a downgraded port.

The textures, animations, lighting, and water physics are excellent. However, the PS4’s hardware does have its limitations. The resolution seems to be dynamic 1080p, which occasionally results in noticeable pixelation in dense vegetation or character hair.

Loading times and menu navigation are generally smooth, though there’s some delay in rendering certain assets during fast travel or cutscenes. These limitations stem from the PS4’s slower mechanical hard drive compared to the PS5’s SSD.

The game runs at 30 FPS on PS4 but feels surprisingly smooth, thanks to motion blur and other techniques. Controls are responsive and don’t feel hindered by the lower frame rate.

Localization is excellent, with full Arabic support for subtitles and menus, along with an Arabic dub. However, I recommend playing with English audio for a more immersive experience.

Audio:

The voice acting is solid, though Aloy’s performance occasionally feels flat. The soundtrack is outstanding, varying between tribes to match their cultures. Additionally, the game utilizes the PS4 controller’s speaker for immersive sound effects like collecting items or firing arrows, enhancing the overall experience.

Conclusion:

Horizon Forbidden West is a polished, high-quality Sony exclusive worth its $70 price tag. While the story and characters aren’t the strongest, the game compensates with stunning graphics, engaging gameplay, and a rich world to explore. With a main story runtime of at least 27 hours, it’s a must-play for PS4 and especially PS5 owners.

Highly recommended!

8.5 / 10