Gadget Gamers

Horizon: Forbidden West Showcases What a Developer Can Achieve with Time, Resources, and Vision

Horizon: Forbidden West exemplifies the brilliance that emerges when a skilled development team is given the tools and freedom to bring their creative vision to life. Seamlessly bridging console generations, the game offers an exceptional experience on both the legacy PS4 and the cutting-edge PS5. Guerrilla Games’ latest action RPG stands tall among PlayStation’s first-party masterpieces, delivering unmatched production quality, engaging storytelling, and immersive gameplay. It draws players into a breathtaking world filled with rich lore, stunning design, and vibrant culture—one that invites exploration and countless hours of awe.

Forbidden West Embraces Its Sci-Fi Roots, and It’s Fantastic
It’s been five years since Horizon: Zero Dawn first captivated players, so it’s understandable if some of the story details or secondary characters have faded from memory. While I can recall the major plot points, the intricacies of the tribes and Aloy’s allies are a bit hazy. Thankfully, Forbidden West eases players back into its world with a helpful recap video at the start. Early in the game, characters also provide enough exposition to bring you up to speed without overwhelming you.

The story picks up after the apparent defeat of HADES, the malevolent AI that broke off from the larger, defunct system known as GAIA. Aloy’s mission now is to explore uncharted territories in search of a way to restore GAIA, the planet’s only hope for survival. While this summary might be what’s written on the back of the box (which I’ll definitely grab as a steelbook edition once it’s restocked), it barely scratches the surface of the narrative depth. Guerrilla Games has created a world brimming with intricate cultures, each with its own political and ritual ideologies. Like its predecessor, the game introduces new characters, challenges, and machines, while also reuniting players with fan-favorites such as Sylens, Varl, and Erend. The new additions to the cast are so compelling that Guerrilla’s writing team deserves significant acclaim for their work.

That said, it’s not without flaws. The well-worn trope of Aloy, as an outsider, needing to earn the trust of every new group she encounters often leads to repetitive errands and side quests. While these diversions add hours to the gameplay, they don’t always contribute meaningfully to the overall story. This pacing issue can occasionally disrupt the momentum of the larger narrative, making it feel as though the main plot is paused for unnecessary detours.

Overall, Horizon: Forbidden West shines in its storytelling and world-building, even if some parts could use a little fine-tuning. It’s a journey well worth taking for fans of the franchise.

Horizon Forbidden West Gameplay – What New Gadgets And Abilities Will Aloy Have?

In addition to being able to climb and traverse vertically challenging terrain more effortlessly than before and dive deep underwater, Horizon Forbidden West also provides our flame-haired hero with some neat new tools to play with as well. 

First up is the ultra-handy Ropecaster which allows Aloy to target structural weaknesses in the environment, latch onto them and pull them free – resulting in walls being pulled down or ledges being made available for jumping onto. The Ropecaster can also be used to pull down chests and crates that would normally be out of reach, too. 

The Shieldwing meanwhile gives Aloy the ability to glide long distances, permitting her to drop right into the middle of battle or reach otherwise inaccessible areas and locations. 

Horizon Forbidden West Gameplay – How Big Is The Map?

Similar to Horizon Zero Dawn, Horizon Forbidden West presents a vast open world for Aloy to explore. But just how expansive is the map this time around? In a recent interview with IGN, Mathijs de Jonge, the director of Horizon Forbidden West, revealed that the map is “slightly larger” than the one in its predecessor. The game’s title also gives a hint about its new setting—this time, the adventure takes place along the west coast of the United States, covering a wide stretch of land and offering plenty of new environments to discover.

Horizon Forbidden West Gameplay: Exploring the Available Skill Trees

In Horizon Forbidden West, players can further enhance Aloy’s abilities through a variety of skill trees. These skill trees allow players to tailor Aloy’s combat and exploration style to their preferences. Some of the key trees include:

1. Warrior – Focused on improving Aloy’s melee combat and weapon handling, this tree boosts her strength and combat efficiency, making her a more formidable force in close-quarters battles.
2. Trapper – This tree is all about using traps and environmental advantages to take down enemies. It enhances Aloy’s ability to set traps and use the environment to her advantage in fights.
3. Survival – The Survival tree focuses on increasing Aloy’s resourcefulness, improving her ability to gather materials, and boosting her overall resilience to the dangers of the wilds.
4. Hunter – Perfect for players who prefer ranged combat, the Hunter skill tree boosts her proficiency with bows, allowing for more powerful shots and better precision.
5. Infiltrator – For stealthy players, the Infiltrator tree enhances Aloy’s ability to sneak past enemies, making it easier to avoid detection and strategically pick off targets.

Each of these skill trees allows players to specialize in different aspects of the game, giving them the flexibility to approach situations in multiple ways depending on their playstyle.

Horizon Forbidden West Gameplay: New Machines to Encounter

Horizon Forbidden West introduces several new machines that add both variety and challenge to the game. These creatures are not only visually stunning but also provide unique combat experiences for players. Some of the new machines include:

1. Tide Ripper – A massive, aquatic machine resembling a crocodile, the Tide Ripper is a dangerous foe that resides in the water, capable of launching devastating attacks with its powerful tail and jaws.
2. Sunwing – A sleek, flying machine resembling a pterodactyl, the Sunwing uses its aerial mobility to challenge players from above. It can unleash destructive attacks from the sky, requiring Aloy to adapt her strategies.
3. Slitherfang – This serpentine machine is quick, aggressive, and deadly, with a long, whip-like tail. It’s designed for both close combat and long-range attacks, making it a formidable adversary in open spaces.
4. Clawstrider – A fast, predatory machine with a bird-like appearance, the Clawstrider is known for its quick attacks and agility. Its sharp talons and speed make it a dangerous foe in close-quarters combat.
5. Grimhorn – A large, charging machine with a rhino-like appearance, the Grimhorn has a tough hide and devastating horns. Players need to find ways to counter its aggressive charging attacks and high durability.

These new machines bring fresh challenges to the game, requiring players to refine their combat strategies and make full use of the game’s diverse toolset and abilities. Each machine has its own weaknesses and attack patterns, keeping encounters varied and exciting.