When Horizon Zero Dawn debuted on PS4 in March 2017, I didn’t hesitate for a second. That Guerrilla Games fantasy about an open world full of dinosaurs completely conquered me during its previews at the E3 editions, so I had a date with the mysterious red-haired girl. I wasn’t wrong one bit: I fell in love with the video game from start to finish.
And he did it everywhere, even in those that many – including myself – despise in other works, just as is the lore of his universe. I was fascinated by the different tribes, the regional fights and how everyone distinguished themselves visually, in behavior and with magnificent enclaves. To this day, there is no virtual place that I remember more fondly than Horizon Zero Dawn than Meridian, so in 2022 it could not fail.
Horizon Forbidden West appeared in our lives at a difficult time for everyone, as Sony decided to publish the title with the Elden Ring release date very close. To make matters worse, I myself took care of explore the Lands Between for the iGamesNews analysis. Despite having gotten the Special Edition for PS5, my moment to immerse myself in the Forbidden West had to wait a few months.
It wasn’t until summer vacation that I excitedly installed the sequel on my console and started a new game… which I left halfway through. I can’t even say I’m halfway there, since Shortly after landing on Cadena Chirriante I abandoned the video game. At no point was it the fault of the work, but rather my pure laziness and desire to disconnect from the world during those hot days. Thus, a very important debt was anchored in my head during this time.
Now, almost two years later, I have found the space to devour the adventure with great enthusiasm. I have started a new game to refresh my memory about the controls and the events I experienced, but it has been a bit complicated in the face of such a visual spectacle. It’s truly outrageous how good it looks. Horizon Forbidden West, especially on a 1440p and 60FPS monitor. What of Guerrilla Games is scarysince they have recharged each frame with colors, density and a staging that constantly invites you to get lost in Photo Mode.
Varl, Erend and many other characters are back to guide me towards a new region. Whenever I advance a little further in the title I am surprised by the variety of environments, since you can go from the sandiest desert to the highest snowy peaks. In between are deep forests, endless valleys and giant waterfalls to form a delicious landscape that, on this occasion, can be climbed. It is more than evident that there is an influence from The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, although with a much worse result.
The equivalent of Hyrule’s parasail must be activated by holding square rather than instantly deploying, while climbing, while offering plenty of freedom, is limited to the yellow markings marked by Aloy’s Focus. All in all, the result is still satisfactory enough to make it entertaining to move around the open world that houses new creatures. I haven’t seen too many, other than the Fangs, the Hoarders, and old enemies that populate the lands doing their own tasks.
Cadena Chirriante, which is just another stop along the way, already marks the passage of Horizon Forbidden West. The kitchen, with the steam from the fires filling the atmosphere and the bustle of the diners, is phenomenal and there are many NPCs carrying out their animations. Nails animations that have improved significantly compared to Horizon Zero Dawn and it shows during conversations. Aloy moves, she expresses herself using her body as does the interlocutor, and the dialogue is no longer reduced to an exchange of shots in the purest Bethesda style. What does not convince me is being able to choose the answers, which provides a role point that, for now, I have not noticed that has changed anything in my game.
And that helps me keep the thread in a plot that hooks me. The Oseram, the Shadow Carja, the Tenakth and the multiple interests that manage the societies are very attractive to me to know. I have barely really reached the Forbidden West, specifically as far as Cantollano. It is here where the Dutch developer demonstrates its good work by taking advantage of the remains of an ancient world so that its new inhabitants can be nourished. They live in gigantic satellite dishes with constructions made from wood and leaves, a true madness that completely distinguishes the Utaru. Their way of life, based on the cultivation of large plots of land, is threatened by the red plague, but the image left by the evil is beautiful.
Of course, I have had to readjust to all the idiosyncrasies that surround the combat of Horizon Forbidden West. I love the combination of stealth and direct action, so I dance between stalking my prey in the bushes and hitting them hard with the spear. The skill tree has evolved exponentially, as Waves of Courage now play a very important role. I tend to avoid attracting attention whenever I can, although the variety of weapons is such that I never feel uncomfortable. It is a small puzzle to face the machines, since each one has its own weak points to exploit.
In addition, attaching power-ups to outfits, weapons and creating upgrades further enhances the RPG section and I like how it is developing so far Horizon Forbidden West in this sense. I really want, I really want to discover where Sylens is, what happened to HADES, read all the notes, face colossal beings, sabotage a Cauldron, dive, fly and soak up a franchise that I have a lot of love for.
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