Luckily for you, the savior of Meridian still has a few things to take care of.  Successful sequels build on their predecessors in many ways. Think of titles like Mass Effect 2Assassin’s Creed 2, and Uncharted 2. They all enhance what came before by introducing  exciting new gameplay mechanics, developing characters through engaging stories, and varying mission design to provide diversity.

Horizon Forbidden West accomplishes all this beautifully,  building on the already impressive foundation of 2017’s Horizon Zero Dawn. It tells a thrilling story packed with explosive combat against intricate robotic foes and blockbuster action  sequences. It also adds Witcher-like settlements to the map, filled with great side  quests. The result is a fantastic open-world action-adventure that, despite falling into a few of its old habits, delivers on the promises made five years ago.  Once again, Aloy is on a time-sensitive mission filled with mystery, especially concerning its characters, many of whom exist in a gray area between friend and foe.

The twists and turns are numerous, keeping me guessing about the outcome until the very end of Aloy’s journey. And that journey isn’t short; my playthrough, done at a relaxed pace with a fair amount of side missions, took around 32 hours.

 Guerrilla Games has clearly learned from previous experiences when it comes to balancing world-building with storytelling. Horizon Zero Dawn tackled ambitious ideas but sometimes faltered in engaging delivery. Forbidden West confidently strides over the deep exposition potholes that Zero Dawn  occasionally stumbled into, mostly avoiding lengthy information dumps in favor  of a more elegantly told narrative.

Key moments in the story are conveyed through engaging cutscenes,  which contain character-driven drama without overstaying their welcome. This is still a hard sci-fi setting, and some of the weaker parts of Forbidden West‘s story are found in the opening hours.  While it starts unevenly, the pace quickly picks up and becomes much more engaging once a new  threat is introduced and the true plot comes to light.

The story’s strengths far outweigh its awkward moments. It shines when focusing on  the personal dramas and social and political conflicts of the Forbidden West, rather than indulging its obsession with lengthy holograms. There are standout missions as well.  One questline involving a clumsy but lovable inventor trying to uphold his grandfather’s ambitious legacy is a particular highlight. It exemplifies how Aloy’s quest intertwines with others’ stories to create something truly memorable.

It’s also important to note that Forbidden West is very much a sequel to Zero Dawn, meaning newcomers who skip the first game may feel slightly lost  due to the overarching plot, though there is still plenty to enjoy regardless.

There are fantastic character moments delivered with finesse.  It’s a testament to the writers that I quickly became invested in these characters’ fates  upon meeting them. This extends to the actors who portray them,  delivering brilliant performances across the board, with no one feeling out of place.  Even the most seemingly minor characters are well observed. That’s no small feat,  considering the large cast of fresh faces you encounter throughout your playthrough.

 The supporting cast effectively keeps you company. Val, an old friend of Aloy’s from  the Nora tribe, provides warm companionship throughout, bringing out the best in Aloy. This is a refreshing change from the often lonely adventure of Zero Dawn. Actors Angela Bassett and Carrie-Anne Moss contribute  Hollywood-caliber performances, but they never overshadow  Ashley Birch as Aloy.

Naturally, she’s at the heart of everything in  Forbidden West, and Birch carries that weight with confidence and flair, displaying strength in pivotal moments while also shining in the story’s quieter, more heartfelt scenes. Speaking of the action, while Zero Dawn was packed with it, its presentation never felt quite as cinematic as this. Major moments unfold in masterfully choreographed cutscenes with dynamic camerawork. Subtle techniques, like a wider lens during conversations, add a filmic quality to dialogue-heavy scenes, allowing characters to move expressively and convey a broader range of emotions.

Feelings run high throughout the lengthy campaign, and while it may not reach the emotional depths of  something like The Last of Us Part II, Forbidden West certainly tugs at the heartstrings.  A stealthy approach, waiting to silently strike from tall grass, is often wise at  the beginning of a fight, especially since you can easily become overwhelmed when outnumbered. Even the less dangerous machines, like darting sky drifters and pouncing scrappers,  can pose a threat in numbers.

The saying “attack is the best form of defense” has rarely been truer, and as in Zero Dawn, enemies have weak points that you can exploit to change the course of battle. Take the new Clawstrider, for example: it’s an extremely aggressive dino-like enemy that can take you down with its powerful tail.  Had enough of it? Equip some tear arrows and split it apart.  This cycle of learning enemy attacks, reducing their options by targeting their weapons, and then finishing them off using elemental weaknesses  never grew tiresome over dozens of hours.

Combat in Zero Dawn was already excellent,  and Forbidden West only expands on that, adding new weapons and ammo types, making it feel even better and more flexible.  The Explosive Spike Thrower is a particularly satisfying addition to Aloy’s arsenal,  allowing you to lodge projectiles into machines before detonating them for big damage.  I found this weapon essential against some of Forbidden West‘s larger beasts,  which provide battles of scale and quality that many games would envy for their climactic moments.

The superb score perfectly complements the action, dynamically intensifying during high-stakes battles and incorporating electronic elements alongside the familiar orchestral themes from Zero Dawn. The core of Aloy’s arsenal remains her bow and arrow, with various versions available. Mixing and matching to ensure you have the right elemental damage types on your weapon wheel is crucial, as is honing your skill to hit fast-moving targets.

The machines are exquisitely designed, each bringing unique challenges to the west. Their speed and power are impressive, though you won’t have much time to admire them as they charge at you. If you do manage to slow down for a moment, you can see each gear moving within their fearsome jaws before needing to dodge out of the way. Like Zero Dawn, this sequel ramps up the difficulty toward the end of the story, introducing particularly challenging machine types that force you to confront them head-on, requiring confidence in your chosen playstyle.

Aloy’s skill trees are extensive, allowing you to customize your gameplay style more than in the original. With six different columns, I invested heavily in the Hunter branch, maximizing my bow skills and enhancing the concentration ability, which slows down time. Valor surges are new special abilities unlocked on each skill tree, usable in combat to turn the tide in a fight.

For instance, one stealth surge harnesses Stalker machine technology, temporarily granting a cloaking device for ambushing enemies. Combat against human enemies is more dynamic in Forbidden West, as you navigate architecture and vegetation, moving in and out of stealth.Melee combat feels impactful, and unlocking combos adds depth to combat. In general, Aloy feels great to control, light on her feet but capable of delivering heavy hits, unless you find yourself caught between a rockbreaker and a hard place.

While it doesn’t adopt the “climb anything” approach of other open-world games, there’s a greater sense of freedom thanks to the pulse ability that scans for handholds on cliffs. There’s usually a path to reach your destination. However, it feels a bit outdated to be restricted to predetermined climbing routes when more freeform climbing has become standard in 2022. Although you can now grapple to objects using the pullcaster, it serves more as a puzzle and combat tool than as a means of zipping around the world, unlike the grapple shots in Halo Infinite or Just Cause.

A stunning blend of beautiful landscapes and fearsome machines, Horizon Forbidden West is one of the most visually impressive games I’ve ever played. From lush jungles to sweeping deserts and snowy peaks, the environments are breathtaking. Honestly, I often found myself thinking, “Wow, have you seen this?” After a somewhat linear tutorial section, the game truly comes alive and sets you free.

It’s evident that Guerrilla spent much more time crafting a more engaging open world this time, especially in its settlements, which are vastly improved over Zero Dawn‘s comparatively lifeless counterparts. Each settlement is beautifully unique, featuring one particularly captivating underground location that’s among the most visually striking in recent memory, which I won’t spoil here. Besides serving as hubs for resources and merchants, these vibrant settlements are where many side missions begin, and this is perhaps the most significant improvement in Forbidden West compared to its predecessor, which had limited and repetitive optional content.

Side quests are much more engaging and lengthy. They’re not just throwaway tasks from nameless NPCs; instead, they are intricately woven into the main story. These side missions enhance the overall experience, and while you might not make active choices that affect their outcomes, I felt like I was genuinely changing the world around me.

In this respect, it’s reminiscent of The Witcher 3 in its approach to secondary missions. You’re almost guaranteed a fun experience, often discovering satisfying stories and unique gear for your efforts.Different quirky characters and distinctive rewards from each side quest make them feel fresh and diverse. It’s impressive that in a world packed with objective markers, very few feel like repetitive tasks.

Beyond side quests, there’s a wealth of other activities to engage in. You can clear out rebel camps, find collectibles, test your skills in arenas, and of course, tackle the return of the scalable tornecks.There are also Relic Ruins, which I particularly enjoy—these fun puzzle boxes scattered around the world challenge your mental skills. Some take a considerable amount of time to solve, reminiscent of bite-sized Tomb Raider puzzles transplanted into a distant future.

The Witcher 3 influence extends to the minigame Machine Strike, a strategic board game that possesses all the addictive qualities of Gwent or Assassin’s Creed Valhalla‘s Orlog.

The action isn’t limited to the numerous objectives on the map, either. Aimless wandering is rewarded with random events that enhance the sense of discovery. These occurrences build a feeling of genuine causality, as you’ll later encounter the same people in settlements who thank Aloy for saving them from vicious machines.

On top of all this, there’s so much more to see and do that I don’t want to spoil in any way. Characters, creatures, and locations await that I’d prefer not to reveal, as the joy of discovery is part of the experience. For large portions of it, the Forbidden West truly is a place that must be seen to be believed.

A triumphant blend of thrilling combat, exceptional creature and character design, and a captivating open world, Horizon Forbidden West is an absolute blast and a fantastic showcase for the power of the PS5. Although the return of some familiar elements and a notable lack of freeform climbing never detracts from the enjoyment, it does leave the game feeling just short of something revolutionary. Major evolutionary steps have been taken in the right direction, and there’s no doubt that Aloy provides many hours of fun as she continues to assert herself as one of this generation’s greatest characters.