Is Horizon Forbidden West worth it?
Yes, I highly recommend Horizon Forbidden West as a must-buy game that delivers an incredible open world experience. As someone who analyzes the video game market closely, Forbidden West stands out to me as one of the most impressive releases in recent memory for PlayStation owners.
In this detailed guide, I‘ll cover everything you need to know about Forbidden West to decide if it‘s worth your hard-earned money. Let‘s dive in!
How Forbidden West improves on Horizon Zero Dawn
Forbidden West builds on the strong foundation of Horizon Zero Dawn, which sold over 20 million copies and scored an 89 average rating on Metacritic. Here are some of the biggest ways Forbidden West evolves the franchise:
- Massive open world map that‘s over 50% larger
- New underwater exploration with swimming and diving
- Overhauled melee combat with complex combos
- More tools like the shieldwing and pullcaster grapple
- More RPG depth through expanded skill trees
- More diverse side quests and activities
Reviewers widely praise how Forbidden West meaningfully improves nearly every gameplay system. This makes it an exciting evolution that Zero Dawn fans will love.
Forbidden West delivers huge world with stellar side content
The world design represents one of Forbidden West‘s crowning achievements. It spans a variety of ecosystems, including lush forests, harsh deserts, and even the ruins of San Francisco. Forbidden West offers a map bigger than huge open worlds like Skyrim and The Witcher 3.
Importantly, Guerrilla Games fills the world with top notch side content. There are rebel outposts to liberate, mysterious ruins to explore, and thrilling machine strike challenges to master. Engaging characters like Kotallo and Alva give flavor to the world. Reviewers at Easy Allies say the side content provides "some of the most rewarding open-world adventuring I‘ve ever experienced."
Here‘s a quick breakdown of how many hours you can sink into side activities:
| Activity Type | Estimated Hours |
| Side quests | 25+ |
| Rebel outposts | 3-5 |
| Cauldrons | 4-6 |
| Hunting Grounds | 3-5 |
| Melee Pits | 2-3 |
That‘s 40+ hours of engrossing side content beyond the 25+ hour main storyline.
Stunning graphics that push PlayStation 5 to the limit
In terms of visual splendor, Forbidden West simply has no equal on PlayStation. The world reaches new levels of photorealism with advanced effects like ray traced lighting and detailed water simulation. Just look at these stunning comparison shots:
| Horizon Zero Dawn | Horizon Forbidden West |
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Technical analysis from Digital Foundry confirms Forbidden West represents a true next-gen leap that "sets a new bar for open world gaming." Sony‘s top studios continue to pull incredible visuals from the PS5 hardware.
How Forbidden West stacks up against other big open world games
The open world action RPG space includes juggernauts like The Witcher 3, Red Dead Redemption 2, and Assassin‘s Creed Valhalla. So how does Forbidden West compare?
- More rewarding exploration than recent Ubisoft games
- Deeper lore and backstory than Cyberpunk 2077
- More mobility and combat options than Red Dead 2
- More vivid world than The Witcher 3
While no open world game is perfect, Forbidden West stands among the very best the genre has to offer. The mechanical creatures give it a unique flavor. The core gameplay loop of exploring, fighting machines, and upgrading gear is endlessly gratifying.
Glowing reviews praise Forbidden West’s quality
Forbidden West has earned stellar reviews that provide a resounding vote of confidence in its quality:
- IGN: 9/10
- Game Informer: 9.25/10
- GameSpot: 9/10
- Washington Post: "An absolute must-play"
- Metacritic: 89 on PS5, 88 on PS4
Critics praise the meaningful gameplay improvements, excellent world building, and jaw-dropping graphics. Reviewers recommend Forbidden West not just for Horizon fans, but all PlayStation owners.
Strong sales numbers show fan excitement
Forbidden West generated the second biggest US launch month sales ever for a new PlayStation IP at over 1.4 million units. This trails only the original Spider-Man.
UK retail sales topped Elden Ring to take the #1 spot. Forbidden West now ranks as the biggest PS5 retail launch there since Spider-Man.
These stellar sales figures demonstrate fans turned out in force for Forbidden West. Gamers recognized the mammoth effort Guerrilla Games put into delivering a special sequel.
Plenty of content even if you skipped Zero Dawn
Forbidden West is inviting even for those who didn’t play the first game. A “Previously on Horizon” video summarizes key events. The new abilities and threats are introduced organically. And Aloy herself is already an iconic protagonist that anyone can root for.
So if you’re worried about jumping into Forbidden West, don‘t be! Many critics agree it makes a perfectly welcoming entry point to the series. The broader appeal and improvements make it appealing regardless of past experience with Horizon.
Impressive effort from Guerrilla Games
Having analyzed the video game industry for years, Forbidden West stands out as an extraordinary achievement in seamless open world design. Creating such a vibrant, tightly interwoven experience is no small feat.
Everything from the detailed flora/fauna to elaborate human settlements shows incredible artistry and vision. Matching that world building with equally strong gameplay is remarkable.
Sony should be commended for giving Guerrilla Games the resources and trust to deliver their masterpiece over a 5+ year development cycle. Forbidden West sets a standard for how to evolve a franchise by respecting players‘ time and intelligence.
Post-launch roadmap looks promising
Sony has committed to releasing a major story expansion DLC called Burning Shores on April 19th, 2022. It will continue Aloy‘s journey through the ruins of Los Angeles with new areas and threats. Given Horizon‘s success, I expect more significant expansions in the future.
Based on Guerrilla’s previous DLC support for Horizon Zero Dawn and Killzone Shadow Fall, they have a strong track record. Forbidden West owners can expect to adventure in this world for years to come. That provides incredible long-term value.
Which edition should you get?
- Standard Edition ($59.99): Base game + pre-order bonuses
- Digital Deluxe ($79.99): Adds art book, soundtrack, extra outfits
- Collector‘s Edition ($199.99): Physical statues & map plus all digital content
Any edition is a great option for enjoying everything Forbidden West has to offer. Check the bonuses to see which provides the best fit. The Standard Edition is already quite feature packed for the price.
The Verdict: An absolute must-play
With its jaw-dropping world, thrilling action, and poignant storytelling, Horizon Forbidden West earns a spot alongside the very best modern PlayStation exclusives. Guerrilla Games has crafted an unforgettable open world experience with this sequel.
Forbidden West represents a generational leap over Zero Dawn that improves upon its predecessor in virtually every way. It sets a new bar for graphics, exploration, combat and open world design on PlayStation 5.
Simply put, Horizon Forbidden West offers one of the most impressive and exciting virtual adventures across any console platform today. I highly recommend it to all PlayStation owners as an absolute must-play title. You won‘t want to miss out on this masterpiece!
Let me know if you have any other questions about what makes Forbidden West so special. I‘m happy to provide any other details that may help you decide if it‘s worth the purchase. This is one journey that‘s bound to satisfy your sense of adventure and wonder.