Horizon Forbidden West Review: New Horizons or Old Problems?

1. Storyline: new challenges for Aloy
Horizon Forbidden West continues the story of Aloy, a seeker who must save the world from the threat posed by the expansion of artificial intelligence. In the new part, Aloy goes to the Western lands, where new dangers, allies and mysteries await her, connected with the development of civilizations in the post-apocalyptic world.

The plot of the game, as in the first part, has a deep focus on the emotional development of the character, on Aloy's personal experiences, her struggle for a place in a world where there are too many different views on what is right. While the story is still exciting and intense, there is nothing completely groundbreaking about it. It appears that the threat from older AIs, even in the larger context, is still dominant, and many of the storylines seem somewhat predictable.

A weak point may be the lack of significant plot twists that could surprise the player or present him with difficult moral choices. Given how exciting the first part of the series left, such moments could add more weight and unpredictability to the development.

2. Graphics: a real work of art
The graphics in Horizon Forbidden West are a real technological breakthrough. The developers of Guerrilla Games have continued to improve their technological base, and the result is impressive. With the power of the PlayStation 5, the game offers unparalleled detail that allows you to fully immerse yourself in the game world. Spectacular landscapes, from green valleys to hot deserts, beautifully animated characters, smooth animations and beautiful weather effects - all this allows you to experience every detail of the world.

The day and night cycle system creates an unforgettable atmosphere. During the day, players can enjoy bright landscapes, and at night - hazy landscapes, which creates a sense of danger. The visuals are one of the game's greatest strengths, and in this aspect Forbidden West far surpasses its predecessor.

However, despite the impressive graphics, on some platforms, especially the PS4, players may still encounter some technical issues, such as FPS drops or long loading times, which spoils the overall experience a bit.

3. Game mechanics: improvements and new features
The gameplay of Horizon Forbidden West retains everything that made the first part so interesting. Archery, hunting mechanical creatures and using various tactical options have become even more intuitive and exciting. The "slow time" system, which allows Aloy to avoid enemy attacks and send fire arrows directly at enemies' weak points, has become even more convenient.

However, new opportunities have also emerged. Players can now use more diverse methods of movement — from underwater exploration to the use of new types of "cool" transport. These mechanics certainly add a new level of interaction with the world around you and allow you to come up with new tactics to deal with enemies.

But despite this, the battles themselves in the game can still feel too similar to the previous ones. The lack of major changes to the combat system may leave some players feeling that the mechanics have already become too familiar. Although additional transport options and underwater battles bring novelty, they do not revolutionize the game process itself.

4. Character Development: More depth, but also repetition
One of the greatest achievements of Horizon Forbidden West is the way it develops the characters. Aloy becomes not only a heroine, but also a strong personality who goes through many moral and emotional trials. The game focuses more on interacting with other characters, allowing for deeper relationships with allies and enemies. Interactions with characters from the previous installment, such as Vernon, Cilan and others, add even more context to Aloy's development.

However, despite this, some players may find that the characters still look too stereotypical. Many of them are just archetypes that don't give the player a real emotional connection, and their dialogue sometimes feels clichéd.

5. Problems and criticism: not all "horizons" are new
Although Horizon Forbidden West is a significant step forward compared to the previous installment, one cannot help but note some of its problems. The first part of the game set new standards for open worlds, but in Forbidden West those standards seem to be recreated a bit. The game world, although large, feels repetitive at times, and some missions feel too familiar, particularly hunting and side quests.

The combat system, although improved, leaves a feeling that no significant changes have been made in the new part. Players expecting revolutionary changes in combat mechanics or ways to interact with the open world may find it a little boring that the core of the gameplay remains the same.

Conclusion
Horizon Forbidden West is a game that expands on all the elements of the first part and adds new features, but it also has some weaknesses.