A solid sequel to Guerrilla’s open-world gem
Horizon Zero Dawn was a unique and well-made open world game for consoles when it released in 2017. However, Breath of the Wild, released a few weeks later, blew it away with its amazing setting and gameplay. ..
In 2022, Guerrilla Games releases their long-awaited sequel, Horizon: Forbidden West. However, in Elden Ring, a new open world game released that year, completely changes the landscape of the genre. ..
Forbidden West is a game that has some core problems, but they’re not a complete deal breaker. The game is worth the time you’ll spend playing it.
Elden Ring 2 is a great sequel that feels more like polishing up the open world formula rather than ripping it up completely ala. Elden Ring. The graphics are amazing and the story is expansive, making it a must-play for any fan of the game.
In the game, you play as one of three characters who are all trying to stop an evil empire from taking over the world. The evil empire is led by a powerful and ruthless queen, and she wants to take over the world because she believes that it is her destiny. The game starts off with the queen attacking a small town, and it’s up to you and your friends to stop her. Throughout the game, you will have to fight against different enemies, solve puzzles, and collect items in order to help you progress. If you want to know more about the game, we have a full review here at TheReviewGeek which you can read HERE. ..
Aloy is back in the game, and her focus is now on stopping the plague before it spreads to other parts of the world. She’s joined forces with a new group of friends, including a young girl named Aveline, in order to do just that. Along the way, Aloy must face challenges that range from dangerous wildlife to treacherous ruins.
In Forbidden West, the player takes on a role similar to that of Shepard in Mass Effect 2. They must travel through an open world to find a cure for a disease, and then fight against enemies in order to complete quests and reach the end. There are also mechanics from Mass Effect 2, such as base of operations and a litany of quests.
While the resolution to the story is satisfying, it’s also clear that there are a lot of potential sequels waiting to be explored. The game preps everything up for a much larger and more expansive third game, but without going into spoilers too much, there’s a development with a new character that does not work, leading to a pretty underwhelming final boss.
The game’s story is okay but it feels like the developers went too overboard with the presentation and style. The characters feel archetypal and there are a few moments of shock, but the game’s main antagonists are just bland.
In Forbidden West, the focus is on Aloy’s journey to find her place in the world and her interactions with the people around her. This makes for a more character-driven experience, as Aloy’s interactions with the people around her are at the forefront of your mind. This also allows for a more stock “end of the world” scenario to be played out, without feeling too forced or shoehorned in.
The story is well-written and interesting, but the gameplay is what really makes Forbidden West stand out. While the game has some great ideas, it needs a lot of work to make it truly shine.
Combat with machines is exciting, but interactions with humans can be frustrating. The same AI quirks that make machines so unpredictable and exciting, also make them difficult to control. This makes it difficult for players to feel like they are in control of the battle, and can lead to frustrating moments.
Rebels are fighting back against the machines, but they need a champion to help them. That champion is an energy shield-wearing rebel with some special moves. However, this alone isn’t enough to make the rebels feel like they’re fighting for something more than just their own survival. ..
There is a fair amount of platforming in this game too, and using your focus (by pressing or holding R3) brings up a number of yellow handheld areas you can traverse across. It’s standard fare for these sorts of open world games but platforming is clunky, awkward and less fluid than titles like Uncharted and Infamous, which came out years ago. ..
The controls feel loose and unresponsive, and it can be hard to keep the camera in place. Additionally, the platforming can be a bit slow, making it difficult to move quickly across obstacles.
The new rope-casting mechanic can make it difficult to find your way around the game, especially if you’re using the handhelds. Additionally, Aloy constantly talks to herself, which can be a bit confusing at times.
The open world is an incredible place to explore. The different biomes and the level of graphical detail put into moving around is nothing short of astonishing. Grumbles about flying aside (something you unlock near the end-game) are forgotten in the face of all that beauty.
The Forbidden West is an amazing, living, breathing environment that’s packed with things to do. The world is littered with things to do in typical open-world tick-box fashion, but Forbidden West never feels particularly egregious in that respect. ..
Forbidden West tries to add some narrative structure or differing level design to what you’re doing, which makes it more interesting than Dying Light 2. ..
The rebel camps and outposts have strategic elements to them, with the former worked into a story that directly affects the rebel tribes in a mini side quest on its own. Outposts each have their own leader, and whether you just take them out or go in gung ho and kill everyone is entirely up to you.
The new melee pits are a great addition to the game. They’re a fun way to kill some time and get some rewards. ..
In the open world, you take on various challenges in order to earn rewards. The grindiest part is the process of putting together combos to appease the pit master and gain some benefits. This is one of the most complained about aspects of the game online, given how sluggish melee controls make it.
Despite the game’s attempts to make melee more viable, it still falls short in comparison to ranged attacks. This is especially true against some of the monsters, who can easily take down players with powerful moves. ..
Aloy’s long animations can give the impression that she moves slowly relative to the other creatures in the game. ..
When you’re surrounded by enemies, it can be difficult to survive. Some projectiles, bombs and attacks can kill you quickly.
XP is a necessary part of the game, and it’s especially important in the early stages. Completing cauldrons (which return with more variation and – at times – frustratingly unclear puzzles), clearing bandit camps or killing machines all net points that contribute toward Aloy growing stronger and more able-bodied in the field of battle.
There’s a new and improved skill-tree in the game, which is similar to the system implemented in Final Fantasy X’s system. Each area of expertise is separated into its own grid system, with the ability to spend skill points (gained through levelling up or completing tasks) to your unique play-style. If you want to stealth your way through the game, there’s a dedicated section for that. Likewise, the Warrior skill-tree allows for stronger melee attacks (but not stronger than your bow), while Trapper is all about laying down bombs and sabotaging enemies. ..
By the end of the game, you will have so many skill points that you will either max out most of these or you will likely focus on two or three skill trees and once maxed out, never bother to return to using other skills.
While the world itself is beautiful, actually traversing that area is a bit of a mixed bag. The platforming is just straight up annoying at times, and Aloy’s constant chatter to herself borders on psychosis.
Aloy is constantly talking in Uncharted. She’ll be talking over audio logs found in abandoned offices, trying to solve puzzles, and commenting on the world. While you’re in stealth or exploring freely, the beautiful soundtrack will also pop up and comment on the scene. ..
Aloy is a unique protagonist, but her dialogue is a bit on the repetitive side. The game has a lot of different options to choose from, which makes it more accessible. Guerrilla Games deserve credit for making this game accessible.
The game is great, but there are some problems. The platforming is terrible, and the design choices make it difficult to get through some levels. Aloy’s constant chatter can be annoying, but it’s not game-breaking.
In Forbidden West, players take on the role of a sheriff in the town of Westville. The game is set in an open world environment and features a variety of enemies and objects to explore. While there are some areas that are more difficult than others, the overall goal is to help the townspeople survive and protect their property. There has been some improvement made to the game since its release, but there is still much that can be done to make it even better.
