“Horizon Forbidden West,” the second installment of the Horizon series with “Horizon Zero Dawn” being its predecessor, was produced by a first-party developer under PlayStation Studios known as Guerrilla Games. This Dutch company has made many other games such as their 2004’s “Killzone” and “Shellshock Nam ‘67.” The Horizon series put its name on the map for many PlayStation owners. “Horizon Zero Dawn” first came out on February 28, 2017 for the PlayStation 4. About five years later, Guerrilla came out with “Zero Dawn”’s sequel: “Forbidden West” on February 18, 2022.

“Horizon Zero Dawn” followed the story of a Nora outcast, Aloy, who was deemed an outcast because she was motherless. Being raised by fellow outcast, Rost, Aloy grows to become a Nora brave after proving herself in an event called The Proving. After winning the event, she is allowed to ask one question of The Matriarchs, the heads of the Nora tribe. Being unable to answer her question to her satisfaction, Aloy sets out in the open world to find the answer, and then some, she was looking for. 

“Horizon Zero Dawn”’s post-apocalyptic open-world setting with machines running amok just got even deadlier in “Forbidden West.” Now with the added trouble of a rebel from a tribe called the Tenakth stirring up trouble, to a mysterious blight that is ravaging the land’s crops and animals, to searching for a backup of a sentient AI from the previous game. “Horizon Forbidden West” is nothing short of an engaging story that leaves the player wanting to search for answers just like our heroine Aloy. She must travel across the “Forbidden West” to gather the components to revive the sentient AI known as GAIA. GAIA is what keeps the post-apocalyptic Earth running and regulating. As seen in the opening of Forbidden West, GAIA is an important asset to keeping Earth hospitable for the people living there. 

Aside from the main story, the side quests are nothing to overlook. Unlike “Horizon Zero Dawn,” the NPCs were not an important part of the main story; however, if players did side quests in “Horizon Zero Dawn,” some similar faces make an appearance once more in “Forbidden West.”

Also, “Forbidden West”’s side quests help Aloy with not only her friendships but with certain aspects of the game. Another different mechanic they added is Aloy now having a stash. If you are the type of player to hold onto many resources, your inventory would fill up quickly.

Now, with adding in a stash, players do not have to worry about quickly filling up inventory. They also added in different sellers throughout the settlements. In “Zero Dawn,” there would be traders in different places on the map. From them, you could acquire different gear from new and stronger outfits, to different weapons Aloy could use at her disposal. 

Traversing the open world in “Zero Dawn,” the most efficient way of getting around would be overriding a Strider, Charger, or Broadhead, a class called Transport. When reaching a certain point in the main story in “Forbidden West,” Aloy acquires a hang-glider, making it easier for players to jump off of high points and glide down to the ground safely.

Another point in the story, Aloy makes a tool to help her reach higher points when climbing and revealing hidden items known as a Pullcaster. With the addition of the hang glider and pullcaster, Aloy can now fall safely to the ground without taking fall damage, yes, there is fall damage in this game, and reach higher places with ease instead of climbing.

While the recognizable Focus that Aloy wears throughout the games, the Focus now has a new property to its all-seeing technology. Instead of guessing where Aloy needs to jump when she’s on a cliff, pushing down on the right analog joystick while climbing or before climbing, the Focus highlights the points where Aloy can climb in a bright yellow color, therefore, making it easier for players to traverse climbing a mountain. 

Aside from the new additional trinkets Aloy receives and discovers, the graphics are as real as can be. There is a new area that Aloy can now go to that players were never able to go to in “Zero Dawn,” since it was not implemented into the story. Aloy can now go underwater and explore down there! What I have seen when I go underwater, is such an area to marvel at. Since not only does above water look amazing and impressive as ever, underwater looks just as gorgeous. 

All in all, “Horizon Forbidden West” is looking to be a great sequel to “Horizon Zero Dawn” in many aspects being story, graphics, mechanics, and introducing new ideas and themes to the whole story of Horizon. I cannot wait to see if Guerrilla has more for Aloy’s story on the horizon.