Post-apocalyptic universe fans and PS4 / PS5 owners have been waiting for it, it’s finally here. It’s time to test Horizon Forbidden West, the highly anticipated second episode of the Horizon license, launched in 2017 by PlayStation and the Guerrilla studio. A sequel with multiple promises: an even more ambitious universe and narrative, even more strategic and dynamic combat.
The story ofHorizon Forbidden West almost picks up where Zero Dawn left off. Only six months separate the two titles, while Aloy – heroine of the license – is looking for a way to stop Hades, a kind of big computer virus capable of destroying life on earth. In fact, the dangerous entity has already begun its dangerous work: storms and a strange red plant have appeared. Time is running out and the solution to this problem lies in the Prohibited West, a region that harbors a thousand and one dangers. After a short introduction (and a passage through the city of Meridian), Aloy arrives in this corner of the United States that she does not know, led by the Tenakth tribe but also, of course, monstrous machines.
More beautiful, more successful
In many aspects, Horizon Forbidden West builds on the already very good Horizon Zero Dawn to work wonders. We obviously find the machines, almost acting as other main characters alongside the prohibited West and the heroes (not to mention the villains) but also many weapons and points of interest from the first episode. Inevitably, if you spent 100 hours on Zero Dawn last week, you will feel a redundant side. But in fact, Guerrilla sublimates here things that already worked like hell in the past, such as the fights for example. When it comes to machines, you still have to aim carefully for each of their parts, but this aspect is now taken a step further thanks to new weapons as well as a new skill tree allowing the player to specialize in six different paths, as in hacking or melee, last point much more successful.
The Guerrilla studio declines this logic on its entire formula: the Focus is improved, to quickly navigate between each piece of machine and even lock those which are likely to inflict formidable damage. Ditto for the exploration mechanics: Aloy can now climb a lot more surfaces – however within the limit of very precise attachment points -, dive as long as it wants in the seabed or take flight thanks to the Ailgide. The points of interest also turn out to be more varied than in the past, but if they are identified in the same way on the world map. In short, in Horizon Forbidden West, everything is done to make us live an incredible journey, especially thanks to the narration, which here takes a considerable leap compared to Zero Dawn. Everything is better told, staged. Add to that an even more effective art direction than in the past, and here is an exceptional title on PS4 and PS5.
Pre-order Horizon Forbidden West on PS4 for €54 at E.Leclerc
Pre-order Horizon Forbidden West on PS5 for €64 at E.Leclerc
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