Horizon Wiki
Register
Advertisement
RostHeadTransparent
"The lesson will be taught in due time, Aloy. Until then, we wait."
This article contains heavy spoilers. Read ahead with caution.

Horizon Forbidden West is an open-world action role-playing video game developed by Guerrilla Games and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment for the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5. The game was released on February 18, 2022.[1] It was officially revealed during Sony's The Future of Gaming reveal event for the PlayStation 5. It is the second game of the Horizon series and is a sequel to Horizon Zero Dawn and its expansion DLC The Frozen Wilds.

Synopsis

Horizon Forbidden West continues the story of Aloy half a year after the events of the Zero Dawn, a young huntress of the Nora tribe sent on a quest to a mysterious frontier spanning Utah to the Pacific coast to find the source of a mysterious plague that kills all it infects. On her journey across the uncharted lands of the Forbidden West, she encounters hostile regions filled with natural threats and ravaged by massive storms, dangerous enemies and deadly machines, both new and old. As Aloy attempts to explore the wider and deeper parts of the Forbidden West, she discovers a vast array of diverse environmental ecosystems, including lush valleys, dry deserts, snowy mountains, tropical beaches and ruined cities, both above and below the water.[4]

"The land is dying. Vicious storms and an unstoppable blight ravage the scattered remnants of humanity, while fearsome new machines prowl their borders. Life on Earth is hurtling towards another extinction, and no one knows why. It's up to Aloy to uncover the secrets behind these threats and restore order and balance to the world. Along the way, she must reunite with old friends, forge alliances with warring new factions and unravel the legacy of the ancient past – all the while trying to stay one step ahead of a seemingly undefeatable new enemy. Uncover the secret behind Earth's imminent collapse and unlock a hidden chapter in the ancient past... one that will change Aloy forever."[5]

Gameplay

  • Players are able to explore wider and deeper into a bigger map compared to the previous game.
  • Underwater exploration is a new element that allows players to uncover the mysteries beneath the surface of seas, lakes and rivers.[6]
  • Engage in strategic battles against enormous machines and mounted human enemies by using weapons, gear and traps crafted from salvaged parts.[5]
  • A new weapon system will allow players to upgrade their weapons at a workbench,[7] while outfits now give Aloy access to new outfit-specific skills.
  • The mission structure for quests better supports variety in objectives with compelling reward systems in Horizon Forbidden West.
  • Players can now ride on flying machines.

Locations

Machines

Horizon Forbidden West features a menagerie of familiar and new machines. 43 machines have been shown off, 22 of which are new to the Forbidden West. Machines have expanded behaviors, with some of those machines having several elemental variants like Bellowbacks, and overridden machines can be commanded between different programming (offensive and defensive).

New machines

Returning Machines

Setting

Set in an open world of post-apocalyptic California, Utah and Nevada, the game explores the setting of a mysterious location known as the Forbidden West, which, throughout the majority of Horizon Zero Dawn, was hinted as being extremely savage and dangerous.

Special Editions

Regalla Edition

Contents

  • HFW Regalla Edition
    Horizon Forbidden West PS4/PS5 game(digital)
  • Regalla Tremortusk and Aloy statues
  • Replica Focus
  • Focus stand
  • Two art cards
  • Clawstrider Machine Strike piece
  • Sunwing Machine Strike piece
  • Steelbook display case
  • Mini art book
  • Digital soundtrack
  • Horizon Zero Dawn Vol. 1: The Sunhawk digital comic book
  • Photo mode unlocks (special pose and face paint)

Bonuses

  • Carja Behemoth Elite outfit
  • Carja Behemoth Short Bow
  • Nora Thunder Elite outfit
  • Nora Thunder Sling
  • Nora Legacy outfit and spear
  • Apex Clawstrider Machine Strike piece
  • Resources pack

Collector's Edition

Contents

HFW Collectors Edition

Horizon Forbidden West PS4/PS5 game(digital)

  • Tremortusk and Aloy statues
  • Steelbook display case
  • Mini art book
  • Digital soundtrack
  • Horizon Zero Dawn Vol. 1: The Sunhawk digital comic book
  • Photo mode unlocks (special pose and face paint)

Bonuses

  • Carja Behemoth Elite outfit
  • Carja Behemoth Short Bow
  • Nora Thunder Elite outfit
  • Nora Thunder Sling
  • Nora Legacy outfit and spear
  • Apex Clawstrider Machine Strike piece
  • Resources pack

Special Edition

HFW Special Edition

Contents

  • Horizon Forbidden West PS4/PS5 game
  • Steelbook display case
  • Mini art book
  • Digital soundtrack

Bonuses

  • Nora Legacy outfit and spear

Complete Edition

Contents

  • Horizon Forbidden West for PS5
  • Burning Shores DLC for PS5
  • Digital soundtrack
  • Digital art book
  • Horizon Zero Dawn Vol. 1: The Sunhawk digital comic book
  • In-game items:
    • Extras in Photo Mode (special pose and face paint)
  • In-game items unlocked via story progression:
    • Carja Behemoth Elite outfit
    • Carja Behemoth Short Bow
    • Nora Thunder Elite outfit
    • Nora Thunder Sling
    • Apex Clawstrider Machine Strike piece
    • Resources pack

Trivia

  • The setting of Horizon Forbidden West, the Forbidden West, was alluded to multiple times throughout Horizon Zero Dawn. Rumors of the region's more dangerous machines and mysterious tribes were repeatedly mentioned, serving as a hint to the location of the next game.
  • For the PlayStation 5 version, the game will take advantage of the console's increased processing power, custom solid state drive storage, Tempest Engine and Dualsense controller to support features such as advanced haptic feedback, 3D spatial audio, enhanced lighting, special water rendering, improved visual effects and reduced loading times, enhancing the player immersion experience.[18][19]
    • This version also features an optional "performance mode" at 60 frames per second with a lower base resolution.
  • The game will feature an updated version of the Decima engine with support for high dynamic range.[20]
    • Additionally, the game has improved animation works and cinematics from the series' first installment.
  • The game will feature enhanced melee combat, revamped climbing mechanics and improved traversal options over the original game with the addition of the Valor Surge system, freeform climbing and tools such as the Shieldwing, Focus Scanner, Diving Mask and Pullcaster.[21]
  • The game's special edition comes with a SteelBook display case, mini art book, and digital soundtrack.[22]
  • On January 10, 2022, a Reddit user posted some photos from an unfinished version of the game, that has been accessed by PS4 jailbreak.
  • Many returning and new characters appear to be human.
  • In Horizon Forbidden West, large machines frequently spawn outside their respective sites. This is in contrast to the previous game, where large machines only spawned outside sites in one-time quest-specific occurrences.
  • Similar to Zero Dawn, multiplayer was planned for the game, but was ultimately scrapped so the development team could focus on other areas of the title. Reportedly, the multiplayer idea was saved by Guerilla for a future project, namely Project H, or "Horizon 3."[23]
  • Forbidden West marked Lance Reddick's final performance as Sylens before his death in March 2023.

Gallery

Images

Videos

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 PlayStation 5 Launches in November, starting at $399 for PS5 Digital Edition and $499 for PS5 with Ultra HD Blu-Ray Disc Drive - PlayStation.Blog
  2. 2.0 2.1 Horizon Forbidden West Complete Edition comes to PC on March 21 - PlayStation.Blog
  3. Guerrilla - Twitter
  4. Android Central: Horizon Forbidden West for PS5: List of all machines, both new and returning
  5. 5.0 5.1 Playstation Store game description
  6. Den of Geek: Horizon Forbidden West: 7 Things We Want to See in the PS5 Game
  7. 7.0 7.1 Playstation: 14 minutes of new gameplay for Horizon Forbidden West
  8. Guerrilla - Twitter
  9. https://pu.nl/artikelen/review/horizon-forbidden-west-review-ps4ps5-kwantiteit-in-content-is-koning/
  10. 10.0 10.1 10.2 PlayStation Access's HFW Review Video
  11. Good Vibes Gaming's HFW Review Video
  12. 12.0 12.1 Playstation: A closer look at Horizon Forbidden West’s new Slitherfang, Rollerback, and Sunwing Machines
  13. Nick930's HFW Review Video
  14. Guerrilla Games - Twitter
  15. Hermen Hulst - Twitter
  16. 16.0 16.1 Yong Yea's HFW Review Video
  17. Horizon Forbidden West - Challenges of the Forbidden West - PS5, PS4 trailer
  18. Laptop Mag: Horizon: Forbidden West release date, gameplay, story and more
  19. Push Square: PS5 Will Ensure There's Virtually No Loading Screens in Horizon Forbidden West
  20. Eurogamer: Horizon Forbidden West: how the Decima engine evolves for PS5
  21. Game Rant: Horizon Forbidden West: All Combat and Traversal Improvements Shown in the Recent Trailer
  22. EB Games: Horizon Forbidden West Special Edition
  23. Videogame Chronicle: Sony has reportedly partnered with NCSoft to make a Horizon MMORPG, 2022
Advertisement