Over the past two weeks I have played 112 hours of this game. In that time I have spent 80 hours at my full time job. It's good. Ultra Hard is life.

---

Horizon Forbidden West is a more than worthy successor to its masterpiece of a predecessor. It grows upon the first in almost every way as you explore its vast and jaw-droppingly beautiful world. It's a game to get lost in, a flow state to be absorbed by in your entirety. A truly monumental achievement in gaming.

However, there are a few details that simply must be mentioned. As spectacular as HFW is, and despite all the ways it improves upon Zero Dawn, I still do consider Zero Dawn to be the true masterpiece between the two. Forbidden West gets oh so close, and yet a couple tiny details hold it back. Foremost among those, there are moments where it feels as though the near perfection of the mechanical movement of the first game has slipped just enough to be noticeable. Getting stuck in an awkward to leave climbing state in the middle of a fight or the literally less than 5 times I've had my player or an enemy clip into something irreversibly are not *major* problems, but they're the kind of moments that stick with you.

The world also suffers without the mystery that built the first. It feels like there is a smaller density of findable lore, and frankly I understand why. The first game was magical with this creeping realization of the horrifying truth of the end of the world, but that question is now answered, and it's not quite as captivating without it.

And yet, all of that is OK. Not exceeding a masterpiece is hardly a bar for recommendation, especially when this comes so very close to it. The massively improved inventory system, the fantastic spear combat overhaul, and the phenomenal world itself are huge strides forward. The core activities continue to feel satisfying and the machine combat remains the finest system in any RPG.

I absolutely recommend Forbidden West. And please. Play it on Ultra Hard or at least turn off enemy health bars. The game is so much better for it.

Over the past two weeks I have played 112 hours of this game. In that time I have spent 80 hours at my full time job. It's good. Ultra Hard is life. --- Horizon Forbidden West is a more than worthy successor to its masterpiece of a predecessor. It grows upon the first in almost every way as you explore its vast and jaw-droppingly beautiful world. It's a game to get lost in, a flow state to be absorbed by in your entirety. A truly monumental achievement in gaming. However, there are a few details that simply must be mentioned. As spectacular as HFW is, and despite all the ways it improves upon Zero Dawn, I still do consider Zero Dawn to be the true masterpiece between the two. Forbidden West gets oh so close, and yet a couple tiny details hold it back. Foremost among those, there are moments where it feels as though the near perfection of the mechanical movement of the first game has slipped just enough to be noticeable. Getting stuck in an awkward to leave climbing state in the middle of a fight or the literally less than 5 times I've had my player or an enemy clip into something irreversibly are not *major* problems, but they're the kind of moments that stick with you. The world also suffers without the mystery that built the first. It feels like there is a smaller density of findable lore, and frankly I understand why. The first game was magical with this creeping realization of the horrifying truth of the end of the world, but that question is now answered, and it's not quite as captivating without it. And yet, all of that is OK. Not exceeding a masterpiece is hardly a bar for recommendation, especially when this comes so very close to it. The massively improved inventory system, the fantastic spear combat overhaul, and the phenomenal world itself are huge strides forward. The core activities continue to feel satisfying and the machine combat remains the finest system in any RPG. I absolutely recommend Forbidden West. And please. Play it on Ultra Hard or at least turn off enemy health bars. The game is so much better for it.