Horizon: Forbidden West
- Thread starter MaHawkma
- Start date
I've been ignoring almost all the PS Blog posting, just skimming and not looking at pics or videos, to have it all be a surprise.
I'm holding off until real people start playing it on non-pro-PS4s, so I know how it will be for me. Made me all the more suspicious when the PS Blog posted PS4 gameplay, but said it was PS4 Pro. I'm hopeful it will be fine, since it's a sequel to a PS4 game, but cautious because it sounds like they really wanted this to be a marquee PS5 game until shortages happened, and I want to avoid a Cyberpunk-debacle.
Also, dubious if they can make a story as strongly tied to world building as they did before, which is really what made Zero Dawn exceptional.
Still excited!... just cautious.
I'm holding off until real people start playing it on non-pro-PS4s, so I know how it will be for me. Made me all the more suspicious when the PS Blog posted PS4 gameplay, but said it was PS4 Pro. I'm hopeful it will be fine, since it's a sequel to a PS4 game, but cautious because it sounds like they really wanted this to be a marquee PS5 game until shortages happened, and I want to avoid a Cyberpunk-debacle.
Also, dubious if they can make a story as strongly tied to world building as they did before, which is really what made Zero Dawn exceptional.
Still excited!... just cautious.
Looks like the review embargo lifts on the 14th and that Sony is giving reviewers three weeks to dig into it.
I haven’t looked that hard, but if you buy this for the PS4, do you get the PS5 version free? I’ve got a pro, but haven’t even tried to get a 5. I’d probably wait to buy this if the two versions are separate purchases. But I’ll yoink it up if I can play it on my pro and then eventually try it on a 5 when I get one.
I believe that's a yes, for Horizon: Forbidden West. I also think it's the last game they've said will get the free upgrade path, with all future games costing $10. As mentioned here: https://blog.playstation.com/2021/09/04 ... -detailed/
Pre-ordering is for suckers; always let others be the test subjects, even proven developers can stumble or be handicapped by their publishers/marketing team. That goes triple for story-driven, single-player games, where the only defensible reason to get a game at launch is to avoid being spoiled by a stray internet post.
That said, I've already pre-ordered Horizon: Forbidden West, and I've been avoiding all the pre-launch marketing and impressions. The original game was handily my favorite of the generation, and while I'm trying to keep my expectations reasonable it's damned hard.
That said, I've already pre-ordered Horizon: Forbidden West, and I've been avoiding all the pre-launch marketing and impressions. The original game was handily my favorite of the generation, and while I'm trying to keep my expectations reasonable it's damned hard.
I'm really looking forward to FW, despite having mixed feelings on ZD. I like the world, gameplay, really like Aloy, and really enjoyed the meta story that really comes into focus halfway or 2/3rds through the game. That said, I pretty much disliked every other character and story element/side story. None of that did much for me. Based on the strengths alone though, I'm looking forward to the sequel.
I really, REALLY want to play this. But I’m on the fence about when. I refuse to play the Twitter lottery idiocy to try and get a PS5, and we know (probably) that Sony will eventually release it on PC. And I could also pick it up on PS4.
So many different (potential) options, and I have NO IDEA which one I’ll be going with, and on which platform. Conflicted Dia is conflicted.
So many different (potential) options, and I have NO IDEA which one I’ll be going with, and on which platform. Conflicted Dia is conflicted.
This would be exactly me, except my family won't stand to wait that long, unless I put my foot down, which I'll only do if it's a dumpster fire on the PS4.
Also, we've played H:ZD 2+ times. I'm sure we can play Forbidden West again on PS5 once they're for sale in a store someday if it holds up like the first (which remains to be seen).
And Forbidden West is the last PS4 game that gets you the PS5 version for no upgrade cost (IIRC, if not, it's gonna be $10), so no harm in getting it now for a future PS5 if it's basically functional and fun on a base PS4.
If only I have a PS5. Waiting for the PC version...LOL.. Only recently played and finished the Zero Dawn on PC. I love the game and the story.
I plan on getting the cheaper PS4 version, so I can get the "free" PS5 version to play on my PS5 
Now that people are considering this as fact, I had to check myself! Yes, AFAICT, the last word was "OOPS SORRY (but last time!)" so I don't think they'll be going back on this one:
HZD and Last of Us were the games that made me decide to finally purchase a console, the PS4 Pro. I've played HZD a couple times now and loved it. It's one of my all time favorites.. it's not perfect, but damn it's a great game.
So yeah, I'm looking forward to Forbidden West.
So yeah, I'm looking forward to Forbidden West.
Same here. I picked up a PS4 very late in the game so I could play Ghost of Tsushima (I had been ACHING for a game like that).
Ended up playing HZD, and while it was good, it got old fast. I would still play HFW (at least to review it), but I don't want to be stuck playing a low-quality version of it, especially when reviewing it.
I just wish they'd launch with a PC release at the same time.. That'd make it easier for me, at least. With shortages being what they are, console exclusives (when you know they will be doing a PC release anyway) are just not good business.
On the plus side by the time it drops for us on PC it should have all the bugfixes and dlc baked in.
Reviews have started to come in, and looks good.
I'm honestly debating if I should buy it now, wait for a sale, or buy it at all. The game looks absolutely beautiful. I couldn't get into the first one for some reason, and open world games can be a slog.
I'm honestly debating if I should buy it now, wait for a sale, or buy it at all. The game looks absolutely beautiful. I couldn't get into the first one for some reason, and open world games can be a slog.
H:ZD is up there as one of my favorite games. H:FW keeps looking better and better. I don't know when I will have the option to actually purchase a PS5 let alone afford one. I can still play on the PS4 Pro and if it looks as good as H:ZD that will be fine.
I still need to finish ME3 Legendary Edition so I got time.
I still need to finish ME3 Legendary Edition so I got time.
Looks like The Internet tried it and says it plays just fine on a PS4. Not owning a Pro or a PS5, I think I just won't notice what I'm missing. I think I'm in! I think I'm going digital this time, though.
While it's not bad, the ZD expansion was certainly the weakest part of the whole game. They kind of integrated it (there's a line of monologue commentary from Aloy that's different in the late-game main story if you finish the DLC questline first), but it was very much designed to be DLC for people who already beat the game, and I think I might have liked it better that way.
I'm hoping to play on PS4, and then get to play the game again (and maybe any DLC) on a PS5 later, since I know we'll almost certainly be playing it twice if we play it at all.
there is dialog the changes as you progress through the main story. It's not important to the DLC really, it's flavor that let's you go "oh cool!"
there is other dialog that comes into play as well, but I do not believe it affects the DLC story significantly.
on another note... I was just looking at the store page for H:FW and noticed something that made me go "what's that?"
Machine Strike piece
Looked that up and apparently they have a mini-game board game. Collect pieces like with Gwent or Pazaak to build out your roster/deck and challenge people in game to play.
https://www.gamesradar.com/horizon-forb ... -on-gwent/
https://www.ungeek.ph/2021/09/theres-a- ... dden-west/
there is other dialog that comes into play as well, but I do not believe it affects the DLC story significantly.
The AI will comment on things as you progress the main story if you go back to visit and talk to it.
A couple people will make comments about Sylens since he came from there. So you have dialog if you have met Sylens and additional dialog iirc depending on whether he has betrayed you yet.
A couple people will make comments about Sylens since he came from there. So you have dialog if you have met Sylens and additional dialog iirc depending on whether he has betrayed you yet.
on another note... I was just looking at the store page for H:FW and noticed something that made me go "what's that?"
Machine Strike piece
Looked that up and apparently they have a mini-game board game. Collect pieces like with Gwent or Pazaak to build out your roster/deck and challenge people in game to play.
https://www.gamesradar.com/horizon-forb ... -on-gwent/
https://www.ungeek.ph/2021/09/theres-a- ... dden-west/
Wonder if this'll ever be playable on steam deck? Is the original?
I'm wondering whether I can get by for the next...forever...with just the nintendo switch and the "valve switch". Getting access to games like this would go a long way in that direction.
Mechanically, is it relatively approachable - not much more complicated than BOTW? Or is it one of those games where if you leave it for two weeks you may as well restart entirely?
I'm wondering whether I can get by for the next...forever...with just the nintendo switch and the "valve switch". Getting access to games like this would go a long way in that direction.
Mechanically, is it relatively approachable - not much more complicated than BOTW? Or is it one of those games where if you leave it for two weeks you may as well restart entirely?
If you buy the digital version that includes the soundtrack etc, when does the soundtrack become available and where would you download it? (I sure hope it's in some copyable form like mp3)
Interesting how much am loved it. He's normally on the harsher side of thing, but this was a full-on rave. Admittedly he liked the first one a lot too, so it's not out of nowhere, but a far stronger review than I expected. Other outlets are a bit more reserved. A fair amount of criticism of the main story (everyone seems to agree that the side-stories are far stronger), some hit-or-miss on Aloy being more headstrong, and then some criticism that in trying to be a bigger bigger bigger sequel it crosses the line from "more," into "excess" and starts tripping over it own weight. I'm not used to Sam giving glowing praise over things everyone else is picking on. But hey, when a game clicks for you, it can really click to the point that its faults simply disappear. I've got plenty I feel the same way about.
I'm still relatively early in the first myself. It was in the backlog but my sister, who NEVER plays games, was convinced to give it a go on story mode by her boyfriend and she's loved it enough she asked me to play it so she could talk about it with me. Hard to say no to that. Thus far I've enjoyed it but not been blown away. The graphics and animation are astonishing and I've enjoyed Guerrilla's take on a post-apocalyptic world. The robot dino design is first rate. Quest design however seems to be standard open world fare and I haven't quite gotten the feel for combat. My preference has been stealth spear attacks but I'm at a point where that's not doing enough damage, and oh by the way if it doesn't instakill the robot it reveals my position to it and all the others within a hundred yards. Doesn't end well for Aloy. Working on getting a feel for the traps and various ranged weaponsand ammo types, but still haven't quite figured out how to use them without triggering too much aggro. Aloy's intimacy with the map is also rather strong. But my biggest gripe is with the traversal mechanics. After Breath of the Wild let you climb almost anything limited only by a stamina meter jumping from one conspicuously yellow ledge to another feels painful. That's only heightened by the mountainous terrain making that awkwardness all the more obvious.
But it's still a lot of fun. The story thus far is interesting and the world they inhabit even more so. The various tribes (I've only encountered a handful thus far but it's clear there are more) and their approaches to ruined and lost technology has a neat Canticle for Leibowitz vibe. And while I haven't figured combat out I'm getting a feel for it and it's obvious that if done properly it sings. And again it's one of the most stunning games I've ever played. Don't know if I'll launch right into Forbidden West after finishing it, in fact probably won't, but it's definitely one I'm watching closely.
I'm still relatively early in the first myself. It was in the backlog but my sister, who NEVER plays games, was convinced to give it a go on story mode by her boyfriend and she's loved it enough she asked me to play it so she could talk about it with me. Hard to say no to that. Thus far I've enjoyed it but not been blown away. The graphics and animation are astonishing and I've enjoyed Guerrilla's take on a post-apocalyptic world. The robot dino design is first rate. Quest design however seems to be standard open world fare and I haven't quite gotten the feel for combat. My preference has been stealth spear attacks but I'm at a point where that's not doing enough damage, and oh by the way if it doesn't instakill the robot it reveals my position to it and all the others within a hundred yards. Doesn't end well for Aloy. Working on getting a feel for the traps and various ranged weaponsand ammo types, but still haven't quite figured out how to use them without triggering too much aggro. Aloy's intimacy with the map is also rather strong. But my biggest gripe is with the traversal mechanics. After Breath of the Wild let you climb almost anything limited only by a stamina meter jumping from one conspicuously yellow ledge to another feels painful. That's only heightened by the mountainous terrain making that awkwardness all the more obvious.
But it's still a lot of fun. The story thus far is interesting and the world they inhabit even more so. The various tribes (I've only encountered a handful thus far but it's clear there are more) and their approaches to ruined and lost technology has a neat Canticle for Leibowitz vibe. And while I haven't figured combat out I'm getting a feel for it and it's obvious that if done properly it sings. And again it's one of the most stunning games I've ever played. Don't know if I'll launch right into Forbidden West after finishing it, in fact probably won't, but it's definitely one I'm watching closely.
ChrisFOM, the spear is really to be used only in desperation for any larger robot. Learn a few skills from the tree, add upgrades to your armor & weapons. If robots are overwhelming you, tie them down! Some arrow types are very useful against some robots (e.g. fire arrows, or shock arrows when you get them). Strip their armor & weaponry first, then go for damage. There are many ways to skin a Sawtooth, have fun trying them out
Yeah. Took me a while, but I'm figuring that out. There are enough skills that focus on boosting spear damage that I figured it was intended to be a major combat option, but I'm quickly realizing that's not the case. Now having to save up enough skill point to shift my approach from stealth strikes to ranged attacks. Fortunately the game gives out skill points fairly quickly and the most important ones aren't that expensive. Also realizing how important the notebook and scanning are for figuring out elemental weaknesses. Just because a component is green doesn't mean it'll ignite from flame arrows.
I would say one of the combat tropes to fall into most easily is thinking the three-legged-stool is Melee-Ranged-Traps, looking at the skill tree. Turns out it's Ranged-Traps-Override, with a side of Stealth.
Also, elemental weaknesses on parts is critical. "Weak to Fire" on the scan actually isn't very weak, but if you hit the actual weakpoint with the right element and and trigger an explosion, you're wrecking house.
Also, Sam has been so wrong on game reviews for me, I was afraid I would now hate the game, but the overall reviews seem good enough I can't tell my family, "No, we're not going to play the sequel to Horizon because I read a glowing review."
Also, elemental weaknesses on parts is critical. "Weak to Fire" on the scan actually isn't very weak, but if you hit the actual weakpoint with the right element and and trigger an explosion, you're wrecking house.
Also, Sam has been so wrong on game reviews for me, I was afraid I would now hate the game, but the overall reviews seem good enough I can't tell my family, "No, we're not going to play the sequel to Horizon because I read a glowing review."