Horizon Forbidden West just got its big gameplay blowout thanks to the latest State of Play livestream, and honestly, we still can't quite believe how good it looks. Guerrilla Games is no stranger to top-quality graphical tech, but Forbidden West might just be the most visually impressive PlayStation title we've ever seen.
But enough of our gushing. We're here to find out whether the gameplay demo has sold you on Sony's upcoming exclusive. Are you all-in on Aloy? Vote in our polls, and then draw your bow in the comments section below.
Comments 110
To be honest, it just looked like more horizon. Nothing surprising. Will I get it? Well, I kind of enjoyed the first one but it’s not something I’m hugely excited about. Not like a new Final Fantasy, Yakuza, or VR Astro Bot for example...I’ll likely pick it up second hand, finish it in a few weeks, kind of enjoying it, then trade it without thinking about it too much thereafter. Just like I did with the original.
Surprised to see how many people voted November 2021, Sony hardly ever releases games during that period. If it doesn't release in August or September, it's probably 2022.
Of course. This will be the game that forces me to look for a PS5.
@Octane It's probably recent memories of last year that make November feel like a big Sony month but you're right. It's Call of Duty and Assassin's Creed month.
The game looked good, but it wasn't a drastic difference from Zero Dawn.
Hoping there will be a decent Collectors edition for this one, day one for sure. I'm fairly confident it will come this year, I think Sony is just playing very safe with giving out release dates until the games are practically done so they can be confident it will hit that date.
I'm definitely gunning for a September release date. It makes the most sense to me considering November is always a really crowded month.
I was already in as Horzon Zero Dawn is one of the very few open world games I've honestly enjoyed but that state of play was simply sublime!
The upgraded melee combat, the new underwater sections, the new machines, the new traversal mechanics... Just pump it into my veins already!
I was gonna get it anyway. Not worried about when it's out, though.
@Octane they could be voting for the date they want it releasing on. Not when they predict it'll be out.
I don't mind when it's out. I'll see what the backlog is like and what else is released at the same time.
How can you call it the most visually impressive playstation title when it's releasing on a console released in 2013. There are games clearly built with only the ps5 in mind, demon souls or even ratchet and clank and (i'm guessing) god of war.
On the other hand, this goes on to show how graphics aren't improving like they used to (perhaps due to the focus on resolution rather than graphics). I remember looking at The Order on ps4 and not believing it was a game back then.
It looks awesome but I really hope they worked on the dialog and story. The first game really lacked in that department and is the one thing holding it back from being a top notch ip
Yes, yes I'm sold. I was sold when I finished HZD and saw the after credits
I was actually a little underwhelmed by the demo. Not sure why. Maybe the arrows and other weapons seemed like they lacked punch? Though if that demo was anything like the one for Zero Dawn, it will be a lot more difficult to actually take down one of those robot mumaks. That's what I hope, anyway.
Regardless, I adore the first game and I'm definitely sold on the sequel based purely on the quality of Zero Dawn.
Well February 2017 was the first one
So if we go November 2021 that’s 4years 9months.
For a sequel that should be enough time especially as it is focused on campaign only and only the PS4 & PS5. All that helps productivity and reduces production time.
That why and how Sony get these amazing games out to gamers so well, also normally Nintendo do the same.
When you add multi platform, pc and online play etc it all adds time.
I played HZD, it was ok but nothing more. Will probably get it one ay when it's cheap.
Also the graphics are too good imo, it's too busy/overwhelming for my liking, I don't even know where to look since everything is so detailed. Definitely prefer simpler looking games
I want it but if there's something else out around the same time I'd probably pick it up second. The first game was good but it wasn't on the level of GoW or TLoU nor as fun as Ghost of Tsushima imo.
The premise and lore I found really compelling but the actual side quests and acting not so much.
If by sold you mean sold then yes I’m sold
People complaining “looks like more Horizon nothing special” are exactly why companies like Rockstar and Bethesda take literally a decade to release sequels for the most anticipated titles, so that the leap will be instantly recognizable!
4 years later and Forbidden West looks like a true successor worthy of praise IMO
I’ll need to see more. I’m playing HZD rught now and it looks pretty and all, but it lacks soul.
I’m all in, especially after watching the gameplay with the new climbing and grappling hook mechanics. I’m not for sure on being day 1 or not, but I’m likely to be on board early.
Yes I want it. Almost as much as I want a PS5 for R&C. Sony is killing me, not letting me give them $500. One or both of us is mad.
@Octane I was going to say Nov but went w/ March for reasons you stated.
Buuuutttt.... GoW Not Ragnarok needs a date, and if that is somehow ready for March 2022 then maybe HFW releases later this year. As it freaking should b/c why else have a SoP yesterday?!?!? Makes no sense if it isn't nearly done.
I'm probably sold, probably not day 1 though.
October 21 is my bet
Looks great, but I need to play the first one still and I am currently waiting for a PS5 upgrade. Sony’s been quietly doing these upgrades so hopefully it’s soon. Would still love an upgrade for Spiderman PS4 and Bloodborne.
Day one, 100%. Hoping for some time between August and October. Was already sold from the very beginning, but boy that State of Play was amazing!
I know I'm in the minority, but I just didn't really like Horizon Zero Dawn. I REALLY wanted to, and I've started it 4 times now hoping to get into it, but I just can't. So, yeah, this one's not for me, but it looks like it's giving plenty more of the same for those who loved the first game.
Sony please announce a rad CE and take take take my money!!!
I’m digging the new style. The graphical fidelity is so high, it looks like they went ever-so-slightly cartoony with it, with all the colors and the sort of plastic look. Anyways, it looks GD awesome. The underwater... just, wow
@rjejr Yeah agreed. R&C SOP was 2 months before launch, so this means it's probably launching soon-ish. And yeah, assuming GOW gets delayed, there's plenty of room left for Horizon this year. Unless both are delayed into 2022, but then Sony needs to fire the person that put those dates on it in the first place.
Despite my misgivings with the look of the game itself, I don't really need to be sold on it. As long as it contains the same gameplay loop as the original and some cool new robots, I'll get it at some point.
The original is one of the few games I played through twice in the same year.
Sold, sold and sold. I would have easily bought this off the back of playing the first one but after that state of play it's reminded me just how good a game it was.
Zero Dawn was the game that got me to go out and get a PS4 and now I've got more games than I can play. So 100% yes this will shoot straight to the top of the pile on day 1.
I consider the first one the best open world game I've played I just loved the whole package!
I'm willing to buy just because the first one was so good. I think its funny and ironic that once again, it will be going head to head with Breath of the Wild. Haha
I'm a little bit of a Nintendo fanboy but Zero Dawn was 100% better than BotW in almost every way in my opinion.
To those saying the SoP video was not a big improvement over the original game, I recommend going to youtube and watching a gameplay trailer for HZD and then trying to say that again.
It might not be a huge upgrade from how you remember it but how you remember it might not be how it actually looked
As soon as a sequel was announced I was sold. Absolutely loved the first game, I have no doubt I'll love this game too.
Yes
They had my money as soon as the announced it lol, as far as release, my gut tells me Q1 2022
Far Cry 6 releases on October 7 (just announced)
Unrelated but something to consider in terms of release dates, maybe
Definitely.first one was amazing.so yes.word up Son
it looks gorgeous
I’m really surprised that people think this looks just like the first one. I definitely got TR/UC vibes from the section they showed with more traversal and moving around, scripted areas. Aloy has way more personality in that 13 minutes. Graphics greatly improved and combat looks to have more options. Pretty much revamped everything.
@Octane "but then Sony needs to fire the person that put those dates on it in the first place."
Well they're still doing a better job than the person doing the PS dates, I think BG&E2 is still listed as 2018. 🤣
Actually, it's not even on the list now. 🤷♂️
@thefourfoldroot
That's it exactly, it looks like an expansion of the first game. Which is great, but I hope they bring in some new elements which are really wowing.
I was already sold before the gameplay demo because I enjoyed the first game and hyped for this sequel
I really loved the first game, the story was amazing, so I was already sold before the reveal.
As for release date, Q1 2022, there's no way this game is coming this year.
I sort of enjoyed HZD but got annoyed by a lot of the mechanics in the game, uninteresting characters, and Aloy talking to herself. Just hope HFW improves on the characters part
This and bloodborne were my favourites of the PS4 generation. Will be a tough act to follow and I can’t wait to see how it turns out. Please please please add more underground bunkers and hidden areas. Loved that about the first game.
I’d be sold if they showed the uninteresting parts like ‘can I hold more than 12 robot parts in my inventory’, ‘is human combat not s**t this time’, ‘are the sidequests actually good’ and ‘is the armour and weapon upgrading system improved’. The gameplay and graphics didn’t really need to be that improved, it was the systems that really needed the upgrade.
HZD was a bit letdown for me, so HFW keeps me quite cold. Graphic or story is one side, but gameplay itself is just... bleh. Maybe I'm too much into Assassin Creed, but HZD had so bad traversing and controls for me, that I just gave up.
@nessisonett I saw enough of an improvement in human combat in this SoP, I mean she even has an ultimate! I’d like to see evidence of parrying though...
As for systems they said later on that there’ll be some kind of upgrade bench for gear and we would hear more another time.
More inventory slots? I’m with you, bloody nightmare in HZD.
No, not really. Haven’t played the first one and probably won’t do so before a remaster/60 FPS patch is out. If that ever happens, of course.
The demo footage was really cool, though.
I love this site but that is the stoooooopidest question in the world.
Ever.
I know this is the ultimate nitpick but I am tired of seeing huge quivers and accessories dangling from the beautiful character models!!
In games like Days Gone, Deacon carrying every weapon on his back adds slightly to the immersion although borders on ridiculous. In the case of Horizon the dangly bits of equipment are an eye sore and distracting when I glance at the character while traveling or during combat, especially evident during in-game cutscenes. Not to mention the added possibility of visual clipping that it introduces.
Ghost of Tsushima has a similar problem to me where I would often unselect the bow & arrows, even if I needed them, just so I could enjoy the wonderful outfit without the huge bow literally sticking out the most.
The original was underwhelming and I hope this one tries harder, but I'm not expecting much. The combat was fun, but it can't hang its hat on that alone. The world felt dead, the graphics were hampered by horrendous artificial lighting and there was a disappointing lack of depth in the machine hacking interactions.
The lighting is still garbage, but we'll see where they might have improved on the other problems.
@2cents Thing is mate, you have to suspend belief a tad.
Just like with 99.9% of films.
Hopefully there is enough to deem it a proper sequel and not just over priced expansion dlc.
@hypnotoad well yeah... I mean playing games to begin with is an extreme exercise in suspending disbelief compared to films where it’s, ya know, 99% real people often doing totally believable things. Unless all you watch is Marvel movies!
I'm sold but as per usual I won't be buying day 1. Went back on that for Subnautica below zero and experienced several crashes that took hours or so of playtime away from me and a save corruption issue that made me lose a day's worth of gameplay.
Until the inevitable month 1 bugs are all ironed out I won't be picking up any games new anymore. Unless it's Capcom. Capcom knows how to release a polished product.
@2cents There are other films apart from Marvel ones ?
I'm pretty sure we're looking at £60 for this with it being cross gen. The only way they could sell it for £70 on ps5 was if they make ps4 buyers cough up a £10 upgrade fee. They surely won't do that with ms's smart delivery (although its not delivering anything anytime soon) hanging around?
I await the price reveal with interest...
I didnt like the first so i dont care about the second
@Sam-Bridges lol same. Been counting the days ever since.
The thing is this game can't be a show piece for the PS5 like Demon's Souls or Ratchet, after all it's releasing on hardware from ancient times. I will eat my hat if it surpasses the current PS5 graphics king Rift Apart or even Demon's Souls.
They should release a 60 fps ps5 update of the first game. I think it will help sales of the second one.
It’s the game that’s most made me question my “no £70 game” stance. It’ll hurt resisting it, but it’s the principle
This hits 9 on my hypemeter, whereas Dying Light 2 hit a ten and won a stuffed animal. Both of them look great, and I'm thinking THESE are finally the games that are going to make me chase down a PS5.
I’ve never understood the ‘more of the same’ complaints. That’s a good thing in my eyes. HZD was amazing, so more amazing (even more amazing) is exactly what I want.
God forbid they take a sledgehammer to the the tried and true formula and ruin it like they did with Assassins Creed.
@nessisonett RE: #54 Very astute. My thoughts exactly. Great graphics, underdeveloped systems.
Was sold the second it was announced. HZD is my favorite new IP of the last gen, the sequel was always going to be a must-buy.
I'm in no rush to get it, but will likely pick it up at some point. That is assuming it doesn't have any major issues on PS4.
It is a day one for me if I got a PS5 by then. If not then I'll wait until I got a PS5 before I start it. Big beautiful open world games are always a good start to the library for any console. AC4 Black Flag was the 1st of the genre for PS4 I got and I absolutely love that game.
I was sold the day I finished Horizon Zero Dawn Haven't watched the clip so as not to spoil anything for myself. HZD is one of PS4's best games and the sequel is a day 1 buy, easily.
Looks very good, not paying £70, more than happy to wait a few months after release until the price drops.
I’ll likely get it at some point, the first one is still on my backlog and I’m not going to play this one until I get around to playing that. Definitively not a launch title, not buying any game at launch that is above $60.
Glad I’ll be able to play it on PS4, though.
Waiting for the PC version so no rush.
Was never any doubt that I'd be getting it, as I loved the first game and want to see how the story progresses.
I will be picking it up for PS5 though... assuming I can get one.
Didn't seem to be running at 60fps on PS5....disappointed..
The people saying it looks like an expansion haven't dipped back into the original recently. It was a new franchise to me when I got the PS5 as I didn't own the PS4. I just finished 100%ing it (including the Frozen Wilds DLC) and the jump in graphical fidelity is quite obvious.
I mostly want to know whether this game has flying mounts, or whether PS4 compatibility rules that out. I'll be buying it either way, but this was something that bugged me in the first game.
Hell yeah! I really enjoyed Zero Dawn, so I'll definitely be picking this up. I really liked what I heard from the soundtrack to this one. They could tone down the movement on Alloy's hair a bit though, hair doesn't move around like a bunch of snakes trying to join in on a conversation!
Do people think this game will be more linear? It looked that way in the demo but obviously still to early and seen to little to tell. Definitely gave me ACIV vibes, which is a good thing because really enjoyed that Caribbean setting. This and Ratchet SOP’s have me super excited for the future of PlayStation Studios on PS5
Question:
How much did Guerrilla Games made on the collectors edition of Zero Dawn?
If they didn't make that much, then no point in the collectors edition.
Definitely preordering this one
duh. what kind of question is that ?
I was always going to buy this day one, loved the first game!
As for release date, I'd rather see them delay this into 2022, but more than likely it'll have a September to November release window.
Holiday released games tend to make the most moolah after all.
The first game was one of my favorites of all time. The story, and the way that the player discovered it, was amazing. I knew that I would buy the next one before I finished it.
Of course now my problem, like so many others, is that I likely won't be able to buy a PS5 by the time that the game comes out, and so I'll have to wait months (hopefully not years) afterwards to play it.
Ok, this is gonna be an unpopular opinion cause i'm gonna say no.
I got the original. The scripted gameplay from the footage did nothing to warm me up to the game cause i know those moments are fleeting. The boring moments of gathering materials, being spotted by machines who alert all in the area when you just want to go from A to B, etc. My problem with the game are not the cinematic story action moments, it's the gameplay loop itself and how it's more annoying than fun to traverse the world.
These trailer moments are sadly only representative of a part of the game.
Tell me that there is a more convenient way to get materials and that there are safe paths to travel and i will be looking forward to a less bloated experience.
This is a problem with most open world games though.
Not sold at all, but I was not sold on Zero Dawn either and it became my favorite sci-fi game of the last generation.
Right now, I'm indifferent to it and I am sure this will change the minute I start playing it when it releases in September 2021.
I predict his will be the big holiday title for PS5 at the end of 2021.
Man I need this game like yesterday..I look at this game and think "can graphics get any better than this!?"
@reek it was the ps5 version ,there are many aspects of the game that won't be available in the ps4 version ,granted a standalone ps5 version would have better features if they implemented the ssd in gameplay, but the textures ,draw distance where pure ps5.
It looks really amazing. But I didn't like the first game and I'm not sure, if I would like this.
The only thing that concerns me is the introduction of aloys little quips during battle ,if they are repeated constantly i will find this annoying.
Hype ruined my first play through on HZD. It’s mostly my fault, but due to the reviews I was expecting to enjoy hzd way more than I did. Maybe it’s not the series for me.
No one is a bigger fan of Horizon than me, but am I the only person who thought the so called "gameplay" looked more like a continuation of the cinematics? That's not a good thing as I'm not sold that the final version of the game will actually look and play like that. Because of this, my expectations have been tempered somewhat, but still excited to play it when it arrives.
I am sold, but it's not a day one purchase for me - only after a discount (but that's the same for pretty much all games). I'm honestly still most hyped for Ratchet, but this is a close second.
I’m definitely getting it, more of a matter of when though. I still don’t have a PS5 plus as always, my backlog is huge. I know I can get it for my PS4 Pro but I think I might just wait to play it the best way possible.
@AchievingGamer Point is, it being cross gen its definitely holding it back.
looked great cannot wait.
I was sold the minute they announced it.
Regarding release date, I feel November is the most likely date.
I enjoyed Zero Dawn I have no reason to believe I will not enjoy the Forbidden West. This was a overly easy question to answer.
This is one of those games that will push me to play it for the eye candy graphics and cinematic main missions. The gameplay is what I want to know more about than the graphic fidelity of the game.
I'm glad that traversing would be easier with the glider and grappling hooks but I'm hoping that the melee combat and crafting system will be better this time. I'll probably wait for the PC port because I'm not losing anything by waiting for a single player game plus I have tons of backlog games that keeps piling up anyway.
Hi there fellow gamers.
I was already sold before the gameplay demo.
Now though? Even more so.
My God, that gameplay looked beautiful and engaging.
This is going to be another game to just take your time exploring and just taking pictures of just how gorgeous it is.
And that sweet combat with the new trversal options is the icing on the cake. Absolutely stunning. Well done Guerrilla.
As for the release month, I´m guessing between October and November, since Deathloop is September. Will see.
Can´t wait for more Horizon adventures with Aloy.
Cheers, stay safe good folks and happy gaming to us all
@KippDynamite agreed. it looked good and im sure it will be a very fine game, but it was all a bit too...familiar for me. no surprises. played it safe. not enough of an updrade in terms of the traps or mechanics. i didn't know what i was expecting, but this didn't feel fresh. it felt like horizon 1.5. also, while the underwater sections look beautiful, i have a strong suspision it will be a bore to traverse as i have not ever found swimming levels to be fun or engaging in my 30+ years of gaming.
I’m sold on it, but I’ll probably pick it up at $40. Plenty to keep me busy until then.
The gameplay looks a bit too much like the average action adventure to me. Ledges, jumping, kicking an enemy. You need that extra thing to make it interesting and i don't see that. Wasn't a big fan of the original so maybe im preoccupied.
I doubt the game will be out this year. Would be nice. At this point however times are tough, I don't think i can spend $70 on every new game release. I will have to pick and choose what games I will wait for to hit the $30 bargain bin. This game probably won't be that game, however. Will day one this game
I'm going to wait for a sale, game doesnt look like a 70 dollar game. It looks like a dlc at best. With covid 19 still in our midst I doubt it'll release anytime soon
@JapaneseSonic
I think people mean “it just looks like more horizon”. As in, more of the same. It shouldn’t be taken as a derogatory comment, as if to imply people want anything different necessarily, just a statement of fact.
Of course, sequels can add new elements, or adjust balance, or even completely revolutionise a game. That’s up to the devs imagination, and not the player’s, so asking the playing community what they want beforehand is kind of pointless because it’s perfectly fair for them to say to the dev’s “just amaze me”, without having the burden of making concrete suggestions to the creatives.
Sometimes change can make a game worse of course, such as with Dragon Quest Heroes 2 or Gravity Rush 2, Ni No Kuni 2, etc; other times it can make a game better. So, of course, nobody is suggestion change for changes sake, as that could put off people who loved the original. I am just personally somewhat ambivalent about it - the core gameplay mechanics are not bad, but I’ve experienced the same in dozens of games before.
@JapaneseSonic For me it looks like it does everything that I felt myself wishing for in HZD, plus one or two other cool things I hadn't thought of. You could call that more of the same, but I'm sold anyway. Assuming it's out before December, when I buy depends on the price, but the latest I'll be getting it is Xmas day.
Fantastic game. Day one purchase and hope to get a PS5 until release, if not, PS4 Pro is my save. I liked everything I saw in the showcase about Horizon. Very impressed with the new mechanics, gameplay and graphics, very colorful world. Amazing.
Will I buy it? Sure, however eventually, and probably on sale.
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