Horizon Forbidden West - a formulaic and unambitious sequel (CRITIQUE)
Chris Davis・2 minutes read
Horizon Forbidden West disappoints as a sequel to the original game, failing to address criticisms, lacking innovation, and suffering from technical issues. Despite some engaging aspects, the game's repetitive and tedious elements, unbalanced difficulty, and inconsistent storytelling lead to an unsatisfactory experience, prompting a call for significant improvements in future installments.
Insights
- Horizon Forbidden West fails to address criticisms from its predecessor, lacking improvements seen in other games of the genre and disappointing players with linear mission design and frustrating puzzles.
- The game's combat, despite additional options, remains largely unchanged, with crafting described as tedious and unnecessary, leading to a lack of significant gameplay alterations.
- Exploration and environmental navigation in Forbidden West are hindered by restrictions on climbing and contrived puzzles, limiting player agency and causing frustration.
- Guerrilla Games' approach to climbing and environment interaction lacks consistency and immersion, with climbing mechanics feeling contrived and disconnected from the world, leading to confusion and awkward animations.
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Recent questions
What are the criticisms of Horizon Forbidden West?
The game fails to address previous issues, lacks innovation, and features tedious puzzles and linear mission design.
How is the combat system in Horizon Forbidden West?
Combat involves armor stripping, weak spot targeting, and challenging precision aiming.
What are the criticisms of the climbing mechanics in Horizon Forbidden West?
Climbing mechanics lack consistency, immersion, and freedom, with contrived restrictions.
What are the issues with difficulty in Horizon Forbidden West?
The game is criticized for unbalanced difficulty, lack of challenge, and over-leveling.
How is the storytelling in Horizon Forbidden West?
The storytelling is criticized for being clumsy, overwritten, and lacking subtlety.
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