Horizon Forbidden West

Game – Horizon Forbidden West

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.
– Playstation Synopsis

Video Game Reviews

If you’ve been a constant reader, or maybe you have just stumbled on this blog now, you’ll notice that there are not too many posts about video games. It’s a perception that video games can be a childish pastime, that they ROT your brain (…too late for me), or maybe they are just a waste of time… but every now and then a game can deliver the same powerful narrative and emotional experience that ANY high-brow art would receive without the criticism.

A perfect game contains all the elements of our preferred art forms: A rich story, deep characters, complex emotions, technical skill, and an engaging and immersive experience. At the core of a good game, there is a timeless connection to the human experience. Those same emotions we universally feel come to life.

So don’t knock a good game. Don’t write off all games. They might deliver more than you ever imagined they could.

Setting & World Building

God damn, do I love post apocalyptic settings. I have always found it wildy fascinating (probably in some weird way…), and the Horizon series does it right. Paired with some of my other favorite storytelling methods: flashbacks, epistolary text, and visual discovery… it’s a chef’s kiss.

The game’s setting also combines primitive human societies with the remnants of advanced technology from the previous civilization. This creates an interesting contrast between the simple tools used by the game’s human characters and the advanced machines they must face. (Pretty fricken cool!)

The scattered remaining humans are divided into tribal societies that have developed their own customs and beliefs. These societies provide insight into how human civilization has adapted to a world dominated by machines. (Another interesting contrast!)

Combat

There are many times while playing this game I said out loud: “Oh my god this is the best game I’ve ever played.” (Probably on par with “What the fuck is happening right now?!”)

The combat in this game is an excellent test of how long you can hold your breath. It’s quick, snappy, and rewards you for doing well. An extra RPG element is included to reward “trick shots”, or shooting specific parts of the machines like the one below.