Horizon Forbidden West nails its open world by making every side quest matter

The side quests in Horizon Forbidden West always feel important.

[Rimeskeem]

I honestly have no idea where critics saw the 8 point difference between Horizon FW and Elden Ring.

[mkis007]

I'll say it again here. Outlets gave soulsborne lovers Elden Ring to review. A small set of journalists per publication CAN actually play and review it in the allotted time. With Horizon, they can give it to just about anyone. The score is weighted heavily due to this. It's a bias.

[Rimeskeem]

@Shrekman

Of course it will sale more, it is on every console and PC.

"One could argue" then proceeds not to argue. Please go back to your swamp.

Oh, brand new account just made for these last two comments? Not worth the time tbh.

[H9]

Remember when FromSoft were the allies of the people and everyone would praise them and make jokes about journalists not liking them because their games are too hard, remember sekiro and how there was an endless controversy when journalists called Sekiro disrespectful because it is hard... Now when all reviwers liked a from soft game, suddenly From Soft became the enemy of the people and Ally of the journalists, now apparently journalists have always been Loving FromSoft and biased towards them, just because it got praised over Horizon, like every Sony fan did a complete 180 because their game got it's light stolen

[CrimsonWing69]

I disagree.

[ChubbyBlade]

That’s some tinfoil hat type stuff

[frostypants]

Except ALL critics have reviewed both games by now...it's been a while... and Elden Ring has higher scores still. Forbidden West is great but it is still rather formulaic in its open world approach. It does what it does well, and as before the combat is insanely good, but it lacks the same sense of discovery that ER has. There's no bias at play.

[Viljong]

Once again user scores are more accurate. These so called journalists are always biased and they agree on eulas that dont let them review games properly. They give perfect scores to game with recycled content and ps5 version so bad the best way to play is ps4 version in baclward compability mode. Not to mention pc version which got like 95 but is unplayable in many cases.

[CaptainHenry916]

Maybe Elden Ring is a better game than Horizon Forbidden West. But I will say this Horizon Forbidden West is definitely better than any game than their number one competitor has released this generation

[babadivad]

Elden Ring is just better. Doesn't mean Horizon is bad.

[CaptainHenry916]

@babadivad
It is. But Horizon Forbidden West is better than every Xbox exclusive this new generation imo. Halo Infinite was good but not great to me.

[Muigi]

Elden Ring is better, its just not easy and doesn’t hold your hand like every other rpg.

[FlavorLav01]

Try playing Horizon 2 on hard with the HUD turned off. There’s plenty of challenge to be found if that’s what you desire or what separates the two for you. I’ve got over 60hrs in each game and it’s hard to just blatantly state the Elden is the better game. I’ve enjoyed both immensely, and Horizon is definitely the prettier game. And I can actually remember and enjoy the story instead of studying forums to breakdown the lore for context to everything.

[Rimeskeem]

Says someone who has never played HWF on the hardest difficulty with all HUD turned off as Flavor said.

[Silly gameAr]

You can play Elden Ring and HZD on playstation. I hate that the media and these social media clowns pitted Horizon and Elden Rig against each other, when both can be bought, played, and enjoyed.

Besides, when people are done with Elden Ring, Horizon will be there when you're ready to pick up another game to play, and vice versa.

@Chubbyblade

For someone that don't like how fanboys behave, you sure do sound like a fanboy sometimes.

[Muigi]

@Rimeskeem Umm I play every game on at least hard and I’ve been doing no HUD since the first one as well, nice try tho lol.

[ChubbyBlade]

Because ER is the better game

[MadLad]

Why can't people deal when Sony's newest big title isn't the best game of the year.

[andy85]

Really did enjoy the side quests. Currently sat on 99.08% waiting for a patch for 100% 😂

[dumahim]

Shock canister burrowers?

[andy85]

No those are in the map, it's the Apex Sentry Scrounger which has no spawn point yet

[Limitedtimestruggle]

I actually enjoy a lot of sidequest stuff in this game, it's a beautiful and amazing world!

[S2Killinit]

Masterful really

[tbagmonster]

desperation

[Gianoni33]

Overhated game. Sidequests is still teh same ever.

So disapoinring. They so much worried about sidequests and facial expressions. The gameplay is bad and repetirive, really exausting.

The story? It miss what nake the first game special.

7 is a top score for this one.

[mkis007]

Ever wake up and wonder why you waste precious minutes of your life on this nonsense trolling?

[P_Bomb]

Can’t waste what you don’t have.

[Charlieboy333]

I agree, it is "overhated"

[jznrpg]

Yes it’s over hated , you being a perfect example . It’s a great game . Sony shouldn’t have released it with Elden Ring as it was always going to get the spotlight vs any game but it doesn’t make Forbidden West a lesser game in any way .

[PitbullMonster]

For me, HFW is Sonys best Open World game. This is how a sequel should like. They worked on the negative parts of the first game and made these things better, some more some less. Really don't know how it got one point less in metacritic than the previous game?

[Knushwood Butt]

Too much content. 7/10

Joking aside, I just came from it at about 65 hours in. For today's session I had no goal and just wanted to go with the flow and spent hours mainly exploring and finding new stuff. Just did a big sequence to find some prototype device. Don't even think it was a sidequest as I just stumbled into it.

Also took a few photos!

[LoveSpuds]

Incredible game for sure, but if I were absolutely forced to choose, I think I might plump for Tsushima over Horizon 2 as my fave open world gamegrom Sony.

[Knushwood Butt]

I have that to look forward to.

My 2022 gaming calendar is already pretty full.

[MeatyUrologist]

Yeah was honestly surprised how good the side quests are in this. I actually preferred them to a lot of the main quests. I can think of at least 5 that had a major impact on the world around you. Whether it was determining which characters live or die or changing the land around you they did an excellent job here!

[KeyAppearance]

This is good, I will eventually pick it up when it's on PC, but this is what more devs should be doing.

[Lexreborn2]

Are people really so entitled they are arguing over which amazing game is more amazing in the comments? The last month has had some fantastic games release and people aren’t appreciating them based on what they do right. But arguing over what? Review scores that differ?

Who cares I’ve been fully entertained this last month and it’s pouring into the next month and possibly until October for me.

Dying light 2, horizon, elden ring, stranger of paradise, ghost wire and tunic? This is what happens when to much great comes out at once, people feel like they have to justify why they bought one over another.

[Gamingisfornerds]

Well said!

[DFresh]

Bruh.
I'm not even 25% into finishing this game and already have over 32 hours in (Level 30).
First game I have 80 hours at Level 60 (Max) w/ Max Items.
Great value with play time already.
Amazing game.
I like how the enemy AI are a lot more difficult and it requires a lot more grinding to find items to upgrade gear.

[Knushwood Butt]

Skill trees and inventory management massively better in HFW.

You really need to make upgrade quests in HFW, where as in HZD you just stumble into a lot of the upgrade loot. I guess there's a pro and con for both. but more satisfying when you get the upgrade. Also more frustrating when you down 3 or 4 frostclaws and don't get a single one of the part you are after!

[DefenderOfDoom2]

So WORLD WIDE sales PS5; is ahead by 5 MILLION ??

[Harryvok]

Got the platinum like I did for HZD. Absolutely loved the game and already miss it. Can't wait for DLC.

[ZeekQuattro]

I lose track of time on occasion playing this game. That's the sign of a very good game in my book. I've barely even touched the main story as I've been too busy exploring and powering up my kit.

[MeatyUrologist]

I agree about the frustration. I ended up turning on the easy loot option to get all components from each machine when downed. To keep it from making things too easy, I bumped the difficulty up a notch. This seemed to keep the game challenging while also lowering the frustration and grind to get components.

[lellkay]

Have really been enjoying the side missions, even the more mundane ones in terms of gameplay, still have some form of interesting story thread or characters that just makes me want to do them.

Really enjoying the game.