| this article is based on the exclusive licensing agreement between Campfire Camp and Japan's Fami Pass, please revert with your consent.
ArPG Horizon West, released by Sony Interactive Entertainment, is now available on the PS5/PS4 platform on February 18, 2022. The story takes place half a year after the end of the previous work "Dawn of Zero", and the protagonist Eloy will once again embark on a journey to save the world.
The game's adventure is set in the intimidating "Forbidden Land of the West". This dangerous area, ruled by the brave and courageous Tenaks, is not only inhabited by unknown mechanical beasts, but also threatened by the rebellious Regala army that drives the machines, and is in chaos everywhere.
After experiencing Eloy's new adventures, I wrote this review non-stop. This article does not contain any spoilers, so please feel free to read it.
Magnificent "Forbidden Land in the West"
In the worlds of the Horizon series, human civilization is wiped out by a catastrophe that was a thousand years old, and at the same time, mechanical beasts begin to rule the earth. As a lover of "Post-Apocalypse" works, when I played my previous work, Dawn of Zero, I was immediately attracted by its carefully crafted worldview.
The ruins of a derelict civilization blend with the changing natural scenery to form a magnificent scene in the game. In the process of pursuing the mystery of his own life, Eloy is also gradually uncovering the secrets hidden behind the world. I still remember the curiosity-driven experience of exploring every corner of Horizon's vast open world.
As soon as I started this work, the author immediately found the original excitement. With the support of PS5 and OLED screens, the game's screen details have been improved by leaps and bounds compared to the previous game, and the DualSense haptic feedback function has further improved the sense of presence and immersion when exploring the scene.
The addition of a puller and grappling hook point makes it easier for players to travel to high places, while the underwater scene further stimulates the player's desire to explore. Although it is difficult for the author to determine which scene is more extensive between this work and the previous game, the addition of air and underwater scenes has undoubtedly increased the exploration density of this game.
▲ The puller is a special piece of equipment that uses a rope to go to the grappling hook point. In addition, the puller can also be used to drag objects, which is very helpful for exploration
▲ The underwater scene is stunning and fascinating. As the adventure progresses, players will be free to explore the underwater scene with the help of a diving mask without the need for ventilation
Both the Puller and the Shield Wing are special items that can effectively improve the player's exploration efficiency. After climbing to a high place, opening the shield wings to glide in the air is my favorite way to play. Enjoying the scenery while gliding can also be regarded as one of the characteristics of this game.
In the previous game, it took a lot of time to climb to a high place or return to the ground from a high place, but the addition of the puller and shield wing in this game greatly simplifies this process. The effect of the shield wing is particularly pronounced, because it can slide from a high place to the ground, which greatly reduces the pressure of exploration.
▲ Shield wings allow players to swoop to the ground from high places without worrying about falling damage. You can also enjoy the view during the landing
The quest feature of this game is also very convenient, it can even guide the player where to find the materials needed to make or enhance the equipment, so the author also goes further and further on the way to collect materials. Another major improvement at the series level is that items collected are automatically transferred to the warehouse if they exceed the upper limit, which greatly increases the motivation of the player to collect while exploring.
▲ Players can upgrade weapons and armor at the tool table. The number of upgrades that can be upgraded varies depending on the rarity of the equipment, but upgrades can increase the performance of the equipment or unlock new skills
▲ Players can reach the location of rare items under the guidance of the mission function. This makes it easier to acquire and enhance equipment, and it also stimulates the player's motivation to push the story
In addition to the enigmatic main storyline, there are also rich side elements waiting for players!
Just 6 months after the finale of the previous game, life in the world is once again threatened by "red blight". As Elloy is on her way to unravel the mystery of the "Red Blight", mysterious forces such as the new mechanical beast, the rebel army led by Regara, and Cyrence suddenly appear, blocking her way.
▲ Regal was once a warrior trusted by the Tenak chieftains, who rebelled because of an incident
▲ Cyrence is one of the few characters who knows the mystery of Elloy's origins, and his whereabouts are unknown after fighting alongside Elloy in the previous game. In the prologue to this game, he travels to the west for a certain purpose
Even the strong and powerful Elloy will feel overwhelmed in the face of successive threats. Fortunately, Allend and Val, who had teamed up with Eroy against strong opponents, will also help Eroy through this difficult journey. In the process of advancing the plot, the author not only felt the strong bond between the two and Eloy, but also saw the active performance of the two, and could not help but feel very emotional.
▲ Allende (left) and Val (right) are the brave warriors of the Osram and Nora tribes, respectively. The deep friendship with Elloy in the adventures of the previous game will also help her in this game
The game also provides an exclusive stronghold for Elloy and his companions, and the daily communication scenes depicted here will make you like these characters more and more. Seeing the way his companions were in order to help Eroy in the midst of the hardships of the stronghold, the author could not help but raise the corners of his mouth.
▲ In addition to the main plot, the daily communication between Allende and Val in the stronghold is not to be missed!
In addition, this game not only helps players review the plot of the previous game, but also sets up character notes for players to keep abreast of the details of the characters who appeared on the scene. These details allow players who have not played the previous game to feel at ease.
▲ The character notes record the information of the characters that the player has encountered, and the details of the new characters and the characters of the previous game can be found here
▲ The contents of the Mechanical Beast Atlas obtained after scanning enemies with Holographic Glasses Focus are also more substantial. You can check the drop materials and details of each part
Like the previous game, this game also sets up a wealth of side quests for players in the vast open world as a tune in the main story. The whole world is vast and interesting, and players will not feel bored at all.
▲ Some side quests tell a new story of the characters from the previous game. For example, Tarana, the hunter of Meridian City, will appear in a certain mission
I especially like to take detours to ancient ruins to explore in search of "relics". So far, I haven't triggered an enemy encounter in this mission, so you can leisurely challenge the puzzle elements. Observing the surrounding situation, the sense of accomplishment when you try and try and finally unravel the mechanism is unparalleled.
▲ Explore the ruins. Look around and look for traps to take action with the goal of getting the treasure. This is a puzzle-solving task that tests the ability to observe
▲ The rewards for completing various tasks are also attractive. In addition to experience points and skill points (detailed below), there are also item rewards such as equipment, which are well worth the player's efforts to complete
The action system has also been enhanced on the basis of the previous game!
The game's skill tree system has also been greatly improved, and Eloy has a more free direction for character development. Although the author prefers the "stealth" gameplay of sneaking close to the enemy for assassination, the game also adds spear-related combination skills, and the use of warrior skills that are good at melee attacks to fight also makes the author feel very fresh.
Skills can be acquired by spending points earned while leveling up or completing missions. The skill tree is divided into six branches: Warrior, Catcher, Hunter, Survivor, Infiltrator, and Machine Master, and you can choose skills from each branch to learn according to your preference
In addition, the new "Weapon Skills" and "Courage Surge" in this game can also bring new tactical play to players. The abundance of learnable skills may make the player hesitate to learn which one to learn first. But no matter how you choose, you can feel the growth of Elloy firsthand. As a result, players can flexibly equip themselves with courage surge skills based on their own play style. Coupled with the fact that the retractor and shield wings can also be used in combat, the battle strategies available to players are absolutely diverse.
▲ Weapon skills are special moves that are unleashed by depleting weapon stamina slots, and each weapon has multiple weapon skills to learn. For example, the Hunter's Bow can shoot three arrows at the same time
▲ The Courage Surge skill is equivalent to a must-kill skill, and can be activated when the courage slot exceeds 1 block. The effect varies depending on the Courage Surge skill, and only one Courage Surge skill can be equipped at a time. When playing Raiders, it is important to flexibly use the Courage Surge skill according to the playing style and combat situation
In addition, the game has added other ranged weapons and attributes, and these new elements also allow players to adopt more diverse tactics. One of the new weapons added to the game, the Nail Gun, which can throw drill nails, is powerful, can detonate and deal high damage, and is extremely effective in fighting large mechanical beasts.
▲ New weapon "Nail Gun". You must be close to the enemy to a certain extent to hit, but the power will never let you down
In addition to the three attributes of the previous game "Fire", "Electric Shock" and "Ice Frost", this game has added three attributes of "acid erosion", "water purification" and "plasma", in other words, this game will have six attributes for players to choose freely. Not only that, but the status effect has also added a "glue" that can slow down the movement of enemies.
▲ The "Acid Etching" attribute, which can be used at an early stage, can trap enemies in a corrosive state, and it is easier to weaken and destroy armor while continuously dealing damage
If you're still hesitant because you're not good at action games, don't worry. This game not only has a perfect teaching level, but also can cut into the menu at any time to adjust the difficulty. Needless to say, this game is also very friendly to new players, if you are interested, please be sure to try it.
Translated | Loyal Dog Komasa
Edited | Bluestoon