Honestly, playing PS5 Horizon Forbidden West today feels totally different than it did back at launch. Remember the hype? Everyone was obsessed with the "Peach Fuzz" on Aloy's face or how the SSD basically killed loading screens. It was a technical showcase, sure. But now that the dust has settled and we've seen a million other "next-gen" titles, Guerilla’s sequel stands out for reasons that aren't just about pixels or teraflops. It’s about the scale. It’s about how the game handles the transition from the relatively small-scale mystery of the first game to a literal global extinction event.
Aloy isn't just a curious outcast anymore. She's a weary survivor.
You’ve probably seen the screenshots. The Forbidden West is gorgeous, obviously. The way the light hits the ruins of San Francisco or how the sand kicks up in the Stillsands is basically digital art. But what most people get wrong about PS5 Horizon Forbidden West is thinking it's just more of the same. It isn't. The combat loop has been fundamentally tightened. If you go into this trying to just spam arrows like you did in Zero Dawn, you’re going to get absolutely wrecked by a Slaughterspine in about ten seconds.
The Mechanical Complexity People Overlook
The sheer variety of machines is staggering. You’ve got the Sunwing, which completely changes how you view the map once you unlock flight. Then there’s the Tremortusk. Taking one of those down on Ultra Hard is basically a choreographed dance of panic and precision. You aren't just aiming for "the glowing bits" anymore. You have to think about elemental states. Is the machine brittle? Is it drenched? Should you use acid to melt the armor or fire to cause a lingering burn?
It's deep. Kinda intimidatingly deep at first.
Guerilla Games leaned hard into the RPG elements this time around. The skill tree is massive. We're talking six different branches: Warrior, Trapper, Hunter, Survivor, Infiltrator, and Machine Master. It allows for playstyles that actually feel distinct. You can be a melee powerhouse or a stealthy saboteur who lets the machines do the dirty work for you. Most players tend to gravitate toward the Hunter tree—it's the most "Horizon" way to play—but sleeping on the Valor Surges is a massive mistake. These are essentially "ultimates" that can turn the tide of a fight when you're cornered by three Clawstriders and out of medicinal berries.
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The DualSense controller is the unsung hero here. You feel the tension in the bowstring. The haptic feedback gives you a literal "thump" when a massive machine steps near you. It’s one of the few games that actually justifies why the PS5 exists.
The Story: Beyond the Red Blight
Let's talk about the narrative. Some critics felt the "Zenith" plotline was a bit of a leap. I get it. Going from tribal warfare to high-concept sci-fi involving immortal space travelers is a lot to swallow. But if you look at the lore bits scattered throughout the ruins, it makes sense. The world of Horizon was always about the hubris of the "Old Ones." Ted Faro is still the most hated man in fictional history for a reason.
The stakes in PS5 Horizon Forbidden West are claustrophobic.
Aloy is carrying the weight of the world, and you see it in her animations. She’s brusque. She’s impatient. She’s trying to live up to the ghost of Elisabet Sobeck, and it’s destroying her social life. The game does a fantastic job of forcing her to realize she can't do it alone. The "Base" serves as a central hub where you actually get to know your companions. Varl, Erend, Zo, Kotallo—they aren't just quest-givers. They have lives. They have opinions on the "Old World" tech you bring back.
Kotallo, specifically, has one of the best character arcs in modern gaming. His journey through loss and his eventual acceptance of a prosthetic arm (which you help build) is handled with a level of maturity you don't often see in AAA blockbusters.
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Performance Modes: 60fps vs 4K
If you're playing this on PS5, you have a choice. You can go for the 4K "Resolution" mode or the 60fps "Performance" mode.
Listen. Play it in 60fps.
The game is so fast-paced that the extra frames aren't just a luxury; they’re a mechanical necessity. Guerilla did some wizardry with their checkerboard rendering, so the game still looks sharper than almost anything else on the market even at the lower internal resolution. The "Burning Shores" DLC, which is a PS5 exclusive, pushes this even further. It features a boss fight that literally couldn't run on the PS4 because of the processing power required for the animations and physics.
What You Should Focus On First
If you're just starting out or jumping back in for a replay, don't get distracted by every single icon on the map. It's a massive game. You'll get burnt out. Focus on the Tallnecks and the Cauldrons. The Cauldrons are basically "dungeons" that reward you with the ability to override new machines. They are also some of the coolest environments in the game, filled with geometric, robotic architecture that feels like a fever dream.
Also, do the side quests. Unlike many open-world games where side content is just "go here, kill five boars," PS5 Horizon Forbidden West treats its side stories with respect. Many of them have unique cutscenes and lead to major gear upgrades.
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- Upgrade your pouches immediately. You'll need the ammo capacity.
- Scan everything. The Focus is your best friend for finding weak points.
- Don't ignore the Arena. It’s tough, but the rewards are top-tier legendary weapons.
- Experiment with the Shredder Gauntlets. They have a learning curve, but the damage output is insane once you catch the returning blades.
The game is also a masterclass in accessibility. There are settings for everything. You can slow down time when aiming, toggle auto-loot, and even change the underwater breathing mechanics if they stress you out. It's clear the developers wanted as many people as possible to see this story through to the end.
The Legacy of the Forbidden West
Where does this leave us? Well, PS5 Horizon Forbidden West is the bridge to the inevitable third entry. It leaves us with a massive cliffhanger regarding "Nemesis" and the future of Earth. But as a standalone experience, it’s a triumph of art direction and combat design. It’s a game about the cost of legacy. It asks if we are doomed to repeat the mistakes of our ancestors or if we can actually build something new.
It’s not a perfect game. The climbing can still feel a bit "sticky" sometimes, and Aloy talks to herself a little too much when solving puzzles (we get it, Aloy, the crate goes on the pressure plate). But these are minor gripes in a sea of brilliance.
If you own a PS5, this isn't just a recommendation. It’s essential. It represents the peak of what the hardware can do when pushed to its limits.
Next Steps for Players:
- Prioritize the "Cradle of Echoes" quest line to unlock the higher-tier weapons early.
- Focus on upgrading the Hunter Bows first, specifically looking for those with "Tear" damage to strip components for crafting.
- Visit the Arena in the Memorial Grove as soon as it opens; the Legendary weapons found there make the late-game encounters significantly more manageable.
- Complete the "Burning Shores" expansion only after finishing the main story, as it provides the definitive conclusion to Aloy's character arc in this chapter.
- Check your "Stash" regularly at any settlement so you don't waste time manual-harvesting resources you already have in bulk.