Sure, it's another 3rd person, action-adventure PlayStation exclusive. But that's not necessarily a bad thing, and this is only Horizon's second entry. Does it deliver on more than just pretty graphics? Let's find out!

And naturally, for the people left in the forum that actually dare to click these threads, here's the full written version: https://zyro-eg.com/2022/03/03/horizon-forbidden-west-review/

Here we go again

Horizon, just like the first is an excellent game, but don't compare it with Zelda please, Zelda is magical, with a lot of heart, horizon is more by the numbers, with an arrow pointing where you need to go and what you need to do, it takes almost no thinking to play the game. Zelda will make you use your brain, most of its features they don't even mention it, you discover by accident. 

Horizon is great, but Zelda is a masterpiece.

Lol. HZD is paint by numbers open world. It looks pretty but serves little purpose other than set dressing. Sony has yet to make an open-world game that isn't filled with the problems so many AAA open worlds do. Same cliche boring designs. No one is saying it's a bad game but comparing it to Zelda is a bit silly. Sorry. They aim for totally different things. HZD series is more story-driven and presentation driven whereas even BOTW like any Zelda is gameplay mechanics-driven.
https://www.theverge.com/2022/3/3/22959702/zelda-breath-of-the-wild-open-world-five-year-anniversary

Let's see what happens if BOTW2 releases this year.

Horizon has its own merits which makes it stand out. Enemy design or better said the machines are among the best enemies ever created in an open world game. Also where the main quest is linear the game gives you a lot of freedom how to deal with enemies, it's not just shooting or slamming them with a stick and every option is always available.

A Thunderjaw would make a good boss fight in most games, Horizon just have them as a regular enemy. The story is pretty interesting and characters have much more character than in HZD. Comparing this game with Elden Ring and Zelda is pointless because they are massively different.

Story wise Zelda and Elden Ring don't offer much, unless you count a few cutscenes and a recycled plot (within the same franchise) as a good story. Combat is an area where mostly Elden Ring is very successful, but in a totally different way. Where Horizon offers freedom galore in ways of taking enemies down, you specialise a build in Elden Ring to take down enemies with either Heavy slow weapons, Light and fast weapons or with magic.

Each of these games have their own pros and cons. Horizon doesn't offer much in puzzles and mostly relies on its combat, story and presentation. Elden Ring and Zelda go for freedom. Elden Ring has its difficulty and learn by doing concept nailed it's tough, but also fair. Zelda relies much more on its puzzles and exploring. Each great games in their own regard.

Bait thrown, fish caught.

I'm very much in the minority regarding this, but I think Horizon Zero Dawn is better than Breath of the Wild. As far as Forbidden West is concerned, I can't really say anything since I haven't played it yet, but I am very much looking forward to getting to it eventually.

Surprising times. Known Nintendo centric crowd making their predictable comments.

Kudos to Darashiva for being the exception that confirms the rule, and also to Quark for being the objective voice so far.