5/5 ★ – Mithril's review of Horizon Forbidden West.

[No Spoilers] Horizon Forbidden West is everything I wish for a sequel and more. Those who appreciated the first game will be well served by HFW. More than once I was in complete awe of the technical achievements, the fantastic twists in the story, and breathtaking scenery, the extraordinary creatures, and brilliant performances. For each shortfall I found in Zero Dawn, Forbidden West has an answer that I love, or at the very least appreciate. The story is absolutely captivating. For the best experience, it is absolutely worth playing Horizon Zero Dawn, and for those who played it many years ago, worth jump in for a few hours for a refresh. The story of Forbidden West picks up directly after Zero Dawn, and though it does an excellent job of catching the player up on the overarching story beats, remembering the finer details and characters will make the sequel that much more impactful. Plus, being able to recognise the massive leap in technical quality also makes for an even more enjoyable experience. Of everything I am impressed by, the story is right up there. I am not forgiving of excessive cutscenes as a crutch for games, but every cutscene felt fruitful and seamlessly integrated, and more than once I found myself lost in the performances of the cast. I felt a strong pang of affection and admiration as the opening credits rolled, a feeling that persists as I play now 25 hours in. What Guerrilla have achieved is nothing short of a miracle, and I have enormous respect for the team that put this game in my hands. BUGS: despite reports of bugs and pop in, I only experienced 1 minor bug and 1 instance of minor pop. Otherwise, the game runs seamlessly on my PS5.