Horizon Forbidden West is a massive open-world game with many places, people, and things to discover. Even as the world is falling apart around her, Aloy is never too busy to play a game of Machine Strike, pick up salvage contracts, or enter friendly arena competitions. But at the heart of Horizon Forbidden West is its main character and her quest to save the world a second time.
However, the main story might not be the best part of Forbidden West. There’s a lot to love about it, with mystery to unravel, surprising twists, and an epic finale. Yet most of the best moments in Horizon Forbidden West are just that: moments. Forbidden West did such a great job with side missions, secondary characters, and individual story arcs that it almost overshadows the main story. Horizon Forbidden West story spoilers ahead.
Horizon Forbidden West’s New Characters
The new characters in Horizon Forbidden West are solid additions to the cast. Some fan-favorites make a return, like Varl, Erend, Petra, and Talanah, but a lot of the new characters still steal the show, and every character that joins Aloy’s group has their own arc.
For Zo, from the Utaru tribe, it's discovering a world of technology and understanding that technology can exist in harmony with nature. Zo suffers a tragic loss late in the game, but this event leads to an ultimately satisfying conclusion during the final mission. Kotallo, the Tenakth Marshal, must contend with a recent injury that cost him his arm. His story is probably the most powerful, as he learns how to overcome his disability while realizing that he is not a lesser person because of it.
Alva the Quen Diviner, and Tilda from the Far Zeniths, have shorter arcs because they’re introduced late in the game, but they both still get moments to shine. Alva is endearing and sweet as she searches for the truths hidden by her people for so long, and Tilda has plenty of secrets to unveil. Every tribe’s culture is well-thought-out and developed in creative ways, making the world and the people inhabiting it feel very real.
Horizon Forbidden West finds its stride as it dives deeper into these characters and their relationships with Aloy. Every character has quirks, flaws, and a distinct personality that sets them apart from the rest. Combined with entertaining dialogue options, nuanced animations, and strong voice acting, this creates a great environment to play in. Players who don’t take the time to talk to the characters back at the base, or anywhere else for that matter, risk missing out on some memorable moments.
Horizon Forbidden West’s Side Quests
Horizon Forbidden West might be the only game in recent years to have side quests comparable with Witcher 3, which is not a comparison to scoff at. Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is known for having in-depth, story-driven quests that teach the player more about the world and feature a cast of characters who would otherwise be completely missed.
Most open-world games struggle with side quests interrupting the sense of urgency in their main stories, and when side activities are just uninspired fetch quests that are unrelated to the core conflict, a lot of players may just ignore them. Horizon Forbidden West suffers from that at times, but for the most part it makes every quest feel worthwhile.
Nearly all its quests contribute to the main story mission. The tribes in Forbidden West are suffering from Regalla’s rebellion and the collapse of the biosphere, which Aloy is working to fix. But she also can't turn a blind eye to the people suffering in the meantime. Every quest deepens the world and the main conflict while introducing compelling characters, new locations, and emotional conclusions.
What’s Missing From Forbidden West’s Main Story
Horizon Forbidden West did a lot of things right, but the main problem with its narrative is the sheer scale of it all. Aloy is working to essentially save the world from high-tech immortals using a bow and arrow. To do that, she needs to rebuild and reboot the most advanced AI ever created. It’s a lot, and sometimes Forbidden West loses personal moments in the spectacle.
To be fair, there are some stand-out scenes in Forbidden West’s main narrative. Aloy and Beta’s heart-to-heart conversation is one, and Aloy’s return to base after the death of a beloved companion is another. Morlund and his friends in the ruins of Las Vegas make a big impression, and there's few more satisfying moments than Aloy flying into battle on the Wings of the Ten.
Even though Forbidden West has these incredible moments, something feels missing. The details are spot-on, but the big picture doesn’t work 100 percent of the time. That’s not to say the story isn’t good, but it’s very big, and sometimes it can feel impersonal. As a result, the most memorable moments happen when Forbidden West fully focuses in on the characters and cultures it’s developing.
Horizon 3 Could Have the Same Problem
Horizon is an strong PlayStation franchise so far, but that doesn’t mean it's perfect. Forbidden West wasn't subtle about setting up the third installment in what will probably be a trilogy, but if Guerrilla isn’t careful, it could make Forbidden West’s narrative issues worse.
Forbidden West created a massive conflict that spanned the cosmos, and the next game will make it even bigger. Now that the Zeniths are presumably defeated, Aloy’s attention is turned to Nemesis, a massively powerful AI that sent the extinction signal to HADES. Nemesis wiped out the Zenith colony on Sirius easily, so fans are left to wonder what hope the tribal communities on Earth have against such a being when the credits roll.
The stakes are the same as they were in the first two games: Aloy needs to save the world. But the challenge just got bigger, and even more impersonal. Nemesis is not anchored by Aloy’s journey of self-discovery like Zero Dawn or her struggle to accept help, which is what led to the many amazing characters in Forbidden West. To avoid Forbidden West’s issues, Guerrilla needs to find a way to ground the Nemesis story. It can do that by making Horizon's characters and deep relationships the true core of the story, rather than side attractions or rare cutscene fodder. Horizon is expanding, but to grow successfully, it needs to think smaller first.
Horizon Forbidden West is available now on PS4 and PS5.
