![horizon zero dawn map size vs breath of the wild horizon zero dawn map size vs breath of the wild](https://res.cloudinary.com/lmn/image/upload/c_limit,h_360,w_640/e_sharpen:100/f_auto,fl_lossy,q_auto/v1/gameskinny/e5777154454cef3acb68a643b87f76f2.jpg)
Each tribe has a recognisable identity with their wonderfully outlandish outfits and body paints. The artistic design is incredibly strong the machines are impressively detailed and wonderfully animated, while human characters are among the best seen in open world games. The setting, which includes arid desert, snowy mountains, lush jungle, and crisp shorelines is gorgeous through and through, with some incredible sights strewn across the map. Yes, as expected of Guerrilla Games, the visuals are sublime. It's not the end of the world, but a shame when the rest of Forbidden West is so beautiful. The game looks astonishingly good 99 per cent of the time, but with such polished presentation, things like eyes darting around or poor lip syncing are more noticeable.
![horizon zero dawn map size vs breath of the wild horizon zero dawn map size vs breath of the wild](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/sZ5t9Uy0cY4/hqdefault.jpg)
It's here where you may notice some janky facial animation, however. Quest givers and merchants are afforded far more personality this time around, and all conversations are now livelier than the static back and forth headshots seen in Zero Dawn. Similarly, conversations with other NPCs are improved as well. Everyone feels more fleshed out and human, and you'll grow to like them as they play a larger role in the overall narrative. Some familiar friends, such as Varl and Erend, join Aloy on her quest and are even more likeable, while new faces such as Zo and Kotallo are fantastic. That's in no small part thanks to improved writing and a much, much better cast of supporting characters. Audio logs are still here, but most of the plot is conveyed in a more organic way. Forbidden West's narrative may not quite have the same impact as the original, but it still has its fair share of WTF moments, and the way the story is presented is certainly an improvement.
![horizon zero dawn map size vs breath of the wild horizon zero dawn map size vs breath of the wild](https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/ww-ii.jpg)
With Zero Dawn unveiling such a fascinating history and constantly presenting you with immense revelations, the sequel was always going to struggle to do better. We certainly won't be going into spoiler territory here, but rest assured that there are plenty of twists and turns in the sequel's complex story, building upon the present day tribal conflicts as well as the events and ramifications of the past. Of course, all sorts of obstacles present themselves, not least of which is Regalla, a Tenakth rebel waging civil war with her followers and an army of machines at her command. Her search for answers leads her to the titular Forbidden West, a dangerous region that's home to the volatile and deadly Tenakth tribe. Ominous storms brew in the sky, and an unusual red plant is spreading rapidly across the country, killing all flora and fauna in its wake. Set six months after the first game's conclusion, Aloy is traveling far and wide to prevent the world from spiralling into another mass extinction. It's a lot to live up to, but having now spent dozens of hours playing Horizon Forbidden West, we think it's about as good a sequel as fans could hope for.
![horizon zero dawn map size vs breath of the wild horizon zero dawn map size vs breath of the wild](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/EpUnYhlooC0/maxresdefault.jpg)
Its first attempt at an open world action RPG really resonated with PlayStation fans, thanks to intense combat, a compelling narrative mystery, and a great lead character. With Horizon Zero Dawn, Guerrilla Games set the bar very high for itself.