270°

Horizon Forbidden West Aims to Be the First Massive Hit of 2022

Horizon Forbidden West follows in the footsteps of its 2017 predecessor by kicking off the year with the bang. While the first few months of any given year used to be a quiet time to catch up on our backlogs, that’s no longer the case. The Horizon Forbidden West release date of February 18, 2022 on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 marks one of the first big games of the year, as well as the first major PlayStation first-party exclusive since Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart last summer.

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escapistmagazine.com
Magog876d ago

The first Horizon sold based on word of mouth and was a huge success. I can't even begin to imagine how many copies they will sell now that it's an established series and is setting a new bar for visuals and the interactive entertainment medium in general.

CrimsonWing69876d ago

Not sure I follow you on it selling from word-of-mouth. The thing had a massive E3 presence and tons of coverage. It was a big deal before it even went gold. Unless you’re referring to word-of-mouth being from publications and dev previews.

Magog876d ago (Edited 876d ago )

I mean it was a new IP from a dev known for making a mildly successful FPS series. Word of mouth via Twitter, Twitch and the like helped it sell huge volumes.

Bathyj876d ago

I think it's success was almost assured from the moment it was unveiled.

A gorgeous cinematic trailer that transitioned seamlessly into an extended gameplay section.

That's how you announce a game.

S2Killinit875d ago

I think he means it was a first in the series.

jBlakeeper875d ago

It was known as Guerilla’s next big IP for over a year before it was released so yeahhhh definitely sounds like word of mouth. 😑

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 875d ago
Neonridr876d ago

@Magog - I mean Guerilla and Sony hyped the crap out of this game leading up to its release. It's not like it just showed up on shelves and people were like "hey, there's this really good game out now"

Magog876d ago

Sony has hyped a lot of games. That doesn't guarantee success. Killzone Shadowfall, Driveclub, Order 1886, and Destruction Allstars come to mind.

Neonridr876d ago

@Magog - no, certainly not. But this game didn't come out of nowhere, we knew it was being touted as the next AAA game at the time. I don't disagree that people telling others it was good helped push more sales, but we were expecting a massive hit based off of the previews, etc.

Flewid638876d ago

It sold based on great marketing and YouTube videos showing how cool the game was going to be.

Magog876d ago

There is a reason every publisher states new IPs are risky. Fewer people are willing to buy an unknown no matter how good other people say it is. Now that it is an established IP with a great reputation I expect it will sell even more.

Flewid638875d ago (Edited 875d ago )

Very true about new IPs.

And then there are new IPs that just look amazing & everyone wants to buy them. That's what this was.

CaptainHenry916875d ago (Edited 875d ago )

I still think Horizon: Zero Dawn is one of the best looking games I have ever seen since I've been alive. The Decima engine is really something special. I don't even think Guerilla knew Horizon: Zero Dawn was going to be a big hit. I'm glad they took a risk and went forward with it

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 875d ago
My_Name_is_Earl876d ago

It's amazing how this game looks so "next gen" despite also coming to PS4! Hats off to Guerilla!

Gg, GG... I'll see myself out!

Flewid638876d ago

There are already PS4 games with photorealistic character models.

My_Name_is_Earl875d ago

It isn't photorealism that I'm referring to. Also I don't know if I'd describe Horizon's art style as photorealistic.

I am talking about image quality. Density of of pixels. The character and world detail.
I might be talking out of my rear because I don't know what I'm talking about on a technical level, I'm just describing really what I see.

It is visually impressive in a way that cross gen games simply aren't (not to say other cross gen games are slouches, this one is just noteworthy, please do not lynch me)

Basically it looks like a PS5 only game, not held back by having to be scalable. I think the team deserve recognition for that.

GameZenith876d ago

But what is the FPS at 4k? That is what next gen is about.

Looking good means nothing if you are locked at 30fps.

Tacoboto876d ago

Miles Morales' default mode is 30fps. Ratchet's is too. All gameplay and vids of HFW have been 30fps. Same with the brief GOW Ragnarok gameplay.

... and all have/will have a 60fps mode. Uncharted 4's port is even getting a 120fps mode and Ratchet is one of the first to offer a locked 40fps mode on 120hz displays with Fidelity settings.

Next-gen is about what it's always been - developers being more fully enabled to deliver the vision they see fit.

SurgicalMenace876d ago

How does that even make sense? We weren't worried about FPS until it became a thing. There have been gorgeous games from every generation, and they all didn't move at 30 FPS. Just say anything, huh?

My_Name_is_Earl875d ago

I don't know. And to be honest I don't care. I've been playing 30 fps on console forever and it has never made me not enjoy a game.
For instance I play the other Horizon (Forza) in 30 fps mode because I prefer the image quality mode.

875d ago Replies(1)
Flewid638874d ago (Edited 874d ago )

You wouldn't describe the art style of HZD as photorealistic?

What would you call it then? I never ran into a single cartoony looking character the entire time I played. Pretty sure the face tech is based on actual faces.

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Vithar876d ago

already is in my opinion :) loved everything i've seen so far!

waverider876d ago

This game will be much bigger then the last. It was a new ip. Now is one of the greatest titles of last gen, that still looks much better that many next gen games. The gameplay trailer, without trick or made just for the trailer, were amazing.

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540°

5 PlayStation Exclusive Games That Look Better Than Hellblade 2

The Nerd Stash: "Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2 has some of the best graphics on Xbox, but there are PlayStation games that look even better."

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thenerdstash.com
PrinceOfAnger7d ago

Lol some sony fans now disagreeing with DF !?
They said :
Hellblade 2 is a defining moment in the evolution of real-time graphics".

(The Next Level in Real-Time Visuals)

Game
Takes advantage of everything UE5 offers
- Final game 'lives up to the lofty expectations' of the 2019 reveal
- Character rendering sets new standards and nearly resembles movie sequences with actual actors
- Leverages Unreal's Meta Human 5 to bypass the uncanny valley feel
- DF were left guessing whether some cut-scenes were in-game or real life footage (photo mode shows they're all real time)

Also
https://i.ibb.co/m4zMw3M/20...
,
https://i.ibb.co/2YtX6Tv/20...

Right now nothing on PS looks better than HB2.

PrinceOfAnger7d ago

5 PlayStation Exclusive Games" also on PC..
so what Exclusive? No one here confesses and accepted the word "Console exclusive". they were making jokes about it!
😂

PrinceOfAnger7d ago

@FTLmaster

Sony fans were making jokes first about the word " Console exclusive" here and on other sites.
Now they use the word by themselves.
Lol

P_Bomb7d ago

I write console exclusive all the time. I use it in Xbox’s favor too. Those are the games I generally go after over there.

MrDead7d ago

Now I understand who these articles are written for.

Just buy and support the game so MS doesn't shut down Ninja Theory.

S2Killinit6d ago (Edited 6d ago )

You cant really talk when xbox has all its games released elsewhere. Not a good look.

Cacabunga6d ago

HB2 on PS5 will look better than HB2..
And even with that i won’t buy it

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 6d ago
PrinceOfAnger7d ago

This article says Bloodborne and Ghost of Tsushima has better graphics than Hellblade 2 i'm done! 🤣

VenomUK6d ago

Of course! But that doesn't make it invalid.

I haven't been playing too much recently except a bit of Dave the Diver (retro pixel art). But if this has the best graphics then I definitely want to see so will download it for my XSX and start the game. If I had more time I'd play through the first one first.

S2Killinit6d ago

DF can talk from its arse all it wants. I’m sure they are spending their advertising money wisely.

DivineHand1255d ago

I was under the impression Microsoft didn't have any marketing for this game. I also don't need to be paid to say Hellblade 2 is the most photo realistic game on consoles ever made.

Nacho_Z6d ago

People are free to disagree with DF, it's debatable how impartial they are.

The article is a bit of a stretch though. Hellblade has an open goal graphically because it's using the latest tech on small areas with crap framerate so the fidelity is through the roof. It's not impressive to me personally but it's an achievement that shouldn't be denied.

S2Killinit6d ago

Yes. But then a picture can be extremely beautiful but you cant really play it. Hellblade must be beautiful but it has low frames, and its pretty much on rails so it does not really impress me personally.

Information Minister6d ago

I've been subscribed to DF's YouTube channel since before their videos were even narrated and I tell you no debate is necessary about how impartial they are.

DF has clearly had some level of proximity with Microsoft since the launch of the Xbox One X. They haven't exactly tried to hide either. Their coverage/damage control for Starfield was quite blatant.

So yes, people on all camps are free to disagree with DF's opinions.

That aside, this particular article is complete flamebait.

neutralgamer19926d ago (Edited 6d ago )

what good are graphics when rest of the game is a walking sim (coming from a pc fan) if it's only about graphics than any game can push the boundary but that's without much gameplay

to me gears of war 5 is more impressive because it had the graphics and gameplay to back it up, just like uncharted 2 back in the day. Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart is also up there.

SGT_Squirrel6d ago (Edited 6d ago )

I don't understand people. Both the PS5 and Xbox one X are great machines. I own both and could care less which system has a game that is marginally better looking than the other. Yes, Hellblade 2 is the best-looking console game right now, but it isn't a huge leap over what the PS5 has. Since I am not tied to one company's console, I see things differently I guess.

Abear215d ago

Agreed, plus traditionally all PS exclusives are third person action and everything on Xbox is usually FPS.

Let’s talk gameplay people, you know, that thing that actually matters? I remember Gamepro would rate “Fun Factor” in their reviews—is the game actually fun to play?!

If this was the judging method, and not resolution and “bespoke tech” that digital foundry wants you to be obsessed with, than Dave the Diver is my GOTY so far (ps5)

itsmebryan6d ago (Edited 6d ago )

Grasping at straws to make a positive Playstation story. Too bad they can't talk about AAA first party games. Because "PS5 has NO GAMES!!!" Why can't people just be honest. HB2 looks amazing.

Abear215d ago

Woah there little fella, you are way lost in what is no longer reality, hope you left bread crumbs

Sonic18816d ago

Horizon is West definition looks better than Hellblade 2

VariantAEC4d ago

This comment doesn't even make sense and I agree with it.

purple1015d ago

Digital foundry recently said ps5 ports are holding back Xbox

You can’t really take them as gospel anymore

+ Show (6) more repliesLast reply 4d ago
darthv727d ago

Okay, I've played all of those, and they looked good for their time. This game just takes realism to a whole other level. some would even say uncanny valley-esq at times.

Maybe that's why people are having a hard time with this game... its almost too real and makes them uneasy about it.

Bathyj6d ago

I doubt that's it. The game has woorde problems than that.

darksky6d ago

The game is a walking simulator with tech demo graphics. Nothing special at all.

Flewid6384d ago

Next gen graphics are always special, even when the game is bad.

rlow17d ago

lol, really???? The title sounds so desperate. Those games are excellent but not in the same league.

ravens526d ago

..."not in the same league graphics wise*" Fixed it so you don't sound too crazy. Also not sure its in "another league" but I haven't seen it in person so 🤷🏽 idk.

ravens526d ago

All of those games on that list are literally objectively BETTER GAMES than Hellblade 2.

S2Killinit6d ago

I would say those games are on a much higher level because Hellblade is a game made to look great but its not on par when it comes to how it is linear with small playing areas and low frames. Anyone can do that, but is it a good game? No.

JackBNimble6d ago

If this is an argument, then yeah , this is desperation. Why do you sonyboys even care? The market always dictates, besides last I checked (as a ps5 owner) sony exclusives are few and far between, at least anything worth playing that is. And if I can play it on ps4 I'm not too then I'm not calling it exclusive.

Chevalier5d ago (Edited 5d ago )

You make it sound like Xbox has so much more games than Playstation, but, they have far fewer. Playstation has far more better 3rd party exclusives filling the gap too.

Chirping about Playstation when Xbox gets a game ever like 3 years worth talking about is idiotic. Would take the most recent FF, Gran Blue Relink and Stellar Blade over Xbox poor offerings any day of the week. Death Stranding 2 and Silent Hill look more interesting than HB2.

JackBNimble5d ago

No, that's not what I'm saying. The point is this is such a petty non argument yet you sonyboys just take the bait and bitch regardless. Xbox is dying but you gotta keep claiming how great your corporate brand is.

Must be another zero news week

Chevalier5d ago

Then why feed the fire then? Lol. Hellblade 2 is barely a game. The 1st one we literally had a ton of Xbox fans call it a walking simulator when it was timed exclusive to Playstation. Now people are reiterating similar sentiments about the 2nd game when it's much of the same with minimal 'gameplay' and Xbox fans are offended.

Ironically the very same idiots chirping said that all Playstation games were just 'cinematic' experiences as a slight and now we got guys like you with the oh whoa is me like it wasn't expected?! Lol. Seriously idiotic

MrDead7d ago (Edited 7d ago )

...now I remember why I hate gaming media, it's because 99.9% are like this article.

purple1016d ago

yeh, probably gonna have to wait for 'Death Stranding 2: On the beach', to get better environments and facial animation than this.

Yusi-D-Jordan6d ago

I honestly think Uncharted 4 was more visually impressive than Hellblade 2

purple1016d ago

Yeh there was a lot going on in uncharted
A lot of moving parts
Explosions
Jumping from planes
You could say it was the more accomplished game. Hellblade looks like god of war, but without the sick fighting,

Show all comments (117)
50°

Horizon Forbidden West Optimized for Low-End PC: NVIDIA RTX 4060/AMD RX 6600

We’ve already posted the optimization guide for Horizon Forbidden West, including one specifically for GeForce RTX 4060 laptop GPUs. This article will specifically target low-end PCs costing $600-$700 to build with entry-level components such as the Radeon RX 6600 and the Core i5-12400F.

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pcoptimizedsettings.com
50°

Horizon Forbidden West Optimized Settings for RTX 4060 Laptop GPU

Horizon Forbidden West is one of the more optimized PC ports to launch of late. We tested Forbidden West on one of the most popular mobile GPUs to find a balance between quality and performance.

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pcoptimizedsettings.com