Horizon Forbidden West Complete Edition on PlayStation 5 is a truly immersive experience. Having spent countless hours exploring the post-apocalyptic American West, battling colossal machines, and unraveling the mysteries of Aloy’s past, I’m ready to share my thoughts on this remarkable game.

From the moment you step into the vibrant and diverse landscapes, you’re captivated by the sheer scale and detail of the world. The Burning Shores expansion adds even more to explore, providing a significant amount of additional gameplay and story content that seamlessly integrates with the main game. This review will dissect the game’s strengths and weaknesses, helping you decide if it’s worth picking up.

The Complete Edition bundles the base game with the Burning Shores DLC, offering a massive amount of content. The game boasts a breathtaking open world teeming with life, from majestic machines to diverse flora and fauna. The combat is strategic and engaging, requiring careful planning and skillful execution. Crafting and upgrading weapons and armor is crucial for survival, and the resource management aspect adds another layer of depth.

The story itself is a masterclass in world-building and character development. Aloy’s journey is compelling, and the mysteries surrounding the world’s collapse are meticulously crafted, keeping you hooked from start to finish. The Burning Shores expansion adds a new chapter to Aloy’s story, introducing intriguing new characters and challenges.

Beyond the core gameplay loop, the game features stunning visuals, leveraging the PS5’s hardware to deliver incredible detail and performance. The sound design is also superb, creating a fully immersive audio experience.

Running on a PS5, Horizon Forbidden West Complete Edition consistently delivers smooth frame rates and stunning visuals. Even in the most densely populated areas, I experienced minimal slowdown. The load times are impressively short, minimizing interruptions to the gameplay experience. The DualSense controller’s haptic feedback adds a new level of immersion, enhancing the feeling of combat and exploration.

The Burning Shores expansion, particularly, showcases the PS5’s capabilities with its impressive visual fidelity, especially the underwater sequences. The game’s optimization is excellent, resulting in a consistently smooth and enjoyable gameplay experience.

Pros:

• Stunning visuals and world design
• Engaging and strategic combat
• Compelling story and characters
• Excellent performance on PS5
• High replayability value
• Significant amount of content in the Complete Edition

Cons:

• Some repetitive side quests
• The sheer scale can sometimes feel overwhelming

Horizon Forbidden West Complete Edition is a must-have title for PS5 owners. The breathtaking world, compelling story, and engaging gameplay make it a truly unforgettable experience. While some might find certain aspects repetitive, the sheer scale and depth of the content more than compensate. The addition of Burning Shores significantly expands the game’s already impressive value, making the Complete Edition the definitive way to experience this masterpiece.

I highly recommend this game to anyone looking for a captivating adventure with stunning visuals and a richly detailed world. The combination of exploration, combat, and storytelling creates a truly immersive experience that will keep you engaged for many hours.