Horizon Forbidden West Complete Edition (PC) Review

If you’ve never ventured into the captivating world of Horizon Forbidden West, the PC may now be the best platform to do so. Console players were once faced with the difficult choice between frame rate and resolution, but with the successful PC port by Nixxes Software, Horizon Forbidden West Complete Edition has become even more visually stunning.

A Journey Back to Horizon Zero Dawn

Have you ever felt completely alone in the world, or that when the fate of everything rests on your shoulders, no one can lend you a hand? If your answer is no, it likely means you haven’t played Horizon Zero Dawn. In this thrilling game, players are introduced to Aloy, the protagonist embarking on a monumental journey to save the world in a post-apocalyptic future. Horizon Zero Dawn set high expectations with its impressive storytelling and breathtaking graphics.

The challenge for Horizon Forbidden West Complete Edition was to live up to its predecessor’s legacy, providing something fresh while staying true to the original.

Sequel Success in Horizon Forbidden West Complete Edition

When it comes to sequels, many games struggle to either stay faithful to the original or improve on it. While Assassin’s Creed II is often hailed as a perfect sequel, Horizon Forbidden Complete Edition comes close to achieving a similar level of success. Now, two years after its initial release, this sequel arrives on PC, bundled with the Burning Shores expansion, and has been masterfully ported.

Stunning PC Performance: Horizon Forbidden West Complete Edition

The Forbidden West Complete Edition looks exactly as expected on PC. Nixxes Software, the studio Sony acquired to port PlayStation titles, has done an exceptional job. The game’s performance and graphics quality depend entirely on your hardware, but with enhanced settings available, it is possible to experience visuals that far surpass the console version.

If you have a powerful computer, expect to be amazed by the stunning visuals—making PC the best way to continue Aloy’s journey.

Story Overview of Horizon Forbidden West Complete Edition

Recap of Horizon Zero Dawn’s Story

Before diving into Horizon Forbidden West Edition, it’s essential to understand the storyline, as the sequel continues directly from the first game. Set in the 31st century, after a catastrophic event caused machines to destroy all life on Earth, Horizon Zero Dawn saw humanity reduced to primitive tribes, with little knowledge of technology. Aloy, the game’s main protagonist, embarks on a mission to stop the machines from wiping out humanity.

The plot of Horizon Forbidden West Edition

Horizon Forbidden West Complete Edition picks up six months after the events of Horizon Zero Dawn. Aloy ventures into the Forbidden West—the remnants of the old United States—on a quest to find a copy of GAIA, an artificial intelligence designed to save the world from destruction. Her mission is to restore GAIA to full power and repair Zero Dawn’s terraforming system.

Along the way, the game focuses heavily on Aloy’s relationships with others, a notable shift from the first game where she had few meaningful connections.

Enhanced Gameplay Mechanics in Horizon Forbidden West Complete Edition

Exploration and Travel

Like its predecessor, Horizon Forbidden West Complete Edition builds on the open-world formula but with enhanced mechanics. Players can hide in tall grass, stay underwater with the right tools, and ride machines for faster travel. New features include flying on a mechanical pterodactyl and gliding down slopes using an electronic parachute.

The vast, beautifully detailed map spans environments from forests to snowy mountains and deserts. The variety of locales ensures the world feels alive, while puzzles offer the right balance of challenge.

Combat Improvements

Combat has also evolved in Horizon Forbidden West Complete Edition. New weapons like a spear thrower and a boomerang gauntlet are available alongside Aloy’s classic bows and arrows. Enemies now have specific elemental weaknesses, adding depth to battles, while each machine behaves differently, forcing players to strategize more carefully.

The skill tree has been revamped, with six categories instead of three, and the introduction of the Valor Surge system offers powerful abilities that can quickly turn the tide in battle.

Controls on PC: DualSense vs. Mouse and Keyboard

One potential downside to Horizon Forbidden West Complete Edition is that the mouse and keyboard controls don’t feel as intuitive as using a DualSense controller. For example, the CTRL key is used for multiple actions, which can take time to adjust. However, once you’ve customized the controls to your liking, gameplay with a mouse and keyboard becomes smoother.

For those who prefer the DualSense controller, it’s fully supported on PC, although features like haptic feedback and adaptive triggers are missing.

Visual Excellence: What Horizon Forbidden West Complete Edition Looks Like on PC

Graphically, Horizon Forbidden West Complete Edition shines on PC, offering a visual experience that surpasses the PS5. From lush vegetation and towering settlements to detailed character models, the game looks stunning in every aspect.

When played on high-end hardware, the game can run at impressive frame rates—on a laptop with an RTX 4090, we achieved an average of 120 fps at maximum settings. Even on lower-end systems, such as one with an RTX 3060 Ti, Horizon Forbidden West Complete Edition performs admirably.

Steam Deck Compatibility

The game is also playable on the Steam Deck, though it requires some tweaking. Frame rates vary between 25-45 fps at the default resolution of 1280×800, but despite the lower resolution, the game still looks great.

Final Thoughts: A Benchmark for PC Ports

Horizon Forbidden West Complete Edition sets a new standard for how a PC port should be done. Nixxes Software has optimized the game so well that it feels like a natural fit for the platform, allowing players to experience both stunning visuals and smooth gameplay. If you haven’t played the game on PS4 or PS5, the PC is now the definitive way to experience Aloy’s second journey—assuming you have the hardware.

Horizon Forbidden West Complete Edition System Requirements

Minimum System Requirements:

• Operating System: Windows 10 64-bit
• Processor: Intel Core i3-8100 / AMD Ryzen 3 1300X
• Memory: 16 GB RAM
• Graphics Card: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 4GB / AMD Radeon RX 5500XT 4GB
• Storage: 150 GB available space

Recommended System Requirements:

• Operating System: Windows 10 64-bit (version 1909 or higher)
• Processor: Intel Core i5-8600 / AMD Ryzen 5 3600
• Memory: 16 GB RAM
• Graphics Card: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 / AMD Radeon RX 5700
• Storage: 150 GB available space

In conclusion, Horizon Forbidden West Complete Edition on PC is a stellar example of a well-executed port, making it the best platform to dive into Aloy’s world once again.