Without much in the way of 2021 holiday exclusives, Sony is looking to kick 2022 off strong with titles like the Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves collection and Gran Turismo 7, among other strong third party offerings like Elden Ring, King of Fighters XV, and more. In fact, February 2022 is already being positioned as a very busy release month, even with some titles like Saints Row opting to delay to a later spot in the year. However, for many PlayStation fans, one exclusive title likely stands above them all.
A little over 4 years and after a few delays, Horizon Forbidden West is on track for a mid-February 2022 launch. The title serves as a direct sequel to Guerrilla's popular 2017 title, Horizon: Zero Dawn, bringing back protagonist Aloy as she seeks to find the source of a mysterious and deadly plague. Gameplay has already revealed a number of new mechanics including Valor Surge combat finisher, Shieldwing glider, a Pullcaster grappling hook, and a Diving Mask for exploring under the waters.
Naturally, the game has a variety of enemies to overcome, including both new and returning machines. Players have already seen the Mammoth-inspired Tremortusk as well as the Raptor-like Clawstrider, but now, a new trailer shows off a number of new previously unseen machines.
Highlighting the deadly and technologically advanced machines, the Horizon Forbidden West trailer introduces players to all sorts of new and returning enemies. The rollerback is able to seemingly absorb materials around it to form a hard shell similar to an armadillo. Players can also get a glimpse at the Sunwing, a bird-like machine that seemingly needs to rest and charge itself in the sun in order to get back into the skies. The waters also appear treacherous, filled with numerous aquatic machines like the returning Snapmaw.
However, the highlight for many will likely come towards the end with the reveal of the terrifying Slitherfang, a massive snake-like machine that is able to coil around objects to get up high. Worse yet, the creature is able to spit venom at its enemies, adding a deadly twist into combat.
With only a couple months left until launch, Guerrilla has been more forthcoming with details regarding the game. Earlier this week, the studio shared an update on the PS4 version of Horizon Forbidden West, revealing new screenshots to showcase how it looks on previous gen consoles. While many were worried about the PS4 version of Horizon Forbidden West, the screenshots appear to confirm that the game will continue to look good, even for those without a newer console.
Horizon Forbidden West launches on February 18, 2022 on PS4 and PS5.