Technically and mechanically, this game is impressive. It manages to improve on Horizon Zero Dawn in just about every way. The graphics are stunning, the combat is more complex and nuanced, the characters have greater depth, and the world of Horizon feels much more fleshed out with believable locales and landscapes. Where I think this game falls short is it's story. While it is interesting, I think it lacks the mystery and narrative hooks of Zero Dawn. Aloy in Forbidden West already has a lot of answers about the world and what happened. It makes the narrative have less intrigue and new elements that are added I don't think makes up the difference. Additionally, the story meanders for like 10 hours at the start of the game. It doesn't actually pick up it's main plot in a significant way until you're well into the game. On top of all that, I'm a little tired of the "Ubisoft Style" open world design. I really don't want to climb another tower just to get a bunch of markers on my minimap. It strips away the fun of exploration and cheapens the world the devs built.