Sacred Symbols+, Episode 176: Horizon Forbidden West Spoilercast and Review Discussion

Please don’t complain that trophies are too easy, I’m worried someone at Sony will take note! We don’t all have the free time you do (I have 2hrs a day game time), and I like getting plats :p

Daniel Meegan

Great discussion as a post platinum palate cleanser! I'd love to see a killzone style prequel based on 'the ten' fleshing out more of the faro plague lore

Simmo

Control was better than sekiero as well

Big titty drinker

I just wasn't into it. I'm glad they tried.

Colin Moriarty

Got your money's worth.

Colin Moriarty

Just beat the game after 210 hours 90% in fidelity mode … gonna enjoy this bad boy!

Big titty drinker

I'm not sure if anyone else was able to see the glaring flaws with Machine Strike. My usual tactic was to move one tile back and forth till they get close then attack having the advantage of high ground. Intermediate opponents would never fall for this to the point where I had a 45 min stale mate where both of us were just moving back and forth waiting for the other to be the first to move in. My new tactic became flooding the board with as many low level pieces as I could. I would then pin the opponents pieces in a corner with an L shaped ambush. I was able to burn down their health faster than they could knock out several of my pieces. As much as I appreciated the 4D chess aspect of Machine Strike it wasn't fleshed out enough to be a challenge.

Pace

I did, too. The game felt rich, lived-in, in-need.

Colin Moriarty

I liked the world building and side characters a lot more in this game than I did the first. I couldn't remember anything besides Sylins and Rost in the first game. Everyone was great in this one. Also I ship Qloy and Katallo

Clint

Well, it's insinuated that they were together, yes. But as it was brought up, maybe one or the other or both is bi.

Colin Moriarty

Interesting hearing your takes on the game. The personality traits you guys mention didn’t stand out to me, I just thought that’s how the characters were, I didn’t necessarily see them as genetic conditions, etc. As for Aloy not being lesbian, was it confirmed Elisabet was? I know she and Tilda had a thing but do we know for sure Elisabet wasn’t bi? Aloy smiles at the Sun King’s approach if you go with the heart option. I took that as she was interested. I didn’t like that choice personally but 🤷🏻‍♂️ I can’t recall her doing that with other characters though. Lastly, the disrespect for my dude Varl by calling him annoying…😔

NeO JD

I know why, it's the same with TLoU2: People want to ruin good things for others.

Colin Moriarty

Fair enough. =)

Colin Moriarty

LOL.

Colin Moriarty

Far Cry 6 is the better game!

Colin Moriarty

I’ve found this game is getting shit on more than any other game since the last of us part 2 and I don’t know why. I frequent a few forums and everyone is going into topics spewing hate and saying Elden Ring is better. I honestly think there is this Sony first party hate that is starting to form because imo forbidden west is the best narrative focused open world game that I’ve ever played. I have critiques sure but the hate is totally unfounded and often trivial. My only disappointment was the ending. Not the far zeniths as that had me more intrigued than the first game, loved it, incredible. Especially the last boss in Tilda wearing her Alpha Spectre or whatever it was called and it’s movement was so cool and fluid. But my disappointment comes from I thought nemesis was going to be an alien. I never thought that would be in this series and the thought of fighting aliens actually blew me away and was so excited, just to unfortunately find out it’s a digital consciousness that for me I care about way less. I think running from an alien force and fighting more fluid like type enemies similar to returnal would have been really something interesting and the story beats could have been really unique. Otherwise this game while isn’t perfect, is a 10 for me. I just don’t see how you can play through it and not gawk at the quality that is given. If this game is an 8 then either the standards have become impossible or scores have become irrelevant and it feels like both of those are true.

Adam

Dude sounds so much like George Lucas it's insane 🤣

James Buck

You are of course entitled to your opinion, but hearing Far Cry 6 over Elden Ring was crazy to me 😂

Carter Evenson

By the time I find a PS5 I’ll forget the spoilers 🤣

Shane Pryor

He'll be on when we cover games he's playing, no doubt.

Colin Moriarty

Thank you!

Colin Moriarty

Thanks for listening!

Colin Moriarty

Yes, it's one of those games where it gives you a lot of options, and you don't even need to use them all to see the game completely. It's great.

Colin Moriarty

Seemed like they were going a little overboard, per capita, I agree.

Colin Moriarty

Thank you!

Colin Moriarty

Really?

Colin Moriarty

I couldn't imagine having sunk even more time into it, which is the other side of the coin.

Colin Moriarty

That could be. I was only 'comfortable' sharing my Alva thoughts when I Googled it and she literally came up.

Colin Moriarty

great to have Ben on, hope to keep hearing more from him.

The rogue

Excellent review discussion, and particularly really enjoyed listening to Ben’s thoughts on the game. I adore Horizon Forbidden West, and I’d go as far to say it’s one of my favorite PlayStation exclusives. I can’t wait to go back and replay it.

Jim Capron

Ceo isn't a genetic clone of Ted Faro as Alva confirms during your first conversation with her at the base, but loved the episode thank you.

Jordan Avery

I loved this conversation! I have a review for the game going live on YouTube today, and it’s reassuring to hear people think the game is great but also admit that they too didn’t feel compelled to use/play everything provided (weapons, crafting, cooking, etc.). The game does so much, incredibly well, without sacrificing any one aspect to include another. Even if you personally don’t take advantage of everything on offer, it’s great that it’s there for those that do want it. Such a fantastic game and a great discussion! Hope you all are well!

Ben Scott

Just wanted to touch on what Colin said about aloy being lesbian and was wondering if anyone else noticed the sheer amount of quest givers who were gay? I counted 11 quest givers and 1 trans person which not only is a strangely high number but also I noticed like Disney they were included in a way that would be easily removable in foreign markets like China and Russia

Captain Bon Clay

I think the decision to not show Ted Faro worked because whatever they showed us would never be as grotesque as our imagination could depict it. Reminds me of this Japanese visual novel "Sayo no Uta" I can see why the decision to not show him rubbed people the wrong way, but I thought it was cool. Great episode! Keep up the great work

Felix Johnson

We need part 2 for this podcast!!

Levi Williams

I wish I would’ve written in about the game being vastly different when playing on hard. It’s like I never had a reason to do anything outside the norm on normal. But on hard I was carefully placing traps, sneaking, full combat, etc this would build into this INCREDIBLE feeling of achievement upon besting enemies and areas that kicked my ass. Anyway playing on hard was definitely made y’all complaints about that difficult problem basically a non-factor

A Hind D

Excellent discussion as always! Listening now about Alva potentially having Down’s syndrome or some other form of mental handicap. I wonder if anyone else picked up that Boom Boom from the side quests may have been Autistic? I’ve never seen anyone on the spectrum represented in a game and I thought she was awesome and represented incredibly well (if that’s what they were going for).

John Moore

Oh dear.

Colin Moriarty

I'll need to get back and play it at some point.

Colin Moriarty

I really like that scene, too.

Colin Moriarty

Indeed, I forgot about that.

Colin Moriarty

That could be!

Colin Moriarty

Thanks for writing in!

Colin Moriarty

I think that she's lowkey is kinda cool. She's got a soft brand of arrogance, which is neat.

Colin Moriarty

Thanks for writing in.

Colin Moriarty

Glad you enjoyed his input.

Colin Moriarty

Thanks for listening.

Colin Moriarty

Ratio.

Colin Moriarty

I don't think that. =)

Colin Moriarty

We'll be here when you're ready.

Colin Moriarty

You guys touched on Aloy’s sexuality and this one question kept ringing in my head towards the end of the game. If Aloy and Beta fall in love and comit sexual acts. Is it incest? Or masturbation? 🤔 Love LSM! Keep it up!

Jeff Caseres

I just have to disagree on the idea that Frozen Wilds didn't have much story and didn't impact Forbidden West. This DLC was the thing that developed the character of Hephaestus, the subfunction that plays a very key role in the sequel. I can't imagine having not played it and being able to grasp the sequel quite as well.

InfiniteInspiration0

Great cast. I loved the story too. The breakfast scene with Tilda was my favorite story moment and I loved the almost adversarial relationship Aloy had with Sylens. I completely lost myself in this game and finished at 78% with an in game clock around 80 hours. It never occurred to me Alva might be on the spectrum but I thought she was an awesome character nonetheless. Personally, I think Returnal edges it out as my recent favorite Sony exclusive. I can’t wait to see where the next game goes.

Mitchell Lundsberg

I thought it was gonna be Aloy + Petra. They were pretty cute together. Also, you could go out for drinks with her.

Boomboom Washington

I believe Aloy is Asexual. I've seen the idea thrown around and it definitely tracks. She kindly pays no mind to what seem to be attempts at flattery by others, and politely rejects outright flirting by the Sun King. Of course she has had no time for love on her quest, so maybe they will explore that angle in a future story, but it would not surprise me if she genuinely was not interested in sex. At this point, Aloy being attracted to someone would feel out of place to me, after two hefty adventures and lots of characters met along the way.

MJ SKA BOI

Thank for reading my write in. Great show!

CrimsonSun

While playing this game i have noticed that, Aloy doesn't behave like she is raised in this world. meaning that if I had the skills to not only survive but fight and win against giant robot dinosaurs routinely, i would be a where boisterous perhaps even cocky person with all that adrenaline pumping i would certainly give a Rick Flair woow once in a while.

Kevin Abdul

Glad I’m not the only one that had an issue with the trophies. Thanks for answering.

Mackenzie

Steve Forgione

Havnt actually played the game. Just love listening to you guys talk whilst going about my day!

Phil Walker

Dead game take the L + Ratio!!!!! On a real note pretty good game, unfortunate that it launched right behind the new king of the genre. It's hard to go back to, i'll give it some space . I got the three programs for Gaia before Elden Ring came out. I think the worldbuilding and the combat are the strongest parts. The meta story about the past world tends to be far more interesting then the Tribe drama which varies in quality. So far it feels like a logical step up but nothing overly interesting added to the formula. Platforming continues to be onrails and boring like Uncharted and Assassin's creed, and the glider drops like a stone it's not as fun as the glider in BOTW like people were hoping. From what i've played so far its an 8 fun but dragged back by the template it's made with.

Bryce Mccloskey

Ah damn, my first question read on the show and Colin thinks im a dolt who didn't listen to any of the audio files haha. I did read the lore on the Zeniths and i do like the concept of them i just didn't really like the execution personally, rest of the game is still amazing though. Ah well, on to listen to the rest of the show!

Chap

Still not finished, probably another month, but I'll at least listen to the spoiler free part and then the rest later... I really love this game and am amazing how gigantic it is. Plus I feel even where I'm at currently, they have really delivered on the story aspect again.

Kendall Helmstetter Gelner

Me too. Enjoy!

Colin Moriarty

It'll be here when you're ready.

Colin Moriarty

Yes.

Colin Moriarty

Wish I was smart enough to have made that connection, but y'know.

Colin Moriarty

!!!

Colin Moriarty

I put off HFW due to Elden Ring coming out but, i cant wait to hear this after i do! 🙌

NotYurRealDad

I’ve been really looking forward to this one! I love HFW, I think it’s incredible.

Joe Perez

You know what we really want

Alec Garza

If there isn't a write in calling them Slitterfangs, we've all failed

Bryan Lonsdale

Fuuuuuuuuck yes!!!

Mitch Orobko