Horizon Forbidden West is one of the most highly anticipated PlayStation exclusives in recent years. As a sequel to the critically acclaimed Horizon Zero Dawn, Forbidden West brings players back into the post-apocalyptic world filled with mysterious animal-like machines and the brave hunter Aloy.
With the game‘s release coming on February 18, 2022, many fans are debating which version of Horizon Forbidden West they should purchase. The standard edition provides just the base game, while the Digital Deluxe edition bundles in additional digital content for a higher $79.99 price tag.
In this comprehensive guide, we‘ll break down everything included with Horizon Forbidden West‘s Digital Deluxe edition to help you decide if it‘s worth spending the extra money.
What‘s Included in the Horizon Forbidden West Digital Deluxe Edition
Here‘s a full overview of everything you get when purchasing the $79.99 Digital Deluxe edition of Horizon Forbidden West:
- Full Horizon Forbidden West game for PS4 and PS5
- Digital Art Book – A downloadable art book featuring various concept art and developer commentary
- Digital Soundtrack – The full musical score by composers Joris de Man and Niels van der Leest
- Digital Comic Book – A Horizon Zero Dawn comic book by Titan Comics
- Two Carja Behemoth Elite items – Special outfits with gameplay perks
- Two Nora Thunder Elite items – Special outfits with gameplay perks
- A Machine Strike piece – For the in-game Machine Strike board game
- In-game resources pack – Useful items like potions and ammo
- In-game Apex Clawstrider Machine Strike piece
- Exclusive photo mode poses and face paints
As you can see, the Deluxe edition mainly offers digital goodies to supplement the core Horizon Forbidden West game. The two special elite outfits and Machine Strike piece arguably have the most in-game value for affecting gameplay.
However, the art book, soundtrack, comic book, and photo mode items will appeal most to big Horizon fans who want behind-the-scenes content and cosmetic collectibles.
Detailed Breakdown of the Digital Deluxe Items
Now let‘s take a deeper look at each of the Deluxe edition bonuses:
Dual Entitlement for PS4 and PS5
The standard and deluxe editions of Horizon Forbidden West include entitlements for both the PS4 and PS5 versions. This is handy if you plan to upgrade to PS5 later or want to play on both platforms.
Digital Art Book
The art book is a digital collection of concept pieces, character designs, and environments from the game. These provide insight into the creative process and let you see early iterations that were changed during development.
Previous Horizon art books have been around 200 pages, so expect a hefty amount of content here.
Digital Soundtrack
You‘ll be able to listen to the game‘s original score composed by Joris de Man and Niels van der Leest in full with the digital soundtrack. The first Horizon Zero Dawn soundtrack runs over 3 hours, so expect the Forbidden West score to be similarly lengthy.
Digital Comic Book
This is a brand new comic book published by Titan Comics that‘s set within the Horizon universe. Details are scarce, but it will likely focus on an untold story separate from Aloy‘s adventures.
Two Carja Behemoth Elite Items
These are special versions of the Carja Behemoth armor set that come with extra modification slots and unique visual flourishes. They provide bonuses like melee follow-up attack power and low health defense.
The armor sets are usable by Aloy and other characters once unlocked.
Two Nora Thunder Elite Items
Similar to the Carja Behemoth items, these are enhanced versions of the pre-order Nora Thunder armor set. They get bonuses like concentration and improved ranged attacks after dodging.
Machine Strike Piece
This is a game piece of the Tremortusk machine that can be used in the Machine Strike board game while playing Horizon Forbidden West. It may come with unique stats or abilities.
In-Game Resources Pack
To aid you in your journey, the resources pack provides useful consumable items like potions, traps, and ammo. These bonus items allow you to save time gathering resources and crafting.
Photo Mode Unlocks
Several cosmetic items are included for Photo Mode, like new poses and face paints for Aloy. These offer more customization options when taking stylish photos.
Is the Digital Deluxe Edition Worth the $20 Premium?
So for $20 more than the standard edition, is Horizon Forbidden West‘s Deluxe version worth picking up? Here are the key benefits and drawbacks:
Benefits of the Deluxe Edition
- The art book, soundtrack, and comic provide engaging bonus content for fans.
- Special elite armor sets offer gameplay perks not in the standard edition.
- Extra resources allow you to spend less time grinding and crafting.
- Fun cosmetics like face paints and poses for Photo Mode.
- Owning the PS4 and PS5 versions offers flexibility.
Drawbacks of the Deluxe Edition
- The $20 premium is still quite steep compared to many game special editions.
- No physical collectibles are included like statues.
- The elite armors are not radically different from standard sets.
- Comic book and other narrative content don‘t impact the core story.
Ultimately, the Deluxe edition is best suited for big Horizon fans who plan on sinking dozens of hours into Forbidden West. The bonus resources and unique outfits offer moderate in-game advantages, while the digital media provides cool supplemental content.
Casual players who just want to experience the core story may not find the Deluxe edition worth the added cost. But if you want every possible Horizon collectible and cosmetic, it makes for a nice overall package.
Pre-Order Bonuses
In addition to the Deluxe edition items, some pre-order bonuses are available depending on where you purchase Horizon Forbidden West:
- Pre-order from PlayStation Direct – Nora Legacy Outfit and Spear
- Pre-order on PlayStation Store – Nora Legacy Outfit and Spear
- Pre-order at GameStop – Nora Legacy Outfit and Spear
- Pre-order at Amazon – Print Replica of Aloy‘s Focus
- Pre-order at Best Buy – Steelbook case
The Nora Legacy spear and outfit are the most useful, providing an early powerful weapon and armor set. So purchasing directly from PlayStation or major retailers like GameStop are your best bet. The collectibles like the Focus replica and Steelbook case appeal primarily to collectors and look nice displayed.
Note the Nora Legacy items are exclusive to pre-orders, so you will miss out if you don‘t reserve a copy ahead of launch. All the Digital Deluxe edition content can still be purchased post-launch.
Editions and Prices Comparison
For easy reference, here‘s a quick comparison of the different Horizon Forbidden West editions and prices:
- Standard Edition – $59.99 (Base Game Only)
- Digital Deluxe – $79.99 (Base Game + Digital Bonuses)
- Special Edition – $69.99 (Base Game + Steelbook Case)
- Collector‘s Edition – $199.99 (Base Game + Steelbook Display + Statue)
The Special Edition is $10 pricier than the standard one solely for its Steelbook case. Meanwhile the Collector‘s Edition is a whopping $140 more expensive due to its intricate statue.
For most buyers, the Standard or Digital Deluxe editions provide the best value depending on your desire for the digital bonuses. But hardcore collectors may find the premium Collector‘s Edition worth it.
Can You Upgrade to Deluxe Edition Later On?
If you decide to purchase the Standard version at launch, it is possible to upgrade to the Digital Deluxe edition later on.
You can head to the PlayStation Store listing for Horizon Forbidden West after launch and look for the Deluxe Edition Upgrade option. This lets you pay the difference in price to upgrade your existing Standard copy.
Upgrading to Deluxe later on is convenient, but you may miss out on some of the pre-order bonuses like the Nora Legacy items. So upgrading at launch could be preferable if you want all the extra content.
But the upgrade path does exist if you change your mind after playing and want the deluxe gear.
Will Horizon Forbidden West Get DLC Content?
Developer Guerrilla Games has confirmed that Horizon Forbidden West will receive post-launch downloadable content. The first major story expansion called Burning Shores was announced at The Game Awards 2022.
Burning Shores will take Aloy to the ruins of Los Angeles and continue her quest against a new mysterious plague. This paid campaign DLC will launch in 2024, though details on the exact price and length haven‘t been revealed yet.
Given the first game received a major narrative expansion in The Frozen Wilds, expect similar substantial DLC for Forbidden West down the road. There will likely be smaller updates as well that add new outfits, weapons, and photo mode filters.
So while the Deluxe edition includes a nice bundle of launch bonuses, keep an eye out for new Forbidden West content releasing post-launch.
Is Pre-Loading Available?
Horizon Forbidden West does offer pre-loading on PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4 systems. Pre-loading went live on February 11, allowing players to download the full game files before launch.
Pre-loading is useful for ensuring you can play as soon as the game unlocks at midnight on release day. And it allows you to download the massive open world game files ahead of time if you have slower internet.
To access pre-loading, you need to pre-order any digital edition of Horizon Forbidden West via the PlayStation Store. As long as you pre-order before the February 14 pre-load deadline, you can start downloading the game early.
Physical disc copies do not support pre-loading, so going digital is recommended if you want to play at launch right away.
Does Horizon Forbidden West Support Free PS5 Upgrades?
If you purchase Horizon Forbidden West on PS4, either physically or digitally, you are entitled to upgrade to the PS5 version for free. This allows you to play the game on PS4 first, then transfer your save and continue Aloy‘s adventure on PS5.
For the physical edition, simply insert the PS4 game disc into your PS5 and you can download the PS5 version at no extra cost. With the digital edition, the PS5 upgrade will automatically show as available when playing on PS5.
This free next-gen upgrade path makes buying the PS4 version appealing even if you plan on upgrading to PS5 eventually. And thanks to the Dual Entitlement included with all editions, you can freely bounce between generations.
How Does Horizon Forbidden West Perform on PS4 vs. PS5?
Horizon Forbidden West is optimized to take full advantage of the PS5‘s extra horsepower. On PS5, players can choose between a Fidelity visual mode targeting native 4K resolution and a Performance mode with smoother 60 FPS frame rates.
On PS4, the game runs at a base resolution of 1080p and 30 FPS. The PS4 Pro gets a minor bump to 1440p resolution but remains locked at 30 FPS.
So while still impressive on PS4, the PS5 version delivers noticeably sharper visuals and twice the frame rate. Loading times are also greatly improved on PS5 thanks to the ultra-fast SSD.
If you have the option, playing on PS5 is recommended to experience Horizon Forbidden West at its best. But the PS4 version holds its own if you don‘t have a PS5 yet.
What Difficulty Level Should You Choose?
Horizon Forbidden West offers four difficulty settings to cater to players of different skill levels:
- Story – Ideal for players focused on the narrative who don‘t want too much combat challenge. Resources are plentiful and enemies inflict less damage.
- Easy – A step up with slightly tougher enemies while still being very approachable for average players.
- Normal – The baseline balanced experience that most players should start with.
- Very Hard – For seasoned players who want a stiff challenge. Enemies are aggressive and can kill Aloy very quickly.
- Ultra Hard – The ultimate challenge where even basic enemies can pose a lethal threat. Traps and stealth become vital for survival.
A smooth difficulty curve means all players should find a setting suited for their experience level. Normal or Easy difficulties are recommended for newer players. But those seeking a hardcore action challenge can jump to Very Hard or Ultra Hard.
You can change the difficulty at any time if you find the setting you chose is too punishing or too easy. But starting on at least Normal is advised to experience the game balance as intended.
How Long Does a Horizon Forbidden West Playthrough Take?
For players mainly looking to complete the critical path story missions, Horizon Forbidden West will take around 30 hours. Those who take their time to complete side quests and explore the open world more thoroughly are looking at a playtime closer to 50 hours.
To fully 100% complete every activity in the game can take over 80 hours. So there‘s a huge amount of content available for those really wanting to dive in.
The game does a great job consistently introducing new challenges and milestones, so the pacing never drags across that long playtime. But it‘s designed as a huge open world adventure meant to be savored, not rushed through.
Taking breaks between major story chapters is advised so you don‘t burn out. With the wealth of side content, Forbidden West can easily keep you busy for weeks on end.
How Does Horizon Forbidden West Compare to Zero Dawn?
As a direct story sequel, Horizon Forbidden West carries forward everything fans loved about Zero Dawn. The creative post-post apocalyptic setting filled with animal-inspired robots remains utterly unique and compelling to explore.
Forbidden West expands the formula with new regions like the tropical coasts and flooded city ruins. Underground environments add variety as well. The core combat, traversal, crafting and RPG systems are also refined across the board.
In terms of scope and content, Forbidden West dwarfs the first game with a longer story, vastly bigger map, and tons more activities. Everything is dialed up to the next level.
Fans of Zero Dawn are guaranteed to love returning to this world for Aloy‘s continuing journey. And the sequel improves upon the already stellar foundations in virtually every way.
Final Verdict – Is Forbidden West‘s Deluxe Edition Worth Buying?
Horizon Forbidden West‘s Digital Deluxe edition doesn‘t dramatically change or expand the core experience, but provides some nice bonuses for big fans of Aloy‘s world.
The two special armor sets, bonus resources, and cosmetics add gameplay value on top of the cool behind-the-scenes art book, soundtrack, and comic book.
While $20 extra is still a notable premium, you get a decent bundle of content that hardcore Horizon players will appreciate. The core game also remains phenomenal regardless of edition.
So based on the quality additions and flexible upgrade options, the Digital Deluxe edition earns a recommendation. But gamers on a tighter budget wouldn‘t miss out on too much sticking with the Standard.
Either way, Horizon Forbidden West staying a PlayStation console exclusive means fans can expect an adventure built from the ground up to showcase PS5 and PS4 power. Its creative world, gripping storytelling, and refined gameplay are primed to make this a 2022 standout.
