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Horizon Forbidden West in Tech Check: This is how the PS4 beats

In our big test we titled the PS5 version of Horizon Forbidden West as a visual masterpiece. OPULENT OPEN-WORLD GAMES are not even rare on the PlayStation, we only think about Ghost of Tsushima or the predecessor Horizon Zero Dawn, qualitatively exceeded Forbidden West the two but a whole piece.

The game perfectly conveys the impression of a gigantic game world, uses insane high-quality assets, draws unique lighting moods and is also very varied thanks to numerous biomes. But how does the PS4 version of the game suggest? We took you under the microscope.

The PS4 version moves very close to the PS5

Basically, all the advantages of the PS5 version are retained. The visibility is exorbitantly high on the PS4 and except for a few effects we could discover few differences to the PS5 version.

Particle effects are missing on the PS4 or are reduced: Horizon Forbidden West uses a variety of particles and transparent effects, such as fire, water splash or stirred sand. We also get a large part of it on the PS4 in full splendor to face, but in some places they are missing completely or blown down.

Lighting and shadows were simplified: In the equal comparison, the PS4 version looks contrastic and flatter. Global lighting is very uniform, uses less indirect lights and does not offer the same intensity, which becomes clear especially in intermediate sequences.

This also makes the representation of shadows on. These are far lower and are not thrown by all objects to save calculation load. Soft contact slatting on the vegetation and the character models are also affected, the shadow throws fringes more clearly.

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PS4 PS5 (resolution preferred)

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Horizon Forbidden West | PS4 - PS4 Pro - PS5 | Graphics Comparison

The vegetation is also a great starch on the PS4: That the plant growth on the PlayStation 4 is just as pronounced as the big sister console, is remarkable. In addition, shrubs and grasses of Aloy dynamically pressed aside or bent completely. This makes us feel connected to the world. The realistic flora additionally laminates the slightly weaker bodes textures on the PS4, which have a little more structure on the PS5.

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PS4 PS5 (Resolution Preferred) Close-up (PS4)

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In the reflections, greater differences are clearly clear: Standing water was still a weakness of the predecessor and also forbidden West weakened in this aspect. Smaller waters are unnaturally transparent, very coarse screen space reflections make the surface mirror smooth appear. At the PS4 version, the resolution of the reflections is noticeably lowest, so little compared to Zero Dawn has happened at first glance.

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Deep reflection

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But as soon as some movement comes into the scene, for example with a river river, the situation changes again and forbidden West could hardly be detailed lovers. Waves are authentically simulated and spoiled gisht.

It flickers neat on the PS4 (and the PS5)

If we turn on the PS5 in the power mode, Forbidden West plays significantly more fluid, but the game seems to get rid of all edge smoothing. Despite a dynamic resolution of about 1728p, we observed a slight flicker, while in dissolution mode hardly pods were recognizable to polygon edges.

The PS4 version also refrains from edge smoothing, with a resolution of 1080p, in which we also suspect a dynamic window of up to 1008p, the flicker is again stronger. The high vegetation density and the excellent material quality play the load gene not necessarily in the cards - the picture is to be detailed, so to speak, too many edges would have to be smoothed.

With motion blur, we can counteract the flicker a little. Here guerrilla games make us choose between three different modes, which blur the image section around the middle.

At the same time Horizon Forbidden West uses a ubiquitous depth of focus that helps the eye to set focus points. In combat and especially during rotations, for example, very close as well as branched areas of the screen are softened.

Here again the resolutions of platforms in the overview:

  • PS5 "Resolution prefer": Dynamic, 2160p to 2016P
  • PS5 "Performance prefer": Dynamic, 1728P on average
  • PS4: Dynamic, 1080p to 1008p

Feels very well despite a frame rate of 30 fps

In the resolution mode of the PS5 version, the refresh rate ranks at 30 fps. The dynamic resolution was mostly at our tests at 2016P, thanks to the excellent edge smoothing and almost one hundred percent stable frame rate, it should be played for most players * inside the preferred path.

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PS5 (Resolution Preferred): Fight Open World

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We can report almost the same about the power mode. Actually, it happens even better - we did not count a single exuberant frame during the gameplay.

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PS5 (Performance Preferred): Fight Open World

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Kniffliger is already on the PS4: Although the game never really juky came, sting some situations out. If we enter such a settlement in the game world, the refresh rate breaks down by three to four meters. That does not feel well, most of the time we are in the wild and there the game remained as good as always stable.

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PS4: Settlement fight

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FrameRops in Intermediate Sequences: Horizon Forbidden West is a cinematic experience and offers tens of intermediate sequences. These show shier infinite panoramas, but also cut the scene to scene. Since these are real-time calculations, the claim to the hardware is enormously high. From time to time it is initially jerking after a scene cut, since assets need to be loaded first. On the PS4 due to the missing NVME SSD a little more and more frequently.

In addition, assets and shadows several times only after a few seconds in the scene. During the gameplay that is the same with the PS5, but not as often as the PS4.

There are pop-ups a constant companion, especially when we move through the world quickly. For an open World game that is not a dramatic criticism, but we did not want to withhold him.

Charging times: The fast trip is finally no longer the horror that it was in Horizon: Zero Dawn. On the PS5 we land within five seconds in the score, a PS4 along with retrofitted SSD let us wait only 30 seconds.

Here you can look at our test video to Horizon Forbidden West:

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