Gaming

Horizon Forbidden West Review: Back to save us from machines

Aloy continues her journey to the west

Published

February 15, 2022

GadgetMatch

The much-awaited Horizon sequel is here and, right off the bat, we’re telling you that it’s all worth the wait. Guerilla Games’ Horizon Forbidden West is the latest must-play AAA title for every current and last-gen PlayStation owner.

If you haven’t played Horizon Zero Dawn, you should start playing now. It’s a fantastic PlayStation exclusive and with Forbidden West already on the horizon (pun intended), you’re gonna need to catch up.

Warning: Slight spoilers ahead!

Horizon Forbidden West is set six months after the end of Horizon Zero Dawn. Aloy is again faced with a new threat to the planet and must head… west. This means we get to see more of Horizon’s dystopian future where tribes rule and animals are machines.

The game’s timeline is one of the most impressive things about it. As a suckers for anything tech with a twist, we got sucked into it. Open world games usually get boring after a while and you kinda get tired of exploring every corner, but not Horizon and definitely not in the forbidden west.

This game is meant to be played on the PS5

We played Forbidden West on the PS5 in Performance Mode which provides smooth 60fps gaming albeit not at its sharpest state. If you want to see Aloy’s world in absolute sharpness, there’s the Resolution Mode for native 4K rendering but it runs at 30fps only.

We tried both during the prologue and our eyes got spoiled with the game’s higher framerate option. Naturally, we went on and played in Performance Mode throughout. Good thing the drop in pixel clarity is minor and it’s only noticeable when you look for it.

Since we’re already talking about visuals, let’s get right into the graphics of the game. In one word: stunning. Zero Dawn is one of the best-looking games for the PS4 and Forbidden West is the most visually pleasing PS5 game to date!

Forbidden West runs on Decima — Guerilla Games’ proprietary game engine. The folks there truly know how to get the best quality out of it. The level of detail in Forbidden West is top-notch; it feels like a cinematic animated action movie rendered in real-time.

We don’t have the exact words to describe how visually stunning this game is, so we’ll let these screengrabs do the “talking”:

I know, you might be thinking that it looks similar to Zero Dawn, which we agree with to some extent. However, everything is 200% better!

The foliage, the facial and body features, the landscape, the machines, and the whole world of Horizon got the solid visual upgrade it deserves.

The most noticeable visual enhancement can be seen in the character models. The fine details of the outfits, the body hairs, and the sheen on the face — especially with the face paints.

Lore worthy of its own series

Horizon, if it’s a show, is definitely something that we would watch on the TV and even on the big screen should there be an adaptation. Although, to play and be the character in the game is probably the best way to experience the lore.

The unique setting in the future is a core strength of this game and we live for it. What we’re not living for is the premise of Forbidden West: Aloy, like any protagonist especially if a hero, is out to save the world again. That was also her main goal in the first installment and sadly, she didn’t exactly save the world.

During the prologue, there’s not much to get excited about but as you progress in the Forbidden West, there are twists and turns. And that’s where things get exciting.

Forbidden West

Aloy brings her friends to the forbidden west and along the way, she will also meet new characters. There are a lot of characters to talk to in the game, a few will stand out, and, like in the first installment, they will joim you in the final battle.

If there are friends, there are also enemies lurking around the map. Not just new machines, but also rebels that’ll fight you to death and they make exploration much more interesting.

As Aloy, you’re the key to almost everything that’s happening in the world and all the inaccessible places in the forbidden west. That’s why you have a lot to explore while you’re completing the main story or even after it.

The tribes of Forbidden West are more worthy of your time than Zero Dawn’s, which means you have a lot of exploring to do.

Riding the machines is always fun, particularly when you’re already able to override a flying machine. The new map is slightly bigger or just about the same, but the main storyline and the side quests complement each other resulting in a game that runs like a well-oiled machine.

What’s it like to be Aloy again?

It’s been nearly 5 years since we first played as Aloy, and if you’ve clocked in a number of hours in Zero Dawn, you’re going to be very familiar with how Aloy moves and fights in the wild.

Aside from Aloy’s updated character model, she also learned a few new tricks plus weapons to use. While the bow and arrow are still Aloy’s signature, don’t be afraid to use what’s in your arsenal.

Aloy’s spear can now do better melee attacks (with combos!). Plus, there are explosive spears and launchers to spice up combats. Don’t forget that tall grasses are your best friend throughout the map. There are a lot of ways to fight beastly machines and bloodthirsty rebels.

Aloy’s skills can be upgraded and you have the freedom to choose whichever type of Aloy you want to have. Be sure to plan your skill tree — which has been expanded from four to six — based on how you want to progress in the game. Your playstyle will be important as you get deeper into the forbidden west.

Is it perfect? Nearly.

Yes, obviously, we love Horizon Forbidden West. It’s a well-written, technically polished title that will most likely be another hit for PlayStation. With the game coming to both PS4 and PS5, both generations of consoles have the chance to enjoy Guerilla’s newest masterpiece.

The game might feel familiar to those who have played Zero Dawn. Some might even say it brings nothing new to the table, and that’s okay. I’m not expecting a brand new game; it doesn’t need a new approach in its series like God Of War (2018). We expected Forbidden West to continue Zero Dawn much like how we expect a second season from a beloved TV show — to give us more of what we loved about it.

Horizon Forbidden West is a PlayStation Exclusive and will officially be out on February 18.

Features

LOQ and LOAD: The Lenovo LOQ 2024 is for gaming and more

Your entry to PC Gaming

Published

April 23, 2024

GadgetMatch

Get your game on with the Lenovo LOQ 2024. This capable laptop is your entry point to PC Gaming and a lot more.

It comes an absolutely affordable price point: PhP 48,995.

You get capable hardware and the hood to support gaming and more. The Lenovo LOQ 15IAX9I runs on the 12th Gen Intel Core i5 processor and Intel Arc Graphics.

Those are key to bringing unreal graphics to this segment. Supporting latest tech like DirectX 12 Ultimate, players are able to enjoy high frame rates on the Lenovo LOQ.

Creating content? It comes with AI Advantage to help boost performance. Engines and accelerators boost the media processing workloads especially for creatives. It also works with Intel’s X Super Machine Learning, Leading to images that are as close to reality.

The laptop supports a configuration of up to 32GB of RAM and 1TB of SSD Storage.

As for its display, the device has a large 15.6-inch, Full HD panel that is more than enough for gaming, video editing, content consumption, and whatever else you do on a laptop. This display has 144Hz refresh rate, 300 nits brightness, and anti-glare.

Videos come out clear, crisp, and realistic. Audio is punchy and as loud as it gets. Windows Sonic elevates it more when you use headphones. And it just takes a few minutes to render HD videos on editing software.

As it runs on Windows 11, if you are going to use it for work, you can take advantage of various features. The Lenovo Vantage Widget is there for constant reminders, Copilot will help you organize your tasks, and Microsoft Edge is there for casual browsing.

There is an assortment of ports at the back for easy connectivity. And as this is meant for gaming, we put it to the test. Racing that looks better with high frame rate? Check. Shooting titles that require heavy work? Not a problem. You can play all your favorites and not worry about performance.

Best of all, it takes less than an our to juice up this laptop all the way to 100%.

So, whether you’re looking to get started with PC Gaming, or an upgrade for work and entertainment needs, the Lenovo LOQ has you covered.

This feature is a collaboration between GadgetMatch and Lenovo Philippines.

Gaming

Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes out now

Forge your destiny

Published

April 23, 2024

GadgetMatch

Rabbit and Bear Studios and 505 Games’ Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes is now available across multiple platforms. One of the most anticipated JRPGs in recent memory may now be played on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox X|S, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch. Moreover, it may be accessed on PC via Steam, the Epic Games store, and GOG.

Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes is crafted by game developers Junko Kawano (Suikoden I, IV) and the late Yoshitaka Murayama (Suikoden I, II). The title features a modern take on classic 2D side-scrolling games. It has a six-character battle system, meticulous 2D sprites and 3D backgrounds, and a riveting story. As the name suggests, you can play over 100 characters.

GadgetMatch had the privilege of playing the game’s early preview here: Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes First Impressions

The refreshed environment immediately stands out. There is more detail, depth, and movement compared to how side-scrolling games of the past used to be played. The game lets players choose their party mates. Meanwhile, the actual combat is turn-based, giving players room to strategize what sequences or gimmicks to select.

With more than 100 characters to choose from, the game also allows players to appropriately select heroes fit for certain regions and dungeons throughout the story. Moreover, some are designated catalysts that can give you access to more of the world’s treasures. In between, users may enjoy mini-games, like the fishing side quest in the preview. The collected fish can be part of another mini-game — cooking — as ingredients for recipes you can cook with.

Features

Why choose the MSI Claw?

Is it the gaming handheld for you?

Published

April 18, 2024

GadgetMatch

The MSI Claw is the latest gaming handheld from a major PC and laptop brand. The competition in this emerging gadget segment is tighter than ever. So, what is it about the MSI Claw that can scratch your gaming itch? Here’s a quick list.

Best grip in the game

One quick glance and it’s hard not to compare the claw with another popular gaming handheld. But a closer look and actually holding the thing will reveal that its grip easily feels better.

It has a slightly deeper groove that makes it easier to hold. So, MSI’s “Grip and Game” tagline isn’t all talk. Its design truly does provide one of the better feeling handles among its competition.

The overall design makes sure it’s made for extended gameplay sessions. The buttons are where you expect them to be. That includes the four mini buttons on the upper edges of the screen. These are the View, MSI Center M, Menu, and Quick Settings buttons.

In addition, the face buttons and d-pad all feel great. The face buttons, in particular, feel comparable to those of regular console controllers.

The rest of the buttons and triggers have a very satisfying tactile feel. It also uses Hall Effect technology to get rid of any stick drift issues.

Up top, you’ll find the power button, MicroSD Card slot, Thunderbolt 4 USB-C port, audio jack, and the volume buttons. These are intuitively placed and just makes sense given the overall design approach.

As cliché as it sounds, you’ll really think you got your money’s worth once you hold, touch, press, and grip the MSI Claw.

Dragon Vision

Now, MSI isn’t really calling it that but I thought it sounds pretty cool. A big part of the whole gaming experience is the display. Balancing resolution and frame rates is always tricky but the MSI Claw does it convincingly.

With this gaming handheld, you get a 7-inch display with a 120Hz refresh rate. Looks great on paper and it’s even better in real life. It’s the sweet spot in terms of both size and performance. There’s enough here to immerse you all while delivering a satisfying level of crisp and smoothness.

It’s comfortable to view whether you’re on the couch, on a desk table, or lying down getting a quick game in before you get some shut-eye.

Battery Life

At 53Whr, the MSI Claw has a 36% larger battery capacity than its contemporaries and promises 50% more play time.

MSI claims “elevated performance with extended endurance” using the Claw with faster charging capabilities.

These percentages are hard to measure in real life usage. What we can say for certain is that you get the expected performance and playtime typical of a handheld. That’s a little under two hours for graphically demanding titles, and close to four hours on less demanding ones.

The charging claim is legitimate. The MSI Claw juices up faster than most other handhelds, going from 20% to 100% in about a little over a K-Drama episode (roughly a little over an hour).

MSI Center M

Any self-respecting gaming handheld has its own software to make navigating the thing more manageable. While its direct competitors have an armoury crate and a space, MSI went with Center M.

The best part about MSI Center M is it puts your installed games front and center. Right when it launches, you get immediate access to the titles you have available on your machine.

MSI Afterburner is already the most commonly used app for taking a look at how your machine is performing while you play. That functionality is built-in to the MSI Claw. You can access it view the Quick Settings buttons.

Layout and functionality-wise, the MSI Center M is certainly one of the better Gaming Handheld softwares available right now.

Competitive Performance

A defining trait of the MSI Claw is that It’s the first gaming handheld to be powered by Intel Core Ultra. With it comes Intel XeSS tech. What it does is leverage AI upscaling to boost the fps of select titles.

As of launch, 50 notable games are supported. That number will certainly grow throughout the device’s lifespan. Some of the titles include Hi-Fi Rush, Dying Light 2, Forza Horizon 5, Call of Duty Warzone 2.0, Returnal, and many, many more.

Naturally, results will vary depending on the game mode you’re using. But in general, AAA games get anywhere between 10% to 45% better frame rate performance with Intel XeSS.

For our part we played TEKKEN 8 and the recently launched Horizon Forbidden West. Both graphically demanding games played relatively well on the MSI Claw. Frame rate performance on TEKKEN 8 is crucial and we got a relatively consistent fps, never dropping below 40.

Horizon Forbidden West is a much more graphically demanding game. We were able to run it in Medium Settings and while it doesn’t look as incredible, it still played relatively well with a frame rate surprising for a gaming handheld.

Extras

MSI made sure that if you wanted to, you could get some extra stuff with the MSI Claw. Its separately sold accessory set includes the Claw Travel Case, Nest Docking Station, Claw Lanyard, and Claw Keychain.

On paper, the MSI Claw lists its ergonomic design, AI Engine, and App Player as distinct advantages over its competition.

Whether it’s the Gaming Handheld that matches your needs is still ultimately up to you. If you have the opportunity to test drive the device, we suggest you do so. That might just solidify your purchase decision.