Fans of motion-based controller inputs will be incredibly happy to learn that Horizon Forbidden West ships with support for gyro aiming as part of a long list of accessibility options included in the PlayStation 5, PS4 title. The feature is only mentioned alongside use of the PS5 DualSense controller, where the built-in accelerometer and gyroscope are used to "make intuitive micro-adjustments to aimed shots for that extra touch of precision".
Elsewhere, you can fully customise the difficulty of the game beyond the five standard settings. Everything from Story Mode to Very Hard Mode will be included, but then there's also a Custom option that lets you individually tweak the damage Aloy takes from enemies as well as the HP she knocks off with her own attacks. This is a lot like what was included in The Last of Us: Part II, and since then, has become an important part of first-party titles. An Easy Loot option then circumvents the need to individually detach parts of a machine whilst fighting, which can be used for crafting.
Specific to the PS5 version is the option to adjust the adaptive triggers and haptic feedback. You can change the vibration intensity during "cinematics, traversal, combat, UI, or the environment". The adaptive triggers can then be turned off completely whilst using a weapon.
Furthermore, you can toggle a setting that highlights any climbable areas in the environment. They will appear with a yellow outline, as shown above. Guerrilla Games then leaves the option of waypoint and objective markers in your own hands: you can turn them off for a more immersive experience or leave them on so you know exactly where to head next.
Other interesting tidbits include a Story So Far screen that'll appear whenever you boot the game back up after turning it off, and then there are even optional load screens on PS5. "While PS4 players might encounter the occasional loading screen (including helpful hints), PS5 players can toggle between Informative and Immediate, since the game loads a lot quicker and some might prefer to read the loading screen tips."
For more information on Horizon Forbidden West's accessibility options, click through to the PlayStation Blog. Will you make use of any of these features? Tell us which ones in the comments below.
[source blog.playstation.com]
Comments 45
Gyro options should be in every PlayStation release and I don't see why developers don't include it more often. Particularly game-changing for FPS games.
GYRO AIMING!
Amazing inclusion, but if gyro is only available in the PS5 version, I'll be waiting a while to get it.
There's no reason they can't do gyro on PS4. I used to use the DS4's gyro on PC all the time, and it worked extremely well. Even the damn Switch does gyro well.
And yes, this needs to be an option in all Playstation games with aiming going forward.
After years of wanting reduced loading times, we now have the option to increase them if we want, YAY!!!!
Not a fan of gyro aiming myself, always turn it off. Good to see plenty of other options though 👍
According to the blog, the game has a sort of codex type thing, too! That's a great idea. 7th gen games used to do that a lot, but the trend died out for some reason.
First thing I'm gonna do is turn all the HUD elements off. Such a better experience.
Gyro is an amazing inclusion. As stated way above it should becin every game that can support it. Obvioustly with the option to turn it off if your not keen.
Gytkk ok aiming is such a great feature that has been under-utilised by third party devs due to a lack of sufficient tech in controllers from MS (and yes, I understand they are trying ensure ease of entry on multiple devices). This is great news.
Gyro aiming HYPE!!!
I was literally going to pass on this game and wait for the Steam release just to play with gyro aiming (I can't do it- I can't play games requiring aiming with 20 year dated control schemes with archaic analog input).
But the PS5 version has Gyro! Its a miracle!
PREORDERED. PREORDERED. PREORDERED.
Furthermore, you can toggle a setting that highlights any climbable areas in the environment.
Wish all games did this, instead of the blatantly obvious odd-looking edges, you could just turn them off
It's amazing the effort Guerrilla has put into making this game accessible for so many people.
Well I certainly won't be using the Gyro Aiming at all.
As for any of the other settings/features, I'll have to see how the game is first and what settings I prefer. I can see me turning down, if not completely turning off the adaptive triggers and Haptic feedback intensity too as that can be too much when playing more than 20mins but again, will use the settings to tweak the options to suit my preferences once I see how the 'default' options are first...
Being able to disable motion blur is a God send
This is all great news and makes me look forward to the game even more. Gyro controls are normally limited to Nintendo games, but I’m glad PlayStation are embracing the feature. Roll on next Friday!
I never knew so many people use gyro aiming. I've tried it a couple of times and sucked so bad I just assumed it was a bad choice for quick aiming.
It really annoyed me when Kena didn't have gyro aiming
@get2sammyb 😂😂
This is all Sony needed to do to make you happy 😜
Modern games focus on accessibility, and particularly Sony Studios efforts, is really good to see.
Whilst I expect it to work fine out of the box, having more options to tailor how you want to play the game is always empowering.
Giro aim is interesting. I didn't miss it in the last title, but I'm interested to try it out in this title.
I also like the extra control to haptics. I am a fan of them, but often scramble to turn the intensity down as the default is often too much for me. I want subtle information, not hand ache!
@ThePizzaMule It's the most accurate aiming method on controllers. Second only to mouse aiming in that regard.
A lot of people seem to think you have to flail your arms around when aiming, and you really don't. Gyro aiming in most games involves tiny fluctuations of the wrists for quick, pinpoint responses. Large movements are still made with the sticks.
As someone who absolutely can't aim with a controller: Thx
Options are good. Will probably turn on "informative" for the loading screens as I like to read things. First game took me 100 hours so I'm in no rush. I'm assuming informative has a button to press when I'm done reading.
Will give gyro a go. I played the first game on easy and just stealth killed or turned everything so not sure how much shooting I'll do but I usually find motion more fun and immersive.
Hud off, gyro on, let's go!
The only game I used gyro aiming in (I believe) was BotW. But it was damn useful. Only surpassed by head-aiming in VR, lol.
OPTIONAL LOAD SCREENS!
YESSSSS!
Okay, I'm really glad developers are pioneering in accessibility options. It really helps being able to customize your experience, even more so when those customizations help more people be able to play it. (Don't get me wrong, I'm still a big fan of FromSoftware and what they do, but I have to admit that in terms of accessibility their games always fall short, even in terms of basic things like button mapping and subtitle size/color).
All that said, I've never tried Gryo aiming, maybe I'll try it out on The Last of Us Part II and see how it is. Call me an old-timer (I'm not) but I just prefer plain stick-aiming like we always do. The option is nice to have, though.
Gotta love it how PlayStation always pushes small things like this.
This detail may be the most exciting one to come out yet. Gyro aiming is a literal game-changer for me! Now can we get it on Skyrim, please? It made all the difference on my Switch.
@JaxonH What so dont play a lot of games?
Gyro aiming really increases hype! That and the individual detailed difficulty settings. That's one thing that I wanted from XB controllers, which I otherwise prefer, that they don't have, they gyros. It rarely matters because most games don't use them on PS anyway, but if 1st party games have it, that's a big win! Still not buying at launch at full price, and still have to go back and finish the first game first anyway, but definitely getting more excited about this. Gyro changes the feel of the shooting entirely!
The optional load screens are just funny though. The whole selling point of PS5 is no more load screens, and then the games let you add artificial delays anyway. It's a bit like selling iPhones with a "Palm Pilot Simulation Mode"
@BoldAndBrash I remember having this option in Rise of the Tomb Raider - far more immersive.
I remember having my mind blown when I first played Ps Vita games like Uncharted Golden Abyss, Killzone Mercenary and Gravity Rush and realised how great gyro-aiming was.
I was then so disappointed when Uncharted 4 didn't have it. Of all the improvements, it would have been no.1 for me on the PS5 collection. Hopefully Playstation see a positive reaction to this and studios start patching it in.
@Flaming_Kaiser
I play plenty of games.
I just mostly play them on Steam (where every game can have mouse mapped to gyro) and Switch (where gyro aiming is standardized for 1st and 3rd party).
Hate Gyro aiming so i shell be skipping that.
I love all the options they’re giving us to customize the experience. I’ll definitely go through and pick and choose.
I hope they give us a boot up screen for the first playthrough that allows us to customize the options before we start.
As for gyro aiming, I’ve never liked it. I sit in a chair and I’m constantly switching positions and resting my controller at weird angles. I’m very good with stick aiming (Call of Duty multiplayer veteran here) that I don’t find it necessary.
LET'S GOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!
I've started using gyro aiming on PC and it's effing brilliant. I wish this was in every 3D game.
@Ralizah Are you still looking to get a PS5? I have a tip for getting one if you're interested. To get my PS5, I used an app called HotStock. It pings your phone when an item goes in stock. It's still hard to find a PS5 with the app, but I managed to get one using the app, so it definitely works.
You had me at gyro aiming. As others have said, I wish gyro was supported in more games for Playstation. It was added to The Last of Us 2 later on, but Naughty Dog didn't include gyro with the recently released Uncharted Collection smh. Switch has so many games that support gyro, including Pokémon Legends Arceus for example. Mabey if Xbox controllers had gyro sensors built in that gyro support would be more commonly accessible?
@B_Lindz Thanks for the recommendation, but I'm not currently in the market for a PS5. Maybe someday.
I will try the gyro aiming since everyone seems to praise that feature.
But mostly I play as the devs intend the game to be played, so I don't tweak options that much
@AFCC
I say whatever floats everyone’s boat.
I’ve tried gyro aiming on a number of games over the years and I feel like I’m worse at aiming than with analog sticks.
Looks like Gyro aiming, customizable difficulty, and photo mode will become standard in WWS games. Great job on this Sony, really pushing things forward and hopefully will be copied by the industry.
@DTfeartheBEARD Not sure...I think people generally don't use it unless you give them controllers like Wiimote or Joycons. Usage may go up once PSVR2 hits and the controllers should be usable for regular gaming on PS5.
@TheRedComet I will try it but I can't imagine it works well for big movements, at least I don't really want to swing my arms around like a maniac lol
@AFCC That's ok, you're not supposed to use to for large motions. You use the stick to point in approximately the right direction, and the gyro for fine-tuning
All modern games should have accessibility features by default, but still good on them to include these.
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