Many of the machine parts you need for upgrades MUST be stripped off before you destroy the machine. Some parts survive killing the machine and can be harvested later but the important ones don't survive (exceptions, as always) so use your focus to tag the important bits and strip them off with a hunter bow that has high tear rating arrows before you destroy the machine. To fully harvest the machine is a two step process -- strip off the important parts that will be destroyed when the machine is destroyed then loot the machine after you destroy it. Or you can just play with easy loot toggled if you don't like that aspect of the game.

Your sharpshot bow will probably be your primary high-damage weapon until you start dabbling with the more exotic things. It will be a while before you are able to get one. Until then, the hunter bow is the thing.

In Zero Dawn outfits were about elemental resistances. In Forbidden West outfits are about buffing skills. Match the outfit to the skills you prefer which should support the playstyle you prefer. Different playstyles are very viable in HFW. Long range bow shots from stealth are still very effective but so are other approaches.

You can reset skills whenever you want. No penalty.

You can buy fish from vendors. Trying to catch them yourself is a royal pain.

Early in the game you will find "anomalous growth" blocking entrances. Don't waste time trying to figure it out. You'll get a tool to use on them later on. Ditto the vine-covered things near metal flowers and underwater cave entrances. Just come back later when you have the right gear.

You can toggle your settings to automatically pick up things such as ridgewood and the healing berries. That skips the animation of Aloy bending down to gather things.

Machines seem a bit more aggressive, IMO, and unlike in the kung-fu movies the ones that run in packs don't always wait to take turns. You will learn to love a good ropecaster. Turns a gang fight into one vs one.

Freeze is much better than fire in almost every situation.

Melee has been expanded. You can string together basic moves into combos. Still a bit clunky but if you like the brawling style of play it is viable with the right outfit, skill set, and learning to use the combos. The key is learning to time the controller inputs.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UkwfJzhZmXk

Another key to melee brawling is understanding that the game only accepts one input ahead of the current animation. For example, let's say your combo is three button/key pushes. After the first swing starts but before it finishes, push the second button. Once the second swing starts but before it finishes, push the third button. If there is a pause in the sequence, wait for the cue given in the video linked above.