Horizon Forbidden West Guide
Introduction
Horizon Forbidden West is an action role-playing game developed by Guerrilla Games and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment. Released in 2022, it is the sequel to 2017’s Horizon Zero Dawn and follows the story of Aloy as she journeys west to stop a mysterious blight threatening the world.
Storyline
Set six months after the events of Horizon Zero Dawn, Forbidden West follows Aloy as she travels to the Forbidden West, a region west of the Nora homeland. She seeks to find the source of a mysterious blight that is killing wildlife and corrupting machines, while also searching for a way to stop the Far Zenith, a group of advanced humans who have returned to Earth.
Gameplay
Open World Exploration
Explore the vast and diverse world of the Forbidden West:
- Utaru Lands: Lush jungles and fertile valleys
- Carja Territories: Desert regions and ancient ruins
- Tenakth Clans: Rocky canyons and war-torn lands
- The Pacific Coast: Coastal regions and underwater areas
- The Burning Shores: Volcanic islands (available in the DLC)
Combat
Engage in fast-paced, fluid combat with machines and humans:
- Use a variety of weapons, including bows, slings, and spears
- Craft and upgrade weapons with different ammo types
- Use the Pullcaster to traverse the environment
- Mount and ride machines as steeds
- Use Valor Surges for powerful special abilities
Machine Taming
Tame and ride a variety of machines:
- Sunwing: A flying machine for aerial exploration
- Clawstrider: A fast, agile machine for land travel
- Bristleback: A powerful machine with a cargo capacity
- Ridgeback: A machine that can climb vertical surfaces
- Waterwing: An aquatic machine for underwater exploration
Underwater Exploration
Explore the depths of the ocean:
- Swim through coral reefs and sunken ruins
- Discover underwater treasures and secrets
- Battle aquatic machines
- Use the Diving Mask to breathe underwater
- Find underwater pathways to new areas
New Features
Horizon Forbidden West introduces several new features:
Valor Surges
Powerful special abilities that can be activated during combat:
- Warrior’s Rage: Increased damage and resistance
- Concentration: Slows time for precise aiming
- Berserker: Summons machine allies
- Shield Weaver: Deploys a protective shield
Pullcaster
A new tool that allows Aloy to:
- Pull herself to high ledges
- Pull objects and enemies
- Create zip lines for fast traversal
- Solve environmental puzzles
Shieldwing
A glider that allows Aloy to:
- Glide from high places
- Cover long distances
- Access hard-to-reach areas
- Perform aerial attacks
Diversification System
A new skill tree system with three branches:
- Warrior: Combat-focused skills
- Trapper: Stealth and trap-focused skills
- Hunter: Ranged and machine-focused skills
Characters
Horizon Forbidden West features a diverse cast of characters:
- Aloy: The game’s protagonist, a Nora outcast with a mysterious past
- Erend: A Carja warrior and friend of Aloy
- Varl: A Nora warrior and Aloy’s friend
- Zo: An Utaru healer who joins Aloy’s journey
- Kotallo: A Tenakth warrior with a prosthetic arm
- Alva: A Quen historian who seeks ancient knowledge
- Sylens: A mysterious figure with knowledge of the Old Ones
- Tilda van der Meer: A member of the Far Zenith with ties to Aloy’s past
Machines
The game features a variety of new and returning machines:
New Machines
- Clawstrider: A fast, agile machine with retractable claws
- Sunwing: A flying machine that can soar through the skies
- Slitherfang: A massive snake-like machine with venomous attacks
- Tideripper: An aquatic machine that can manipulate water
- Grimhorn: A large, horned machine with earth-shaking attacks
Returning Machines
- Thunderjaw: A massive, dinosaur-like machine
- Stormbird: A flying machine that controls lightning
- Ravager: A wolf-like machine with a cannon
- Stalker: A stealthy machine that can turn invisible
Conclusion
Horizon Forbidden West builds upon the foundation of its predecessor with a larger, more diverse world, new gameplay mechanics, and a compelling storyline. Its stunning visuals, engaging combat, and memorable characters make it one of the standout games of the generation.
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