Summary
Horizon Forbidden Westis a by-the-numbers open-world ‘checklist’ kind of game in many ways. That’s not necessarily a boon nor a curse, thankfully, since that might be precisely what some players want even if others don’t. Nonetheless, it’s important to consider that unless Guerrilla decides on some massive overhaul to the IP and its systems,Horizonwill probably remain an open-world action-adventure franchise, at least in its mainline entries.
Therefore, more of the same can be expected from it whenever a sequel toHorizon Forbidden Westlaunches. That puts the third game in a precarious position because if gameplay only meets the standards put out byHorizon Forbidden Westor fails to meet them at all it will be lambasted. The power of the PS6 may already be upon the industry by the time aHorizon 3is released and with that Guerrilla could make some game-changing improvements to its open-world systems, particularly its addicting Gwent equivalent.
Forbidden West’s Strike Helps Flesh Out Horizon’s Open World
Strike is a collectible-oriented mini-game inHorizon Forbidden Westand functions similarly to othermini-games such asAssassin’s Creed Valhalla’s Orlog,Splatoon 3’s Tableturf Battle, orSea of Stars’ Wheels. This has been a fairly trendy feature of many games as it introduces a collectible element alongside an alluring distraction from other open-world activities. If executed well, these mini-games are centered around the lore of the game’s world or have some parallel to that title’s gameplay.
Of course, such activities might not interest everyone. Still, they’re fantastic for anyone who adores collecting items throughout the game world that contribute to their efficiency while playing a mini-game immersively interwoven into the experience.
In fact, mini-games such as Strike are all usually baked into the lore with NPCs excited to play against the protagonist.
Horizon Forbidden West’s Strikeis no different and helps familiarize players with the gigantic chassis monstrosities they frequently come across. However, while Strike’s board game aesthetic and ornate game pieces are phenomenal, there’s one wayHorizoncould make the mini-game wholly epic.
Horizon 3 Needs Strike to Return in a Big Way
Instead of Strike being played between Aloy and an NPC at a table, exploding the mini-game into a life-like battle between overridden machines would be exhilarating and on a scale that the PS6 should be able to nail—assuming ittakes that long forHorizon 3to come out. Forgoing board and game pieces entirely, it could be thrilling to have a collection of previously overridden machines become available for Strike.
Then, the mini-game could be played on any stretch of open land, perhaps with the same environmental advantages and pitfalls that Strike traditionally features, but with Aloy and her NPC opponent commanding their ‘pieces’ from atop opposing cliffs to get a brilliant view of the spectacle. Better yet, both competitors could take to the skies on a Sunwing and watch the mini-game unfold below them. Each machine could have its own animations when moving positions or destroying an opponent’s machine, giving in to the same premise of Strike but on a scale that equates to theactual machine battles players experience inHorizon.
Strike Might Be a Luxury Aloy Doesn’t Have in Horizon 3
On the other hand, Strike being a quaint mini-game with collectible pieces may have been enough forHorizonwith no need to iterate on it. Indeed, if Nemesis is as big of a looming threat as theending ofHorizon Forbidden Westmade it out to be, then Aloy may not have much time to indulge in Strike as she and her company prepare to meet a terrifying foe. In that case, though, there wouldn’t be reason to suspect any open-world activities inHorizon 3and that is far less likely than Aloy having a bit of downtime.
Horizon Forbidden West
WHERE TO PLAY
Join Aloy as she braves a majestic but dangerous new frontier that holds mysterious new threats. This Complete Edition allows you to enjoy the critically acclaimed Horizon Forbidden West on PC in its entirety with bonus content, including the Burning Shores story expansion that picks up after the main game.Explore distant lands, fight bigger and more awe-inspiring machines, and encounter astonishing new tribes as you return to the far-future, post-apocalyptic world of Horizon.The land is dying. Vicious storms and an unstoppable blight ravage the scattered remnants of humanity while fearsome new machines prowl their borders, and life on Earth is hurtling toward another extinction.It’s up to Aloy to uncover the secrets behind these threats and restore order and balance to the world. Along the way, she must reunite with old friends, forge alliances with warring new factions and unravel the legacy of the ancient past.
