There are many collectibles inHorizon Zero DawnandHorizon Forbidden West, and the Metal Flowers are one of the most beautiful. They are found throughoutZero Dawn’s map, and they feature lots of poetry from the Old Ones. The game did a good job of making the Metal Flowers feel mysterious, encouraging players to seek them all out. InHorizon Forbidden West, the flowers are no longer collectible, and they lose a lot of the elements that make them special.
In futureHorizongames, the Metal Flowers should make a reappearance, but they should be much closer to those found inZero Dawn. Beautiful art should be found in them, and they should no longer be used as an annoying obstacle. They could be included asHorizoncollectiblesonce again, and more information could be given on these strange objects.
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The Metal Flowers of Horizon Zero Dawn
In Guerrilla Games’Horizon Zero Dawn, players are introduced to theMetal Flowerswhich are one of the many collectibles available. It’s tricky to find all the Metal Flowers, but the job is made easier by purchasing a Metal Flowers Map from merchants. The Metal Flowers can be traded in sets of ten to Kudiv, who is a Carja merchant, and he gives players valuable Treasure Boxes in return. Metal Flowers are strange, metal objects that have petals like flowers. It is evident that they are from the Old World, though it is not quite clear what their purpose is. Kudiv claims the objects began appearing around the same time as the Derangement that turned machines hostile.
Aloy is quite curious about the Metal Flowers, and she is always trying to find out more about them. In Aloy’s notebook, it is suggested that the Metal Flowers may be used to germinate seeds. When she speaks to CYAN inThe Frozen Wilds, the subordinate function informs her that there may be a connection between the Metal Flowers and GAIA’s terraforming system. The Metal Flowers are quite pretty, and they also contain a few secrets within them. There are code fragments in the form of poems about nature in each of the flowers. Some poems are haikus and others are a bit longer. Poems included are from popular real-world poets like William Wordsworth, which makes them a treat to read. The game ends with the Metal Flowers still shrouded in plenty of mystery.
The Metal Flowers of Horizon Forbidden West
Metal Flowers make a return inHorizon Forbidden West, and they feature even more prominently. This time around, the flowers are no longer collectibles. Instead, they remained fixed, and tangled vines grow from them. They block Aloy’s path, and the only way for her to proceed is toacquire a Vine Cutterwhich is obtained by completing quests.Forbidden West’s map is huge, and the Metal Flowers ensure that gamers can’t explore everything from the get-go.
During Aloy’s hunt for DEMETER, another one of GAIA’s subordinate functions, she discovers that Metal Flowers were created to grow vines that cannot be consumed by Faro’s terrible machines that rely on biomass. Although the Metal Flowers showed promise in halting the progress of theFaro Plague, it was discovered that they could not be dispersed fast enough to stabilize the biosphere. Furthermore, before the project could begin, the developers suffered an attack that set their work back significantly. Consequently, the project was scrapped.
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WhenAloy eventually finds DEMETER, the subordinate function reveals that it was responsible for dispersing the Metal Flowers, which it did via flying machines. Gamers also learn that it was Demeter who put the poems in the flowers. They were included because the subordinate function was fascinated with poetry talking about plant life. Later, Aloy asks GAIA whether the Metal Flowers would’ve worked had the plan been implemented as intended. GAIA claims it wouldn’t have, as the Faro Plague swarms would have eventually worked their way through the vines.
How Metal Flowers Can Be Improved in Horizon 3
Horizon Forbidden Westexpands on the Metal Flowers, and they feature more prominently. However, they are presented as much more mundane objects, and without the poetry, they lose much of their magic. Furthermore, with the Metal Flowers being used to block off locations and valuables, they could end up annoying players.FutureHorizongamesshould not abandon the Metal Flowers, though they should bring back some of the special qualilties that were present inZero Dawn.
Although not all players likedHorizon Forbidden West’s Metroidvania elements, it did provide a way to break up the huge map. Future games will likely feature similar elements, although Metal Flowers probably shouldn’t be the objects used for the purpose. InZero Dawn, the Metal Flowers are beautiful objects containing moving poetry. To see them reduced to obstacles that Aloy bashes with her spear inForbidden Westmakes them feel less special. Firegleam works, and the nextHorizongame could introduce another substance to block key areas.Horizon 3should also bring back the poetry that was present inZero Dawn. This could be expanded with novel passages from Naturalist books, paintings of nature, and other pastoral media that Demeter would have appreciated.
The only confirmed upcomingHorizonproject isHorizon Call of the Mountainwhich is set to release on PSVR 2. While there has been no word on collectibles, it would be interesting to see the Metal Flowers make an appearance. There are also rumors of a multiplayer game, as well as aHorizon Zero Dawnremake could let gamers re-experience the magic of the Metal Flowers. AlthoughHorizon 3hasn’t been confirmed,Forbidden Westended on a cliffhanger that made it evident that Aloy’s story is far from over.
Horizon Forbidden Westis available on PS4 and PS5.
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