Horizon Forbidden West is the anticipated sequel to Guerilla’s critically acclaimed Horizon Zero Dawn from 2017. In this sequel, Guerilla intends to expand on many things from the first game; from the various robotic beasts that traverse the wilds to ruined cities sitting rusted and overgrown with lush vegetation, and now into the depths below to explore enriching new sea-life.
Game director Mathijs De Jonge has come out and said that Horizon Forbidden West's new map will include new biomes and expand the play area to an even greater size than the first game. In addition, they will also be adding the ability to dive deep into the surrounding depths of what was once San Francisco. This ability to dive underwater was limited to hiding under the water's surface in Horizon Zero Dawn. So, this mechanic will be entirely new to returning players.
A major aspect to evolve with Horizon's latest addition of deep diving is exploration. Many gamers who are familiar with the landmarks of San Francisco may have noticed the sunken Ferry Building and Palace of Fine Arts. Players may also get to explore many unique and popular attractions such as Alcatraz. Being able to dive deep into these sunken landmarks and swim through the degrading buildings as Aloy's search for clues about the past continues to grow will add a whole new gameplay element that didn’t exist in Horizon Zero Dawn. The quest for potential hidden pieces of gear scattered around by the new factions nesting in the Forbidden West is also something to consider, as they’ve been there long enough to know that the safest spot to hide something valuable is in a dangerous place.
What Horizon's New Swimming Mechanics Could Bring
Mathijs De Jonge said in a Guerrilla Talks video “danger lurks in every corner of the Forbidden West,” and as fans of the previous game know there are plenty of water-dwelling foes to deal with, and now that they have the home advantage they’ll be even more threatening. One of these ferocious mechanical beasts is the Snapmaw, a crocodile-like creature that fans may recognize from the first game. Guerilla has also hinted that Aloy will discover dozens of new beasts, so players may expect to see sharks and other various mechanical sea creatures lurking within the depths. This implies that underwater combat will also play a big role in dealing with Aloy’s new deep-sea friends.
Underwater combat could involve mainly melee combat, seeing as a bow may be hard to fire underwater. With Horizon Zero Dawn's melee combat being lackluster, this could be Guerilla’s chance to give it a much-needed update. However, along with new melee combat, there could be the addition of brand-new projectile launchers that aren’t impaired by water, such as a spear gun. Along with possible new changes to melee and weapons, stealth is also an option to consider. The waters are filled with lush vegetation and wavering seaweeds for Aloy to conceal herself in, so it would be no surprise to see the stealth mechanics used in this new gameplay setting.
While there has yet to be any new major news about Horizon Forbidden West's gameplay, there are plenty of speculations on where the developers will take the game. The addition of underwater exploration on top of an already massive open-world map is no small feat to pull off. Guerilla is aspiring for this game to stand up to, and possibly even surpass, its predecessor, and this new gameplay mechanic will play a big role in Guerilla's ambitious sequel.
Source: PlayStation/YouTube