Summary
Over the last couple of years, Guerrilla’sHorizonfranchise has quickly become one of the best things that PlayStation has to offer.Horizon Zero Dawnbrought players to a unique post-apocalyptic world that they never wanted to leave, andHorizon Forbidden Westimproved upon practically every aspect to create a true masterpiece. Now, fans are eagerly anticipating the next chapter of this series, which is likely just around the corner. And while this sequel should focus on delivering another fantastic adventure, there is one feature that it really should adopt: machine storage.
InHorizon Forbidden West, players are given the ability to override various machines that they can then force to do their bidding. Some will serve as mounts while others are simply protectors. That makes for a pretty fun feature, as players can bend their enemies to their will. However, it also feels rather limited in scope, something that could change in the sequel if Guerrilla is willing to takePokemon’s Pokeball mechanic for a spin.
Horizon Forbidden West’s Sequel Could Take the Concept to a New Level
Horizon’s Overriding Mechanic Needs a Bit of Work
As players exploreHorizon Forbidden West, they will unlockthe ability to override certain machines. In total, there are 43 different machines with 38 of them being overridable. To unlock that ability, players must complete the corresponding Cauldron and craft the override. Once that is done, they will have the ability to take control of these machines whenever they want.
Overriding machines can be a lot of fun, but it also feels incredibly limited. While players are able to summon their mounts from wherever they are, the rest of the overridden machines only fight alongside players for a limited time. They cannot do much more with them, as the machines willeventually resume attacking Aloy. Additionally, the majority of machines cannot be summoned like mounts, which is a genuine shame.
Horizon Forbidden Westmay have improvedZero Dawn’s override mechanica bit, though it only went so far. Instead of letting players build their own little army of robots or letting them mount so many different types, the feature exists on a timer. But that could all change if Guerrilla wants to completely reinvent the concept. Even though the eventual sequel should focus its efforts on telling another fantastic story, adding a new mechanic akin toPokemon’s Pokeballs could go a long way.
Adopting a Pokeball Feature Could Really Improve Overriding
In the nextHorizongame, players should be able to actually collect machines for later use. The game exists in a world where wires disintegrate, cloud AI exists, and countless futuristic technologies are waiting to be claimed. So,a Pokeball-like mechanicdoes not seem too out-of-this world. While Guerrilla would have to mold it a bit to fit the canon ofHorizon, it does not seem that hard to do.
As players override machines, they should be able to break them downinto a Pokeball storage system. Then, they should be able to summon them at a moment’s notice to assist in combat. They could also use this feature to store their mounts so that they are available instantly. Additionally, each machine could have various types or mechanics that incentivize players to collect them all.
While a feature like that may feel a bit gimmicky if not handled well, it could also be a fun new addition to theHorizonfranchise. Letting players gather their favorite machines to use in combat whenever they want sounds like an exciting next step for this evolving series. It would not only give the override mechanic more functionality, but could also be a great way to finally give players their very own machine companions.
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.
