How Horizon Forbidden West Fixed One of Zero Dawn’s Biggest Pitfalls

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How Horizon Forbidden West Fixed One of Zero Dawn's Biggest Pitfalls

Highlights

  • Horizon Zero Dawn’s lack of weapon variety was addressed in Forbidden West, offering distinct choices with stats and functions.
  • Forbidden West offers a more balanced gameplay experience with rare weapons feeling truly rare.

As a gamer who has experienced both Horizon Zero Dawn and Horizon Forbidden West, I can’t help but feel impressed by the strides Guerrilla Games made in weapon design and progression in the sequel. In Horizon Zero Dawn, while the game offered an engaging story and world to explore, the lack of distinct weapon choices and the ease with which high-tier gear could be obtained took away from the overall experience for me.

In 2017, Guerrilla Games introduced a fresh and captivating original title to PlayStation with the release of Horizon Zero Dawn. The journey of Aloy in post-apocalyptic America delivered an engaging narrative and exhilarating gameplay within an expansive world filled with enigmas waiting to be unraveled. In the sequel, Horizon Forbidden West, Guerrilla Games significantly built upon the foundation of Zero Dawn. Boasting stunning graphical enhancements and an abundance of new content in its titular environment, Horizon Forbidden West outdid expectations for a sequel, notably improving the gaming experience with distinctly new gameplay mechanics.

Guerrilla Games showcased their innovative thinking in expanding the gameplay experience from “Horizon Zero Dawn” to “Forbidden West.” At first glance, the major modifications appear to be the new arsenal of weapons accessible to Aloy in “Forbidden West.” However, beneath the surface, there’s a significant improvement in the way some of the game’s best weapons are managed. This enhancement results in a more engaging journey across “Forbidden West”‘s extensive terrain and amplifies the significance of selecting the right loadout for Aloy during her hunts.

Horizon Forbidden West Makes Earning Weapons Feel More Important

In the acclaimed game, “Horizon Zero Dawn,” there were numerous aspects that were executed brilliantly. However, one weakness could be identified in the management of weapons. Similar to many role-playing games (RPGs), “Zero Dawn” classified its arsenals according to a ranking system, indicating their potency. During the game’s initial stages, players mostly relied on ordinary weapons that effectively completed tasks without any remarkable flair. However, it soon becomes apparent that “Zero Dawn” is rather generous with rewarding loot. This generosity makes it relatively effortless for players to obtain some of the game’s most exceptional weapons well before reaching its midpoint.

In many role-playing games (RPGs), discovering or acquiring a powerful weapon that lasts for an extended time isn’t always a negative occurrence. However, the typical progression involves these weapons becoming obsolete as enemies grow stronger and more advanced options emerge. Unfortunately, in the game “Zero Dawn,” newly acquired bows and slingshots from the latter stages often failed to meet this expectation. Either they were weaker or only marginally different from previously obtained ones. Since existing weapons could effectively eliminate Thunderjaws, there was little incentive to experiment with new weaponry.

Horizon Zero Dawn was a lot of things, and that includes being a proof of concept.

In the game “Forbidden West” developed by Guerrilla Games, they tackled the issue of weapon scarcity and variety in a natural way. They introduced more unique weapon options, not just in terms of their statistics but also in how they function. High-level weapons are now harder to obtain, making even rare weapons truly valuable. Players will have to rely on common or rare tools for longer periods than before in “Zero Dawn.” To offset this challenge, the game includes an upgrade system for weapons and armor, enabling players to keep their gear effective as Aloy explores further west. This results in a more equitable experience that fosters a strong feeling of progression.

In simple terms, the game “Horizon Zero Dawn” by Guerrilla Games showcased an innovative concept with a richly-detailed open world and engaging gameplay mechanics, all while weaving an intriguing narrative. Despite having limited weapon variety compared to other aspects of the game, the sequel “Forbidden West” has built upon this foundation, suggesting that if there’s a third installment in the Horizon series, it could offer an abundance of weapons for players to discover and use.

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2024-07-14 02:34