Why Horizon is Safe to Keep Its ‘Winning’ Horse With Wall-Climbing

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Why Horizon is Safe to Keep Its 'Winning' Horse With Wall-Climbing

Highlights

  • The
    Horizon
    franchise offers diverse exploration in varied environments, often via Aloy’s ability to climb rock faces and ruins.
  • Flying mounts in
    Horizon Forbidden West
    provide a fun alternative to climbing.
  • Guerrilla Games should focus on improving mounts rather than altering the climbing system.

As a seasoned gamer with countless hours spent traversing diverse landscapes and battling mechanical beasts, I can confidently say that Aloy from the Horizon franchise has become one of my favorite protagonists. The series’ balance between intense combat and exploratory freedom is unparalleled.

In the world of Horizon, the fiery-haired protagonist Aloy embodies both strength and intellect as she tirelessly battles to preserve humanity. Throughout her adventures, companions like Zo, Erend, and Kotallo offer camaraderie, making the daunting tasks seem less overwhelming. The game offers a thrilling blend of intense combat sequences and expansive exploration for an engaging experience.

Adventurers will find no cause for remorse as they delve into a map filled with diverse landscapes, ranging from lush jungles to frosty peaks. Exploration entails a fair amount of ascending, and while enhancements have been made to the system, it still has its share of imperfections. However, the Horizon series might benefit more by concentrating on mounts for exploration, instead of striving to overhaul the climbing mechanism.

Why Climbing in the Horizon Franchise is Controversial

In the video game “Horizon Zero Dawn”, the inclusion of climbing has been met with debate among players. Climbing is not particularly challenging or tactical, and it’s difficult for players to mess up as there are clear indications on the side of mountains to follow. This issue is exacerbated by the fact that exploration often involves a lot of climbing, particularly when going to areas like The Cut. As a result, certain players have criticized the game for being overly directive in its climbing mechanics, suggesting it caters too much to the player’s convenience.

In my gaming adventure, I’ve found that the enhancements in Horizon Forbidden West truly elevated the experience, particularly with the option to disable the markings during climbing. It gives a more organic feel to scaling cliffs and mountains. However, let me clarify, despite feeling easy, it’s still a breeze to navigate, and there aren’t many ways to mess it up.

The Many Mounts of the Horizon Franchise

In Horizon Forbidden West, Aloy doesn’t always have to walk; she can use mechanical mounts for transportation after gaining control over them first. Newly added in this game are flying mounts, which enable players to bypass steep mountains with ease, just by soaring above them. This method of travel is enjoyable and offers stunning vistas of the diverse landscapes.

Why the Next Horizon Video Game Shouldn’t Focus on Altering the Climbing System

Instead of enhancing the intricacy of climbing, the upcoming Horizon game might prioritize developing innovative methods for traversal using mounts. While climbing can be thrilling, soaring through the air offers a far more exhilarating experience. Introducing a variety of flying mounts could bring about numerous advantages. Additionally, it’d be beneficial to introduce new mounts that excel in climbing, thereby making climbing an enjoyable activity without necessitating significant changes to the existing system.

It’s equally important to examine Aloy’s traits and character within the series. She is a determined, exceptionally skilled combatant who can tackle any obstacle thrown at her. Aloy has been effectively mentored by Rost, and exploration seems second nature to her. Guerrilla Games emphasize Aloy’s proficiency and agility by making climbing difficult to fail. Making climbing more challenging to get wrong might give the impression that Aloy is less capable than she truly is.

In the upcoming Horizon game, there will undoubtedly be numerous mountains for Aloy to scale. Guerrilla Games might not feel the need to significantly alter the climbing system or make it as open-ended as games like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, but rather, they should emphasize on improving the use of mounts and their role in helping Aloy navigate and overcome environmental challenges such as mountains.

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2024-08-11 19:36