Horizon 3 Needs to Soar Where Forbidden West Only Hopped

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As a devoted fan of Guerrilla Games’ Horizon series, I can’t help but notice the significant advancements made in traversal mechanics across the two titles, with Horizon Forbidden West truly elevating it to an integral part of gameplay and pushing its boundaries even further. However, there’s still potential for improvement, and if Horizon 3 is to be developed, it should seize this opportunity to maximize the series’ traversal capabilities.

One key enhancement in Horizon Forbidden West was the introduction of a flying mount. On paper, this sounds like an exciting addition. Regrettably, the mount wasn’t available until late in the game, which made it seem almost superfluous at that point.

One possibility for enhancing Horizon 3 is by building on the advancements its predecessor has made in making travel a distinctive aspect of the game. It’s not just about upgrading flying mounts, though; ground transportation has been somewhat overlooked due to conveniences like fast travel and climbing. There are definitely opportunities for Horizon 3 to excel where Horizon Forbidden West only leaped, which would ultimately make exploration more satisfying as players progress.

Horizon 3 Has the Chance to Fully Evolve Traversal Across Land, Sea, and Air

Flying Mounts Should Be a Core Mechanic, Not an Endgame Reward

In the game “Horizon Forbidden West,” the addition of rideable flying creatures was introduced relatively late, making it difficult for players to fully appreciate or maximize their use. While these creatures were significant in the game’s conclusion, a more enjoyable experience could have been achieved if players had the opportunity to utilize them during exploration earlier on. It’s probable that Guerrilla Games has already addressed this issue and made improvements for “Horizon 3,” but it doesn’t necessarily mean that players will be able to use flying mounts early enough in the game to fully exploit their potential.

There are other aspects that might benefit from additional focus too, such as ground mounts, which have taken a backseat compared to quicker alternatives like fast travel and climbing due to their widespread availability.

In the additional content of Horizon Forbidden West titled Burning Shores, Aloy’s Sunwing is initially inoperable because of defensive towers in the air. Players can only use it again after destroying the first tower. Approximately halfway through this expansion, players obtain the Waterwing, which operates similarly to the Sunwing but also enables underwater travel. This suggests that Horizon 3 might have a reason for not allowing players to start with a flying mount from the beginning. However, it could seem like an unnecessary obstacle to keep players grounded. Instead, it may be more enjoyable for Horizon 3 to give players a flying mount at the outset, rather than making them wait again.

Climbing and Grappling Could Finally Feel Freeform and Seamless

Indeed, although soaring mounts are thrilling, Horizon’s exploration offers far more than just what can be observed from the skies. One enhancement Horizon Forbidden West made to climbing and ground movement was by incorporating the Pullcaster, a device that enabled Aloy to grapple to specific sites and draw objects towards her. Nevertheless, its restriction to certain grappling points and confined free-climb zones gave the impression that it didn’t embody the full freedom of traversal found in other open-world games such as The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.

In the new version of Horizon 3, they might overcome previous restrictions by offering a less structured climbing system, allowing players greater freedom and not confining them to predetermined routes marked with yellow paint. Given Aloy’s enhanced abilities in climbing, this change could also serve as a logical progression from a storytelling perspective. Additionally, the grappling mechanics could be linked to mount take-offs, shieldwing glides, and cliff scaling, making movement feel more fluid and visually appealing.

As a die-hard Horizon fan, I can’t help but speculate that Horizon 3 might serve as the concluding chapter of Aloy’s epic journey. If that’s the case, it seems fitting to enhance the series’ exploration mechanics right from the get-go by providing players with a flying mount and seamlessly weaving grappling and climbing into the gameplay experience. Only time will reveal if Guerrilla Games has decided to take the story in this direction.

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2025-07-06 17:15