Horizon Forbidden West’s Sequel May Repeat one Common Story Beat

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Horizon Forbidden West's Sequel May Repeat one Common Story Beat

Highlights

  • Aloy may venture eastward into the US mainland in Horizon 3 to find weapons for Nemesis, but the exact plotline remains unknown.
  • Focus devices play a crucial role in the Horizon franchise, aiding players in scanning and learning about machines’ weaknesses.
  • In Horizon 3, Aloy may have to teach new tribes how to use the Focus to combat Nemesis and earn their respect and loyalty.

As a seasoned gamer with countless hours spent exploring open worlds and engaging in epic battles, I’ve grown particularly fond of Aloy’s journey in the Horizon series. The latest installment, Horizon Forbidden West, left me yearning for more, especially after the intriguing teaser of Aloy venturing into the US mainland in Horizon 3.

Approximately a year has passed since the Burning Shores DLC expansion for Horizon Forbidden West became available, yet information regarding Horizon 3 is scarce. The Burning Shores expansion hints that Aloy may venture eastward into what’s left of mainland United States in search of 21st-century weapons to eliminate Nemesis. However, the specific storyline and setting for Horizon 3 are yet to be revealed.

As a dedicated gamer following Aloy’s journey in the next mainline Horizon game, I can’t help but feel excited about the potential new tribes we might encounter. However, I must admit, there’s a sense of reluctance creeping in as well. With these new tribes come familiar storylines, and I find myself having to revisit the essential functions of Aloy’s Focus from both Horizon Forbidden West and Zero Dawn once more.

The History of the Focus in the Horizon Franchise

As a gamer, I discovered my first triangular Focus in Horizon Zero Dawn during my childhood exploration of an ancient ruin. This compact device became an essential tool for me as I grew up, enabling me to communicate from a distance and view holograms of videos, maps, or digital objects. Essentially, it functioned like a smart device, granting access to vast amounts of data.

As a gamer, I’ve come across an intriguing artifact in this post-apocalyptic world we inhabit: the Focus. Now, from what I’ve gathered from the lore within our game’s universe, this device wasn’t your average gadget back in the 21st century. The company responsible for its creation was Faro Automated Solutions, led by the enigmatic Ted Faro. You might have heard of them, as they were also the masterminds behind the catastrophic event that wiped out all life on Earth – the infamous Faro Plague.

Focus-Use Among Tribes

In many instances, the Focus was merely used by scavengers who stumbled upon them. Yet, certain tribes unearthed vast caches of Focus devices, propelling their civilizations forward more than their less fortunate counterparts. An example of this is the Quen Empire in the far west, which obtained larger, older, and less effective versions of the Focus, resembling headsets. Sylens also fixed several Focuses for the Carja rebels, the Eclipse; however, these were eventually eliminated by Aloy in “Horizon: Zero Dawn.”

In “Horizon Forbidden West” and “Horizon Zero Dawn,” Aloy employs the use of the Focus. Contrastingly, in “Horizon Call of the Mountain,” Ryas does not rely on the Focus.

The Focus’ Potential Role in Horizon 3

If players have the Burning Shores DLC installed, they will come across a datapoint named “A Special Message from Erend.” In this message, Erend shares that he is returning to Rost and Meridian to rally individuals for the upcoming battle against the Nemesis AI. He intends to distribute several Focuses among his old acquaintances and potential new allies to enhance their understanding of the imminent conflict. Additionally, parts of Horizon 3 may involve Aloy instructing new or existing characters like Avad, Sun-King, Vanasha, and Teb on the use of the Focus and readying nearby tribes for battle.

In “Horizon 3,” players are expected to come across new tribes and allies. These encounters might necessitate teaching the new companions the use of the Focus, similar to how Aloy instructed Erend, Kotallo, and Zo in “Horizon Forbidden West.” If there are relatively preserved 21st-century military installations to the east, some tribes may inhabit them but lack the ability to utilize their weapons without a Focus. This could be an opportunity for Aloy to win these tribes’ respect and loyalty by enabling them to access these weapons. Although instructing both old and new followers on how to use a Focus might seem repetitive, it could play a pivotal role in overcoming Nemesis.

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2024-07-24 21:03