Summary
The stakes are higher than ever for the nextHorizongame, as Aloy will find herself up against a malevolent AI being that wants nothing but to wipe out humanity. Instead of fleeing, Aloy is choosing to fight for the world just like Elisabet Sobeck did. Fortunately, the redhead has loyal friends like Talanah, Zo, and Erend on her side to take on this monumental task.
With such a big threat looming, Aloy will have to do a lot of preparation, and this may involve convincing all the tribes to help her on her quest. This will leave little time for trivial matters such as gathering collectibles, though that can be fun. Consequently, it may mean that superfluous collectibles may fall to the wayside with the nextHorizongame.
The Collectibles of the Horizon franchise
During Aloy’s adventures, there are quite a few collectibles she encounters. Collectibles inHorizon Zero Dawninclude Ancient Vessels, Banuk Figures, Datapoints,Metal Flowers, Stranded Items, and Vantages. Some of the collectibles, such as the Ancient Vessels, are useful as they can be traded, while others, like the Datapoints, give Aloy a glimpse into the Old World. As exciting as it is to collect these items, they do little to progress the plot and serve more as a means to give players a break from the main story.
Horizon Forbidden Westhas its fair share of collectiblesas well, including the following:
Once again, some of the collectibles prove to be amusing, but they seldom advance the plot and won’t help Aloy much when it comes to defeating Nemesis. Perhaps this means it’s time to abandon the regular collectibles for a more appropriate idea.
Collectibles are a Staple of Open-World Games
It’s hard to imagine anopen-world gamethat isn’t filled with various collectibles to discover. However, this may be exactly what theHorizonfranchise needs. Collectibles are useful as they encourage players to explore the map and take a break from the action-packed story. In the case of theHorizonseries, the collectibles also provide small pieces of lore that assist with world-building. Consequently, ifHorizon 3chooses to ditch the collectibles, it will need to find a new way to direct players to the different areas of the map.
Cauldrons May Solve the Collectibles Dilemma
The central problem with includingcollectibles inHorizon 3is the dissonance it would cause. Aloy is supposed to be going up against her most threatening enemy yet, so she shouldn’t have the time to go collecting Metal Flowers and other items. It all seems rather trivial when one considers what an existential threat Nemesis is.
One of the ways Guerrilla Games can ditch collectibles without skimping out on world-building is to focus more on Cauldrons, which is where machines are built. They should be scattered all over, giving players the incentive to explore every inch of the map. Within the Cauldrons, Aloy could gather precious resources such as weapons and machines to fight on her side.
If Guerrilla Games insists on including collectibles, they should be closer tied to the main story, and perhaps evenhelp Aloy in her fight against Nemesis. Instead of collecting ancient relics, she could hunt down technology that would give her an advantage in battle. By leaning into more meaningful side quests, the game could stress just how serious Nemesis' threat is and illustrate that Aloy has no time for anything but preparation for the evil AI.
The shift away from collectibles could be a good move if implemented correctly. They should be replaced with more meaningful activities, such asfinding Cauldronsand gathering the best armor and weapons possible. Players will have to wait and see how Guerrilla Games will handle this aspect of gameplay, though no release date forHorizon 3has been announced yet, which could mean a fair bit of patience is needed.
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.
