Summary
TheHorizonfranchise is yet another open-world game from Sony’s first-party roster, so it’s expected that some players would be burnt out by the concept. However,Horizonmanages to make itself stand out thanks to its stunning visuals, beautiful environments, and its interesting blend of sci-fi and culture-rich tribes. There’s been no official announcement of a thirdHorizongame but the ending ofForbidden Westall but confirmed that Aloy’s story is far from over.
Things don’t have to go the monotonous route, however, as Guerrilla Games has proven that the franchise can adapt to different formats. This includes the VR gameHorizon: Call of the Mountainwhich has a new character named Ryas scaling mountains to earn his pardon. It doesn’t stop there, because there’s also a LegoHorizongame that looks set to be a fun, humorous experience. Guerrilla Games should continue to expand the franchise in fresh ways to illustrate just how versatile the franchise is.
What Makes the Horizon Franchise so Flexible?
Horizon’s strength lies in its worldbuilding. Though the game is set in the future, humans live in tribes and make use of anything they find in nature, and this blend of futurism and primitivism is an interesting one that has captured the imaginations of gamers. The world ofHorizonis far from peaceful, and the inhabitants have to deal with the constant looming threat of hostile machines that only a brave few can take on. Defeating a machine is useful, as its scraps can be used to craft useful items. Amidst the wild environments, there arefuturistic Cauldrons to explore, ensuring that players always have something new to explore.
Though Aloy has stolen the show with her independence and skills as a machine hunter, the world ofHorizonis still interesting when she is absent.This is seen inHorizon: Call of the Mountainwhere players take control of Ryas instead of Aloy. It was a successful risk to take that proved that developers can slot in different protagonists so long as players still get to explore the world ofHorizon. It is this flexibility that may allow the franchise to outlive Aloy and introduce new heroes to save humankind.
How Call of the Mountain and Lego Horizon Adventures Demonstrate Horizon’s Flexibility
Call of the Mountainis a VR game where Aloy only makes a brief appearance and instead,Horizonfans scale mountains as Ryasas he goes on a quest to seek a pardon. This is proof that the series is flexible enough to handle a game without Aloy at the front and center. There are already a few characters that could take the redhead’s lead role, including Zo and Talanah. The gameplay is quite different from the base game and while machine battles do exist, most of the game is spent climbing to perilous heights.
Players will also get to see anew side of theHorizonfranchise withHorizon Lego Adventures. It will feature an isometric perspective and Aloy will be accompanied by friends like Varl, ensuring the heroine doesn’t have to tackle all the challenges on her own. The LEGO format lends itself well to the franchise, because just as LEGO blocks can be broken apart, so too can machines have their components knocked off.
There’s Still More Horizon to Go Around
TheHorizonfranchise isn’t limited to video games; fans can also pick up theofficialHorizonfranchise comic books. Authored by Anne Toole, the comic book series is canon to the franchise, and they sometimes feature details that aren’t contained in the game. These comics will hopefully act as a gateway to all kinds of new mediums forHorizon.
It’s clear that Guerrila Games has big plans when it comes to theHorizonfranchise, and that the impeccable worldbuilding will continue. Thanks to the unique world that it has created, there are many directions the franchise can go, and it doesn’t even have to be limited to video games. There are very few titles that could afford to be as experimental asHorizon, and this is something Guerrilla Games should be proud of.
Horizon Forbidden West Complete Edition
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.
