Horizon Forbidden West picks up several years after the events of the first game, with Aloy venturing westward to investigate a mysterious blight ravaging the land. This forbidden territory, teeming with both awe-inspiring beauty and formidable dangers, holds the key to saving humanity from an unknown threat.
Throughout your journey, you'll encounter diverse tribes, each with their own customs and beliefs, some aiding Aloy in her quest and others posing unforeseen complications. Prepare to delve into a captivating narrative filled with twists, emotional moments, and thought-provoking themes about the consequences of technological advancement and the enduring spirit of humanity.
One of the most captivating aspects of Horizon Forbidden West lies in its dynamic combat system. You'll face a variety of mechanized creatures, each with unique strengths, weaknesses, and attack patterns. Mastering the art of combat requires not just quick reflexes but also strategic planning and a keen understanding of your arsenal.
Horizon Forbidden West introduces elemental weapons that exploit enemy vulnerabilities. Fire, ice, and shock inflict additional damage and status effects, like burning, freezing, and stunning, respectively. Experiment with different elemental combinations to gain the upper hand in combat.
Skills enhance Aloy's abilities, offering passive buffs, new attacks, and crafting recipes. Invest in skills that complement your playstyle, whether focusing on ranged combat, melee prowess, or stealth tactics. Valor, earned by performing well in combat and completing objectives, unlocks powerful special abilities like ground slams and elemental bursts, turning the tide of battle in your favor.
The environment plays a crucial role in combat. Utilize Tallnecks to scout the area and mark enemy locations. Set traps and strategically use cover to gain an advantage. Observe enemy behavior and exploit their weaknesses to overcome even the most formidable foes.
Beyond the adrenaline-fueled combat lies a world brimming with secrets waiting to be discovered. From breathtaking vistas to hidden settlements and ancient ruins, the Forbidden West offers a wealth of opportunities for exploration.
Utilize your Focus scanner to reveal points of interest, hidden caches, and valuable resources on the map. As you explore, uncover the secrets of different regions, each with its unique landscapes, ecosystems, and challenges.
The world is filled with collectibles, including Datapoints offering lore snippets, Vantage Points providing breathtaking panoramas, and Black Boxes containing valuable crafting materials. Seek out these hidden treasures to enhance your understanding of the world, gain valuable resources, and unlock additional rewards.
Don't miss the captivating side quests scattered throughout the Forbidden West. These optional challenges offer opportunities to delve deeper into the world's lore, build relationships with different tribes, and acquire unique rewards.
Traverse the expansive world with your trusty mount, the nimble and versatile Clawstrider, allowing you to scale cliffs, navigate treacherous terrain, and reach otherwise inaccessible areas. Utilize gadgets like the Pullcaster to grapple onto objects, the Shieldwing to glide from high points, and the Scanner to analyze machines and the environment.
Horizon Forbidden West offers a deep character customization system, allowing you to tailor Aloy to your preferred playstyle. Here's how:
The skill tree branches into three main paths: Warrior, Trapper, and Survivor. Each path unlocks unique abilities and enhances specific aspects of Aloy's combat and survival skills. Invest points based on your preferred approach, whether focusing on direct confrontation, strategic traps, or stealthy tactics.
Discover and craft various weapons and armor throughout your journey. Each weapon type offers unique advantages and disadvantages, while different armor sets provide varied levels of protection against specific elements or damage types. Experiment with different combinations to find a loadout that best suits your playstyle and the challenges you encounter.
Crafting potions and consumables plays a crucial role in surviving the harsh landscapes and fierce battles. Utilize gathered resources to create healing potions, elemental resistance boosters, and other beneficial items to enhance your performance and overcome obstacles.
The Forbidden West is teeming with a diverse array of machines, each posing unique threats and requiring specific strategies to overcome. Here's a breakdown of some common machine types:
Grazers: Herbivores forming the base of the machine ecosystem. They are relatively docile but can charge and attack if provoked.
Watchers: Smaller, agile machines used for reconnaissance and alerting other machines of threats. They are vulnerable to stealthy takedowns.
Snapmaws: Heavily armored crocodile-like machines with powerful jaws and ranged attacks. Aim for weak points on their underbelly and exploit their vulnerability to fire.
Shell-Walkers: Turtle-like machines with sturdy shells and powerful slams. Utilize traps and elemental attacks to exploit their weaknesses.
Thunderjaws: Large, predatory machines with devastating electrical attacks. Employ hit-and-run tactics, focus on exploiting their weak points on their back, and utilize shock resistance potions for protection.
Behemoths: Colossal, powerful machines serving as guardians or rulers of specific territories. These encounters often require specific strategies and utilizing environmental elements to defeat them.
It's crucial to study each machine's behavior, identify their strengths and weaknesses, and adapt your approach accordingly. Utilize different weapon types, elemental effects, and environmental hazards to gain the upper hand in combat.
Horizon Forbidden West introduces underwater exploration, adding a whole new dimension to the gameplay. Utilize the diving mask and rebreather to navigate submerged areas and discover hidden secrets within underwater ruins and caverns.
Beware of aquatic machines like Snaptooths and Shell-Snappers, adapted for underwater combat. Utilize different tactics and weapons suitable for underwater battles.
These underwater locations often house valuable resources, lore collectibles, and even hidden machine caches. Solve environmental puzzles and navigate treacherous underwater environments to uncover their secrets.
Learn to manage your oxygen reserves while diving and utilize underwater currents to your advantage. Upgrade your diving gear to explore deeper depths and unlock new areas.
While the main story offers an engaging narrative experience, Horizon Forbidden West boasts a wealth of additional content to discover beyond the main quest.
Venture into various side quests offered by different settlements and individuals. These quests not only expand the lore and provide character development but also reward you with valuable resources, unique gear, and skill points.
Test your combat prowess in various trials and arena challenges scattered throughout the Forbidden West. These challenges offer exciting gameplay variations, allowing you to hone your skills and earn unique rewards.
Face increasingly difficult challenges in Gauntlets, testing your combat skills, resource management, and strategic thinking. Completing Gauntlets unlocks valuable rewards and bragging rights.
Unveiling the history and secrets of the Forbidden West lies in collecting Datapoints and other scattered collectibles. These items provide insights into the past civilizations, machine origins, and lore surrounding the current events.
Once you complete the main story, several endgame activities await. Continue exploring the world, tackle higher-level challenges, and acquire powerful legendary weapons and armor sets to become the ultimate hunter in the Forbidden West.
By venturing beyond the main quest and engaging in additional content, you'll gain a deeper understanding of the world, strengthen your character, and experience the full breadth of what Horizon Forbidden West has to offer.
Horizon Forbidden West promises an exhilarating adventure brimming with thrilling combat, breathtaking exploration, and a captivating narrative. This comprehensive guide equips you