Horizon Forbidden West combat and exploration emphasize player choice

We got a solid look at Horizon Forbidden West’s enhanced combat / scout systems during Sony’s State of Play earlier this year. New visual cues and gadgets give Aloy an unprecedented level of freedom to maneuver through the open world, as well as take down human and machine enemies. The second in a series of developer updates, a recent one mail on the official PlayStation blog delves into how the various mechanics in Horizon Forbidden West emphasize player choice like never before.

This time, Lead Systems Designer David McMullen and Lead Combat Designer Dennis Zopfi have taken the main stage to discuss what makes Forbidden West’s gameplay so deep and satisfying.

Now that Aloy can freely climb, swim underwater, glide with her Shieldwing, and grab certain sections of the terrain, the movement is more agile and fluid. Of course, this design choice was not taken lightly. McMullen states that Guerilla Games wanted to empower the player in nuanced ways:

“Our cross-design decisions have always been in the service of increasing dynamic interactivity with the world around you. This could be so that the player can manipulate and destroy their environment with a tool like the Pullcaster; Or launch into a glide with the Shieldwing to prepare for a shot from above. What excites us the most is how our mechanics, new and old, synergistically interact with each other to provide varied and dynamic approaches to any scenario. “

Despite the newfound ease of exploration, Aloy will have to stay one step ahead of her adversaries while away from home. The inclusion of a workbench allows Aloy to strengthen weapons and outfits, which unlocks a host of perks, mods / mod slots, and abilities. The skill tree has been redesigned to match any skill that may be tied to Aloy’s equipped gear. These characteristics combine in eye-catching engagements as Aloy uses her ranged and melee abilities to survive.

“The point of the guns in Horizon Forbidden West was to give each one a stronger personality, which is also expressed in how you have to handle them,” explains Dennis. “Each weapon has its strengths and weaknesses in terms of the ideal situations to use them. The Spike Launcher, for example, is a new high-damage weapon that, when thrown at the right time, makes it easier to hit bigger targets. For elemental damage, like fire or adhesive, you can choose to stick with the Blast Sling, and so on. Each weapon comes with different perks, ammo types, and weapon coil slots for further customization, although some weapons need to be upgraded first before they can be made stronger. “

Add in Valor Surges, powerful abilities that drain your energy reserves, and you can tailor Aloy’s kit to match any playstyle.

Horizon Forbidden West launches for PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4 on February 18.

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What weapons or exploration methods are you most excited about in Horizon Forbidden West? Let us know in the comments!