Horizon Forbidden West examples showcase why Guerrilla Games’ sequel stands as one of the most impressive open-world action RPGs in recent years. Released in 2022, the game builds on the original’s foundation while introducing refined mechanics, breathtaking environments, and deeper storytelling. Players control Aloy as she ventures into the western frontier of post-apocalyptic America, facing new machine threats and uncovering ancient mysteries. This article highlights specific examples from Horizon Forbidden West that demonstrate its strengths in combat, world design, quests, and gameplay systems. These moments reveal what makes the game memorable for both newcomers and returning fans.
Key Takeaways
- Horizon Forbidden West examples of combat excellence include battles against 40+ unique machines like the Tremortusk and Slitherfang, each requiring distinct tactics.
- The game’s world design features diverse environments—from sunken San Francisco ruins to Vegas deserts—filled with environmental storytelling and hidden lore.
- Underwater exploration adds a new dimension to gameplay, allowing players to discover ancient facilities, collectibles, and unique machine encounters.
- Side quests like Erend’s personal mission deliver emotional depth and character development that rivals main storyline quality.
- New traversal tools like the Shieldwing glider and expanded machine override options give players more freedom and strategic choices.
- Six flexible skill trees support varied playstyles, from stealth to melee combat, letting players approach challenges their own way.
Combat and Machine Encounters
Horizon Forbidden West examples of combat excellence appear throughout every biome and battle. The game features over 40 machine types, each requiring different tactics and weapon loadouts to defeat.
Tremortusk Battles
The Tremortusk serves as one of the most thrilling Horizon Forbidden West examples of large-scale machine combat. This mammoth-sized machine carries rebel riders and weapons platforms on its back. Players must destroy armor plating, target weak points, and dodge sweeping tusk attacks. The first major Tremortusk encounter during the Embassy mission demonstrates how the game layers multiple threats into a single fight.
Slitherfang Showdowns
The Slitherfang represents a new apex predator in Horizon Forbidden West. This cobra-like machine spits acid, burrows underground, and strikes with devastating speed. Fighting a Slitherfang requires constant movement and quick use of elemental weaknesses. Players who study its attack patterns can exploit openings and strip components for valuable resources.
Weapon Variety and Valor Surges
Horizon Forbidden West examples of combat depth extend to its weapon system. The game introduces new tools like the Shredder Gauntlet, which throws disc projectiles that return to the player for bonus damage. Valor Surges add another layer, these special abilities charge during combat and unleash powerful effects. The Ranged Master surge, for instance, dramatically boosts arrow damage for a short window. These systems reward aggressive, skillful play.
World Design and Environmental Storytelling
Horizon Forbidden West examples of world design set a high bar for open-world games. The Forbidden West spans deserts, jungles, snowy mountains, and underwater ruins. Each region tells its own story through environmental details.
San Francisco Ruins
The sunken ruins of San Francisco provide striking Horizon Forbidden West examples of environmental storytelling. Players swim through flooded streets, past collapsed skyscrapers, and into submerged subway tunnels. Old world artifacts, rusted vehicles, crumbling billboards, scattered holograms, paint a picture of civilization’s fall without a single line of dialogue.
Las Vegas and the Burning Shores
The Vegas desert shows another side of the post-apocalyptic world. Sand dunes bury casino signs while rebel camps occupy old resort structures. Every location feels purposeful. Guerrilla Games filled these spaces with lore entries, audio logs, and visual cues that reward curious players.
Underwater Exploration
Horizon Forbidden West examples of innovation include full underwater exploration. Aloy gains a diving mask that allows extended submersion. Beneath the waves, players discover ancient facilities, hidden collectibles, and unique machine encounters. The underwater sections add vertical depth to exploration and showcase impressive lighting effects.
Side Quests and Character Interactions
Horizon Forbidden West examples of quality side content rival many games’ main storylines. The development team invested significant effort into making optional quests feel essential.
Erend’s Personal Mission
The side quest involving Erend and his search for closure stands among the best Horizon Forbidden West examples of character writing. This mission explores grief, loyalty, and letting go. Players accompany Erend through dangerous territory while dialogue reveals new facets of his personality. The emotional payoff feels earned because the game takes time to develop relationships.
The Kulrut Arena
The Tenakth arena challenges offer Horizon Forbidden West examples of cultural worldbuilding. Aloy enters gladiatorial combat to earn a tribe’s respect. These fights introduce players to Tenakth customs and provide context for the warrior society’s values. Arena battles also serve as excellent combat tutorials for new machine types.
Companion Depth
Horizon Forbidden West examples of companion development appear in the game’s home base system. At Aloy’s headquarters, companions share stories, request assistance, and interact with each other. Zo discusses her faith. Kotallo wrestles with his injury. These quieter moments build attachment and make the main story’s stakes feel personal.
Gameplay Mechanics and Player Freedom
Horizon Forbidden West examples of player freedom demonstrate thoughtful game design. The sequel expands movement options and progression systems significantly.
Shieldwing Glider
The Shieldwing glider transforms traversal in Horizon Forbidden West. Players can leap from any height and glide safely to distant locations. This tool opens shortcuts, enables aerial ambushes, and makes exploration faster. The glider exemplifies how small additions can dramatically improve moment-to-moment gameplay.
Machine Override Options
Overriding machines remains central to Horizon Forbidden West examples of strategic play. Players can hack machines to fight alongside them or serve as mounts. The sequel adds more override options and introduces the ability to call overridden machines from a distance. A well-timed Clawstrider override can turn a difficult encounter into a manageable one.
Skill Tree Flexibility
Horizon Forbidden West examples of progression depth appear in its six skill trees. Each tree supports different playstyles, stealth, melee combat, ranged attacks, traps, machine mastery, and survival. Players can mix and match abilities freely. This flexibility allows multiple valid approaches to any challenge. Someone who prefers silent takedowns has as many options as a player who favors explosive confrontations.
