Summary
In a world filled with towering, robotic dinosaurs, relying on melee weapons such as spears for defense inHorizon Forbidden Westmay seem odd at first glance. While melee can be used somewhat effectively against small machines such as Burrowers, melee combat is more intended for fighting human opponents. This has beenHorizon’s core stance on melee sinceHorizon Zero Dawn, but it was further expanded upon to create a more nuanced mechanic throughHorizon Forbidden West’s upgraded skill tree.
Horizon’s Martial Arts
InHorizon Zero Dawn, players are first introduced to melee combat in the form of a spear. This spear could be used to slightly damage machines or be used to perform stealth attacks on unsuspecting humans and machines. Whilethe spear is a critical tool inZero Dawnwith an override module to temporarily tame machines, it’s not too effective in taking down large machines single handily. With most machines having gigantic, razor-sharp teeth and claws, it is particularly risky to challenge machines in close quarter combat with only the spear. Over time, players can upgrade their Brave and Prowler skill trees to deal more damage with the spear, but generally no new spear attacks can be learned inZero Dawn.
InHorizon Forbidden West, the spear was drastically changedand expanded upon with the introduction of the skill tree Hunter, Infiltrator, and Warrior branches. Similar to combos in fighting games like Mortal Kombat, Aloy can learn new melee combos to better take down enemies with powerful blows and swiftness. One of the more unique combos was the resonator blast which, after melee attacks, created an energy target on foes that players could shoot with their bow to cause an energy blast. Additionally, this new skill tree introduced upgradeable valor surges such as radial blast which had Aloy attach an overcharged module to the spear to create a powerful shockwave.
When valor surges are activated inHorizon Forbidden West, Aloy is granted brief invincibility, allowing for players to use melee attacks without fear of being overwhelmed and taken out quickly.
Horizon 3’s Melee Potential
Despite melee being expanded upon inHorizon Forbidden West, many players will seldom use the spear in most combat scenarios and instead use the bow to take out human enemies stealthily anduse the blastslings to take down machines. Adding combos was a good start, but Guerrilla Games could developHorizon’s melee system further inHorizon 3to make melee a more universal viable option. An easy way they can do this is to add more melee combos and abilities on top of the ones introduced inForbidden West. One potential combo improvement could allow Aloy to use the aerial slash/jump-off to jump on a sunwing after the move is completed or be able to stealth strike an enemy from a sunwing like air assassinations inAssassin’s Creed.
Withcompanions possibly becoming more involved inHorizon 3’s story and quests, new melee abilities could be unlocked that offer players to work with companions to more effectively take down large machines or groups of foes. This could be designed similarly to the joint attacks seen inBatman: Arkham Knightbetween Batman, Catwoman, and Robin. Adding companions to boost melee combos’ damage and area of effect could both help make melee attacks more viable in common combat scenarios and help players become connected with new and old companions beyond cutscenes.
New Melee Weapons in Horizon 3
Aloy is practically equipped with an armory’s worth of ranged weapons throughout her travels, but she only carries her spear to conduct melee attacks. While the spear is tied to overriding machines and solving some puzzles, Guerrilla should add more melee weapons to add variety and makemelee as complex as Aloy’s ranged weaponry. Other tribes and companies have already been shown to use swords and war hammers inHorizon Forbidden West, so Guerrilla could easily allow Aloy to use these weapons in combat. They could be distinguished by unique pros and cons, such as swords being more effective against humans and hammers being effective against machines. These new weapons can also help solve new puzzles, such as hammers breaking down weak walls.
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.
