Summary
Guerrilla Games’Horizonfranchise has always had strong environmental themes. It focuses on an Earth that is slowly recovering after the hubris of humans nearly brought life to an end. These themes are also present inHorizon Forbidden West. Though Aloy seeks to know more about her origins, she is deeply concerned about the natural world around her, especially when it is affected by dangers such as the red blight.
Horizon Forbidden Westends with the revelation that a threat from outer space is headed for Earth. This may open up the possibility of the franchise extending into the cosmos and featuring locations not on the planet. This could be a good or bad thing, depending on what players want out of the game.
The Cons of Horizon Forbidden West Leaving Earth
At the end ofHorizon Forbidden West, it is revealed that apowerful enemy named Nemesisis on its way to Earth, and it has an intense hate for all humans. Its arrival could spell the end for humanity, which is why Tilda van der Meer tries to convince Aloy to leave the planet. Aloy refuses, motivated by the fact that she believes Earth and its inhabitants are worth saving.
This shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone familiar with the red-haired protagonist, as she is theclone of Elisabet Sobeckwho laid her life down for the planet. If the franchise goes to outer space, it would betray her personality, and it would feel incongruent with everything that’s been revealed about her prior.
Why Should Aloy Stay on Earth?
Earth is where Aloy belongs, where she can continue to discover more about humanity’s history. There are also tribes she needs to help against these threats, likethe Carja and the Tenakth. These are the things she values, so it wouldn’t make sense for her to abandon them.
The Pros of Horizon Forbidden West Leaving Earth
There are positives to thenextHorizongamemoving away from Earth. The franchise can be appreciated for its gameplay, story, and characters. However, one of the things that stands out the most is its depictions of the beauty of nature. Whether it’s jagged mountains with glittering snow, thick rainforests bursting with color, or desolate deserts stretching as far as the eye can see, the environments of theHorizonfranchise are gorgeous.
What Could Outer Space Bring to the Horizon Series?
Going to outer space could mean visiting different planets, giving the Dutch studio the opportunity to take its creativity further and craft even more enchanting worlds, whether it be on Martian landscapes or entirely new solar systems. This is something the studio would likely be good at, as it has already had plenty of experiencethanks to theKillzonefranchise.
There’s no word on when the thirdHorizongame will arrive, although Guerrilla Games has announced that amultiplayerHorizongameis in the works as well. This co-op game may be where players get a taste of theHorizonfranchise in locations other than Earth.
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.
