Horizon 3 is a while away at this point, but the next chapter of Aloy's journey has many fans of the franchise curious about what awaits the series hero. Although an official announcement for Horizon 3 has yet to be made, that hasn't stopped speculation from growing since Forbidden West's finale.
The leap from Zero Dawn to Forbidden West was extensive in a variety of ways. Between graphics and in-game features, it was clear that developer Guerrilla Games wanted to expand what was capable within the world of Horizon. One of the most significant overhauls in Forbidden West is Aloy's skill tree. While it can be overwhelming at first, the sequel's approach to a skill tree offered more flexibility, and Horizon 3 may want to consider doing the same for Aloy's companions.
Horizon 3 Could Pave the Way for an Official Skill-Based Companion System
Taking Horizon's Skill Mechanics One Step Further
With Aloy being the main focus, it's obvious as to why she's the only one who has a skill tree. Neither Zero Dawn nor Forbidden West feature a companion system, but this could potentially be a strong way to shake up expectations ahead of Horizon 3. Throughout Forbidden West, there are moments when Aloy brings a companion along for missions, but it serves more of a narrative purpose than any actual gameplay reason. While it's a good way to expand the narrative, Horizon 3 could also use it as an opportunity to make both the storytelling and gameplay more rich overall.
Just a Small Taste of Companion Skills
If Horizon 3 brought companion skill trees into the mix, it may be too cumbersome to go all-in like Forbidden West did with Aloy, though. Forbidden West splits Zero Dawn's skill tree into six distinct roles that allow players to master specific play styles, which can make the experience more diverse. However, this change was also divisive, so if Horizon 3 did something similar with Aloy's allies, either a single skill tree that unlocks perks, or halving it to three paths might be more easily palatable.
Forbidden West's six skill paths are Machine Master, Infiltrator, Survivor, Hunter, Trapper, and Warrior.
News About Horizon's Third Chapter Still Remains in the Shadows
Ever since Forbidden West hit the scene in 2022, the future of the franchise has been quite mysterious. Between the third chapter and the secretive Horizon Online project, it's obvious that Sony still has big plans for the series. It's just unclear when any announcements will finally come to light.
It ultimately feels like Aloy's journey is coming to an end, and if she's gearing up for her toughest fight yet, then she will need all the help she can possibly get. This could open the door for more involved companions, but throwing such a major feature in at the final chapter may also prove to be too jarring. Even with the introduction of fellow clone Beta, Aloy has maintained her status as the central figure of the series, and it may be best to keep it that way.
Guerrilla Games has yet to hint at a release target for Horizon 3, but at this rate, it's possible that the game could be a launch title for the PS6, which is rumored to arrive in late 2027.
Of course, only time will tell how Guerrilla Games decides to close out Aloy's story, but based on the changes between Zero Dawn and Forbidden West, the third entry seems destined to bring forth a major evolution in one way or another. It remains to be seen what that overhaul will be, but Horizon 3 could be an interesting place to experiment with a companion system, as long as it's approached in a well-balanced way.
Horizon Forbidden West
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 88 /100 Critics Rec: 96%
- Released
- February 18, 2022
- ESRB
- T for Teen: Blood, Language, Use of Alcohol, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Guerrilla Games
- Publisher(s)
- Sony
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.
