Horizon Forbidden West developer Guerrilla Games has showcased a 14-minute demo of the post-apocalyptic United States game, demonstrating the stunning graphics, immersive sound, and upgraded combat mechanics. The demo also highlighted new machines, including the Shellsnapper and Sunwing, both of which demonstrate aggressive behaviour and complicated designs. Aloy, the game’s protagonist, must navigate the vast, varied landscape skillfully to avoid danger, including the evolved Clawstrider stalker. The game will be released later this year on PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4.
‘Horizon Forbidden West’ gameplay demo wows with stunning landscapes and new machines
The highly anticipated sequel to Horizon Zero Dawn, Horizon Forbidden West, has now given us a glimpse at its gameplay with a stunning 14-minute demo showcased by developer Guerrilla Games on Thursday, May 27th. Set in a post-apocalyptic United States, Horizon Forbidden West follows Aloy, the protagonist of Horizon Zero Dawn, as she explores new territories, battles new machines, and seeks answers to the mysteries left behind by her ancestors.
The Setting: A Breath-Taking World
The demo highlights some of the new and expansive biomes players will get to explore in the game, starting with the lush valley and vibrant coral reefs of the San Francisco Bay Area. The demo showcases an aesthetically captivating landscape, filled with vibrant underwater vegetation, aquatic creatures, and immersive natural sounds.
Aloy is also seen battling her way through a dense jungle filled with danger at every corner. The dense foliage serves as the perfect stalking grounds for the new foes that make their debuts in this game. From giant snapping turtles that can dish out tremendous damage to bird-like machines that dive-bomb Aloy, the diverse environment means that Aloy must stay alert and use her wits to stay alive.
The Machine: New Threats and Old Favorites
Horizon Zero Dawn was known for its diverse and unique robots, and from the looks of the gameplay demo, Horizon Forbidden West is taking it up a notch. Not only are there new machines, but they are just as diverse and aggressive as their predecessors.
One of the new machines demonstrated in the game is the ‘Shellsnapper’, a massive armoured turtle that uses its shell as a weapon to take down Aloy. With quick reflexes and an incredibly detailed design, the Shellsnapper looks like a formidable foe for Aloy to fight against.
Other machines highlighted in the demo include the ‘Sunwing’, large bird-like machines that swoop down and attack Aloy from the skies. There’s also the menacing-looking ‘Clawstrider’, which appears to be an evolved version of a machine from the previous game, and it can be seen prowling the jungle with its sharp claws.
The Gameplay: Smooth and Dynamic Combat
The gameplay footage showcases Aloy’s signature athleticism as she moves fluidly through the environment, seamlessly switching between weapons and techniques to take down the robotic beasts that lurk in each biome. The combat mechanics look more polished and dynamic than ever before, with Aloy utilizing all of her weapons and traps to counter different enemy types.
The game features new abilities, such as swimming underwater and using a hookshot, to navigate terrain and avoid danger. Additionally, there’s a crafting system that allows players to create ammunition and modify weapons to suit the situation they’re in.
Conclusion
The Horizon Forbidden West gameplay demo showcases the vast and gorgeous world that Guerrilla Games has created, as well as the exciting new machines and updated combat mechanics that will make it a must-play for action-adventure fans. With Horizon Forbidden West set to release later this year on PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4, fans can hardly wait to dive back into Aloy’s world.