Horizon is a series of primarily open-world action role-playing video games and a media franchise created and primarily developed by Guerrilla Games, and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment. The series is primarily published for the PlayStation line of home consoles, although it has also branched out to personal computers and other consoles such as the Nintendo Switch.
Horizon is set on a post-apocalyptic earth a millennium after a catastrophic event regressed mankind to tribes and introduced hostile mechanical lifeforms called the Machines. The games follow the adventures of Aloy, a young woman who sets out to discover her origins which are tied to the setting's history. The primary games are action role-playing titles set in open world environments based on futuristic ruins of the United States. Combat is designed around long-ranged weapons such as bows, and players are tasked with combating human opponents and hunting down Machines.
The franchise debuted with Horizon Zero Dawn (2017), which was followed by a direct sequel, Horizon Forbidden West (2022); a third installment is currently in development, alongside a multiplayer-oriented installment chiefly developed by series creator Guerrilla. The franchise saw further installments such as the spin-off Horizon Call of the Mountain (2023) and the Lego-themed Lego Horizon Adventures (2024). Sony and Guerrilla expanded the franchise with multimedia products such as comic books, board games and an upcoming television adaptation by Netflix.
The Horizon games were met with critical acclaim since the series' debut, with particular praise for the concept, world-building, art direction, the Machines and combat design, though the series also attracted some criticism for its derivative open world design and aspects in its writing. Aloy became a mascot for the PlayStation brand, and has since appeared in numerous video games. As of April 2023, the series has sold over 32.7 million copies, making it one of Sony's best-selling franchises.
Overview[]
Gameplay[]
The primary titles developed solely by Guerrilla Games are action-role playing games played from a third-person perspective in an open world environment; the open world maps are based on post-apocalyptic depictions of the United States. The open world includes main quests and a variety of side activities ranging from side quests to challenges, and can be tackled in a non-linear fashion. Combat system is broken between ranged combat using Aloy's bow or various other projectile-based weapons, a melee combat system using Aloy's spear, and a stealth system which allows Aloy to crouch, hide in red-colored foliage and perform silent takedowns on both human and Machine enemies.
The series' open worlds can be traversed on foot, designated climbing platforms, sliding through ziplines or by mechanical mounts which the player can tame via a mechanic called Override. Horizon Forbidden West introduces several new mechanics that expand on the series' traversal, including a grappling hook, an overhauled climbing system, a diving system, additional Machine mounts and an aerial Machine called the Sunwing, which is the series' first flyable mount.
Both Zero Dawn and Forbidden West include several role-playing mechanics to expand or alter Aloy's playstyle. Players can strengthen Aloy's base attributes by earning experience points and leveling up. Skill trees present in the mainline games allow to expand or enhance Aloy's skills in areas such as health, stealth and trap-making, with a new mechanic called Valor Surge added in Forbidden West giving temporary boosts or advantages to Aloy during combat.
Unlike the main games in of the franchise, Horizon Call of the Mountain is an action-adventure game played from first-person perspective as a virtual reality title.
Premise and setting[]
The Horizon takes place in a post-apocalyptic earth in the 31st century, approximately a millennium after a catastrophe called the 'Faro Plague' destroyed all life and civilization on the planet. Humanity regressed to a primitive state, with scattered communities living in tribes across the land; the preceding, more technologically advanced human culture is referred to as the "Old Ones". The earth of Horizon is also home to the Machines, mechanical lifeforms resembling real-life animals that originally co-existed with humanity before an event referred to as the Degradation turned most Machines hostile while newer, more combat-oriented Machines began to appear.
Several tribes exist within the Horizon games, all inhabiting parts of the United States. Those tribes include the isolationist and matriarchal Nora who forbid reliance on technology; the shamanistic Banuk; the technologically advanced and militaristic Carja with history of bloodshed; and the merchant-working Oseram who deal in craftsmanship. Horizon Forbidden West also properly introduces three additional tribes: the warlike Tenakth who are split into several in-fighting factions; the agrarian and peaceful Utaru; and the foreign, technologically-advanced Quen, hailing from an empire existing overseas.
The main storyline of the Horizon games begins in 3040 and follows Aloy, a young Nora outcast trained by her adoptive father as a huntress.
Characters[]
Games outline[]
Horizon Zero Dawn follows Aloy as she sets to discover her origins after a lifetime of being ostracized by her tribe, the Nora. On her journey, Aloy uncovers the lost history of the world, her true heritage and connection to the old world, the reason why humanity regressed into primitive tribal societies, the origins of the Machines, and the looming threat that claimed the life of her father figure Rost. Throughout the game, Aloy finds herself reluctantly allied with Sylens, a shrewd and enigmatic researcher with past ties to the antagonists she hunts. The expansion pack The Frozen Wilds follows Aloy as she explores the Cut, the home of the shamanistic Banuk tribe from which Sylens hails. There she works to resolve tribal tensions as well as an incident involving an artificial intelligence called CYAN, while coming into conflict with the rogue HEPHAESTUS.
Horizon Forbidden West is set six months after its predecessors and follows Aloy as she journeys to the eponymous region in search for Sylens and HADES, the previous game's main villain. Her quest in the Forbidden West has her meddle in the region's bloody politics, quell a rebellion within the Tenakth tribe, and confront Far Zenith, an advanced society of long-lived Old Ones with nefarious intentions towards earth. The expansion pack Burning Shores follows Aloy as she investigates the ruins of Los Angeles and comes into conflict with a former Far Zenith member and an activated Metal Devil.
Games[]
- Major installments
| Game title | Release | Developer | Platform | Additional notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Horizon Zero Dawn | February 28, 2017 | Guerrilla Games | PlayStation 4, PC | |
| Horizon Zero Dawn: The Frozen Wilds | November 7, 2017 | Guerrilla Games | PlayStation 4, PC | Expansion for Horizon Zero Dawn |
| Horizon Forbidden West | February 18, 2022 | Guerrilla Games | PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, PC | |
| Horizon Forbidden West: Burning Shores | April 19, 2023 | Guerrilla Games | PlayStation 5, PC | Expansion for Horizon Forbidden West |
| Untitled Horizon game | TBA | Guerrilla Games | TBA |
- Spin-off installments
| Game title | Release | Developer | Platform | Additional notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Horizon Call of the Mountain | February 22, 2023 | Guerilla Games, Firesprite | PlayStation 5 (PlayStation VR2) | |
| Lego Horizon Adventures | Q4 2024 | Guerrilla Games, Studio Gobo | PlayStation 5, PC, Nintendo Switch | |
| Horizon Online Project | TBA | Guerilla Games | TBA |
Development[]
Other media[]
Comic books[]
Television adaptation[]
Reception[]
Horizon received positive reviews since the initial release of Horizon Zero Dawn in 2017 and individual installments were nominated for and were recipients for numerous accolades. Horizon Zero Dawn was critically praised for its visuals, world design, narrative, combat and the design of the Machines, while criticism was focused at familiar usage of genre tropes.[3] Horizon Forbidden West was also critically praised, receiving positive reception for its visuals, narrative and gameplay improvements.[4]
- Horizon Call of the Mountain (2023) - 79/100[5]
Horizon Call of the Mountain, the series' first spin-off title, was also positively received. It received considerable praise as a showpiece title for Sony's PlayStation VR2 headset, while receiving criticism for its conservative design.[6]
References[]
- ↑ https://www.metacritic.com/game/horizon-zero-dawn/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-4
- ↑ https://www.metacritic.com/game/horizon-forbidden-west/critic-reviews/
- ↑ https://www.gamespot.com/articles/horizon-zero-dawn-review-roundup/1100-6448021/
- ↑ https://www.gamespot.com/articles/review-roundup-for-horizon-forbidden-west-heres-what-the-critics-think/1100-6500643/
- ↑ https://www.metacritic.com/game/horizon-call-of-the-mountain/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-5
- ↑ https://www.gamespot.com/articles/review-roundup-for-horizon-call-of-the-mountain/1100-6511586/
| Horizon |
|---|
| Guerrilla Games - Sony Interactive Entertainment
Horizon Zero Dawn (The Frozen Wilds) - Horizon Forbidden West (Burning Shores) |