The grapple mechanic is a good example of this: she is more agile and resourceful, but at the same time we show the physical struggle when she’s being pulled up on bigger inclines.” Our aim was to show that Aloy is more comfortable traversing her environment – without losing sight of the fact that she’s human, of course, so things don’t always go perfectly for her. “She gained a lot of experience and that needed to show in her animations.

“It was important to us that players feel like Aloy has grown in her skills and confidence coming from her adventures in Horizon Zero Dawn and the Frozen Wilds,” says Richard Oud, Gameplay Animation Director at Guerrilla. A whole new set of machines as well as advanced human enemies will keep players on their toes throughout the game!” Finally, we wanted to design challenging enemies that encourage players to use all their abilities and skills. Through new weapons and outfits, which can be upgraded at a workbench, players can adapt their tactics. Second, we wanted to cater to a variety of playstyles and really focus on freedom of choice. Players who spend some time perfecting their combat skills will find some efficient and stylish ways to dispose of their enemies. First, we wanted to add additional depth to gameplay and increase the skill cap for players, through skills like melee combos and Valor Surges. ‘Our changes to combat design stayed true to Aloy’s identity. “In Horizon Forbidden West, the tools at her disposal generate a wide array of tactics that allow her to engage with physically stronger opponents - from fully armored humans to very large machines.’ “Aloy is a smart and agile combatant,” says Charles Perain, Combat Designer. Combat evolvedįor the team at Guerrilla, one of the goals for Horizon Forbidden West was to significantly evolve the combat design from Horizon Zero Dawn, and to continue to build on the principles of player freedom and choice during encounters in the open world. Spoiler Alert: Please note this article may contain some spoilers for Horizon Zero Dawn and its storyline. Whether she comes across a convoy of cargo machines and their guardians, a squad of rebel warriors looking for a fight, or a pack of Stalkers cloaked in the forest, the heat of combat will bring new challenges… but also opportunities to turn the tables. Aloy’s enemies, both human and machine, have multiplied since the end of Horizon Zero Dawn. The epic landscapes and ruins of the Forbidden West may be breathtaking, but danger lurks around every turn.

Horizon zero dawn: the frozen wilds