Developing a new IP is not easy, but it is also quite a challenge to throw the best-accepted continuation on the market. Development studios not only have to focus on new elements, but at the same time focus on improving details that previously did not appeal to recipients. In Horizon Forbidden West, we can count on eight significant improvements.
Guerrilla Games confirmed to Game Informer editors that we should expect the upcoming game better cutscenes. In the title debuting on PS5 and PS4, we will experience more authentic reactions during the dialogues, mainly due to the reactions of the body and eyes.
“Among the most important improvements we’ve made to our cutscenes are full motion-capture, better facial animation and a first-class cast. This level of quality applies to the entire game, including some minor scenes, ”said narrative director Benjamin McCaw.
Horizon Forbidden West will be out distinguish much more vivid locations – in the places visited, the residents will be more active, and the main character will witness many funny moments. This is another way to emphasize the authenticity of an item.
“Since the last game, we’ve improved our citizens and settlements with an improved crowd system, better animations and much better soundtrack. So everything should feel a bit more authentic and realistic, ”added McCaw.
Guerrilla has completely rebuilt the skill tree, to provide more gameplay options and more character customization. Now we will be investing experience points in six playstyles: warrior (melee), trapper (setting / disarming traps), survivor (health / resources), hunter (ranged weapon), infiltrator (stealth) and master machine (hacking). There will be approximately 20-30 skills in each specialization.
Scanning will turn out to be an important detail of Horizon Forbidden West, thanks to which Aloy will receive much more valuable information. The character will be able to check locations to spot hooks, but most of all, he will get more details about the machines. In the new adventure, we will check, for example: what valuable resources the opponent has (whether they are destructible), and whether it will be possible to detach some of the opponent’s weapons and then use them in combat.
Sony studio has undertaken to develop more interesting side missions, whose main goal is to engage players more and to offer greater rewards.
“There is a lot more variety to that aspect – a greater sense of accomplishment that you actually get something nice in return for carrying out these tasks. This was another part where we felt we had some room for improvement. So you get a nice weapon or a nice outfit, something that will really come in handy for your next task or activity, “said game director Mathijs de Jonge
The developers took advantage of fan feedback to reduce the amount of information displayed on the screen. The HUD will not be so overloaded – director Mathijs de Jonge explained that when starting the production, the “minimalist mode” will be activated, which will have as few elements as possible. After touching the touch panel, we will get all the necessary details.
In Horizon Forbidden West we will feel that the authors focused on improving Aloy’s relationship with her companions. This aspect was not developed well enough in the first installment, so now we will experience many important threads during the game – not only in the main quests.
“The most important thing we wanted to change from the first game is that we spend more time with key characters. It’s something we’ve tried to do consistently throughout the game. Not only for the inhabitants you meet during the main storyline, but also for some side-quest characters; they don’t just leave one job at a time, ”says McCaw.
Horizon Forbidden West also turns up the crafting elements, and players will have the option to “create a quest” to open a menu with a single button and search for the resources they need. By using this option, the user will see on the map where the machines that may contain the necessary parts are located.
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