Since the release ofHorizon Zero Dawnback in 2017, Guerrilla Games has built quite an impressive PlayStation franchise. Not only did it follow that title up with the acclaimedHorizon Forbidden West, but it also recently released the unique spin-offLEGO Horizon Adventures.Now, all eyes are on what the third game will entail. While not much is known about where the franchise will go next, there is one mechanic that feels like the perfect addition to theHorizon Zero Dawnformula.
InHorizon 3, players should finally get the ability to construct their own settlements on this post-apocalyptic earth.LEGO Horizon Adventureshas already dabbled in this, and the incoming threat of Nemesis makes it a great time to fully deliver on that potential. As long as the studio ensures that it does not take away from the main story, a settlement building feature feels like the perfect next step.
The Horizon Series Could Do Wonders With a Base Building Feature
LEGO Horizon Has Already Tried It
One major reason why the mainlineHorizonfranchise should really take on the settlement-building concept is becauseLEGO Horizon Adventureshas already done just that. In that game, players get to experience the events ofHorizon Zero Dawnwitha new LEGO facelift attached. Because of that aesthetic, the game has so many new mechanics that the main series has never really touched before, with one of the biggest being its settlement building.
Asplayers push throughLEGO Horizon Adventures, they earn studs that they can then spend on various buildings strewn about the hub world of Mother’s Heart. Not only are they able to construct a wide variety of buildings with their own functionality, but they can also purchase countless cosmetics to really make their settlement their own. While the actual settlement mechanics are barebones, this feels like a nice first step to what could be an amazing feature in the mainline series.
Horizon 3’s Story Has the Perfect Excuse to Expand Settlements Further
LEGO Horizon Adventureshas started to show the potential of a feature like this, and because ofthe story thatHorizon 3will likely be telling, it seems to be the best time to deliver on said potential. Even though almost nothing is known about the next chapter, the finale ofHorizon Forbidden Westhinted at the grand arrival of Nemesis, which should be Aloy’s biggest challenge yet. She will need all the help she can get if she wants to stand a chance in this upcoming war, and the best way to do that would be by bolstering the many tribes of Earth.
To do this, players could face the task of building up all these different settlements to help equip the tribes for this fight. Aloy could be in charge of constructing fortifications, ensuring other humans have access to powerful equipment, and possibly even recruiting more people to the cause. As they plunge more resources into these settlements, they could earn new abilities or special effects that they can carry into the final battle. Through that, they could make the final battle easier for them while also making them feel like they are actually making an impact.
Of course,the primary focus ofHorizon 3should be on nailing down a satisfying story and delivering the fast-paced gameplay the franchise has become known for. But, if the studio is looking to shake things up a bit, then adding a settlement feature to the mix now feels like a great idea. Not only does this story feel like the perfect time to do so, but ifLEGO Horizon Adventuresgets to dabble in it, then so should the main series.
Horizon Forbidden West
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.
