In Horizon Zero Dawn, machine combat was exciting because of the wide range of enemies that Aloy could face. From fleet-footed scout machines to colossal war machines, there were a plethora of enemy combinations that kept every battle fresh. Horizon Forbidden West looks like it'll be no different, and potentially even more exciting, seeing the new designs that Guerrilla Games has come up with. Many of the new machines in Horizon Forbidden West are strange and ambitious, from the menacing snake-like Slitherfang to the mobile heavyweight Rollerbacks. Guerrilla seems to be pushing the limits of machines in the world of Horizon Forbidden West, which bodes well for the game's combat.
One machine that stands out in particular is the Clamberjaw. Most of Horizon Forbidden West's machines are based on animals of all shapes and sizes, and the Clamberjaw is no different, resembling a baboon. There's no ape machine in the Horizon universe, so the Clamberjaw is a welcome addition, but players should be wary of this machine in advance. Based on its abilities and characteristics, this could turn out to be one of Horizon Forbidden West's most deadly machine types. Exploring the Forbidden West won't be a walk in the park with Clamberjaws on Aloy's tail.
The Abilities of the Clamberjaw
A major part of the new Clamberjaw's concept is its high mobility. Many real-life simians are well known for their speed and dexterity, navigating forest floors and jungle canopies with ease. Clamberjaws are no different. These Horizon Forbidden West newcomers are very light on their feet, showing a proclivity for pouncing at Aloy and leaping around the battlefield.
They're also more than capable of climbing Horizon Forbidden West's environments, which means they can reach a lot of places that most other machines can't. Flying enemies like the Glinthawk are notoriously dangerous and obnoxious to deal with because of their mobility, so Clamberjaws may prove to be similarly taxing.
In briefly explaining the machine, Guerrilla Games also mentions that the Clamberjaw has a particular knack for debilitating foes. While Guerrilla doesn't specify what abilities the Clamberjaw has that'll get in Aloy's way, it's not hard to imagine some possibilities. Clamberjaws have two power cells on their backs, for instance, which could be an indicator that Clamberjaws have a shock attack that can stun Aloy, leaving her vulnerable. It also wouldn't be surprising if Clamberjaws can physically grapple with Aloy somehow, based on their well-defined fingers and hands.
While Guerrilla Games' tweet about the machine doesn't explicitly emphasize this aspect, it also looks like Clamberjaws might be defined by a habit of living in large packs. The gameplay tweet in the clip shows Aloy facing off against at least six or seven Clamberjaws at once. Many real simian species are known for living in large communities, so it would stand to reason that Clamberjaws behave the same way. Guerrilla does imply that Clamberjaws are Acquisition Class machines, which would put Clamberjaws in the same class as many pack animal machines like Grazers, Lancehorns, and Striders. If Clamberjaws are highly aggressive, then traveling in packs makes them all the more dangerous.
How Clamberjaws Affect Exploration
Each and every aspect of the Clamberjaw makes it a particularly dangerous machine for Aloy to come across when exploring the Forbidden West. Their mobility is a huge threat to Aloy, for instance. In Horizon Forbidden West, increased mobility is supposed to be one of Aloy's biggest strengths, thanks to her handy new Pullcaster. Unfortunately, while Aloy might be able to grapple away from some of Horizon Forbidden West's more hulking enemies, Clamberjaws look much harder to shake. They may be able to chase her down no matter how high she grapples or climbs.
The Clamberjaw's specific knack for waylaying its enemies makes it very dangerous too. Horizon Zero Dawn had machines with crowd control effects, like the Watcher's blinding flash and the Longleg's sonic stun, but the Clamberjaw is a little different. If they're always found in large numbers, then it'll be much harder to dodge attempts to stun or grapple Aloy. What's more, their high mobility could make them far better at applying crowd control effects than most machines. If Aloy is already at the middle of dealing with a big machine like a Tremortusk, the last thing she needs is a Clamberjaw leaping at her with a stunning attack at the ready.
Pack tactics could also make Clamberjaws particularly difficult to deal with while wandering the Forbidden West. If players come across a single large machine while exploring, they can usually give it a wide berth or simply run in the other direction and survive the encounter. Horizon Forbidden West's Clamberjaws, however, look like they can very quickly surround any player unlucky enough to stumble upon them unexpectedly. Anyone simply trying to venture out into the wilderness is very likely to fall prey to these machines, considering just how many strengths they have.
Horizon Forbidden West's Machine Menagerie
Clamberjaws sound like a pretty frightening machine to fend off, and frankly, that's fantastic. If Horizon Forbidden West leaned on machines from the previous game, then combat would inevitably be stale, even with the introduction of new weapons for Aloy to wield. Instead, Horizon Forbidden West is packed with new machines, most of which have vastly different concepts and abilities from previous machines, making the Forbidden West truly feel like a new frontier that Aloy is exploring for the first time. These new machines are intimidating, but that only makes them more exciting to fight.
So far, it looks like Guerrilla Games has ticked off all the boxes of necessary features for Horizon Forbidden West's success. The Clamberjaws and their fellow new machines are only one part of Horizon Forbidden West's many upgrades on its predecessor. Aloy has an overhauled skill tree that shapes gameplay in new ways, additional weapons with unique new functions, and a plethora of beautiful new settings that compel players to swim, climb, and glide everywhere they can.
The Forbidden West looks like a place well worth exploring for a multitude of reasons. Anyone brave enough to venture into that land will just have to prepare themselves for the potential threat of the Clamberjaw.
Horizon Forbidden West releases February 18, 2022 for PS4 and PS5.