When multiple titles within the same genre release at similar times, comparisons will naturally be made between the two. Open-world level design seems to be the latest example; and with Horizon Forbidden West refining the formula developer Guerilla forged some five years ago, mistakes or missteps that new open-world games make are going to be far more apparent.

Pokemon Legends: Arceus is the veteran JRPG franchise's first foray into a more expansive, "go anywhere" setting. Previous iterations of the series have shepherded players through a somewhat linear region. The title is far from how Grand Theft Auto or The Witcher 3 handle open worlds, but it started a trend that the Pokemon series may still look to explore. In doing so, developer Game Freak has much to learn, and part of the process could be to look to other games for inspiration, particularly for the way in which it approaches populating the area, as the barren world that Pokemon Legends: Arceus presents leaves much to be desired in that department.

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Settling Down After An Open-World Adventure

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Horizon Forbidden West meticulously refines that which made Horizon Zero Dawn so great. The climbing is tweaked, setting is overhauled, and settlements are more plentiful, making the gorgeous locations feel all the more dense, and populated. The diverse landscape is littered with settlements that each feel unique to the area, so a map size that rivals Skyrim, or Red Dead Redemption 2 is never bereft of the potential to impress. For as pioneering as Pokemon Legends: Arceus is to the Pokemon formula, the somewhat bland open world looks all the more drab in comparison to Guerilla's, and is made even worse by Elden Ring's release as well.

Despite Horizon Forbidden West being the one that makes the player feel at home in the wild, it is Pokemon Legends: Arceus that takes the player further away from civilization. The time spent with Horizon Forbidden West will be packed with intriguing interactions with wayfaring strangers, whereas hours will go by in Pokemon Legends: Arceus with nothing but Rowlets and Jolteons for company.

Horizon's Settlements Counteract The Feeling of Solitude

A player looking out at an open world map of Hisui in Pokemon Legends Arceus

Of course, not every open area has to be littered with buildings, merchants, and communities, as titles like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild succeed despite being somewhat sparsely populated. In order to have an open world feel justified, the gameplay, art direction, and activities take precedent over the characters that can be met along the way. Be it hunting for exotic animals, or cruising down a sun-draped highway, the majority of the players time will be taken up engaging in the game's main mechanics. In most expansive settings, the dialogue between the protagonist and NPC's is usually supplementary to the game's primary objectives.

However, as much of the journey in most Pokemon games is reliant on overcoming Gym Leaders, battling strangers, and stopping off at the town's local Pokemon Center, the series' reliance on other inhabitants is far more prominent than its hero-focused Legend of Zelda or Mario contemporaries. Skipping from city to city is customary with the majority of Pokemon games, so Pokemon Legends: Arceus' somewhat lonely adventure feels like it's missing the series' pillar. Conversely, Horizon Forbidden West is a far less solitary affair than its predecessor, and though Aloy's mission is largely completed alone, the settlements are a welcome addition, and do well to make the area feel more fleshed out.

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Horizon's Success Becomes Pokemon's Problem

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Horizon Forbidden West succeeds largely thanks to its advancements on an already incredible experience. By implementing a handful of eclectic, and memorable settlements that Aloy can stop, resupply, and regroup in, the harshness of the Forbidden West is made all the more manageable. Pokemon Legends: Arceus on the other hand is a promising first step into a new gameplay formula that Pokemon Violet and Scarlet could look to refine further. However, as each respective franchise currently stands, the way in which Horizon Forbidden West handles its settlements reveals a significant flaw in Pokemon Legends: Arceus' game design.

Horizon Forbidden West is available now on PS4, and PS5.

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