Horizon Zero Dawn laid the groundwork for a ton of worldbuilding, especially with a memorable narrative reveal near its conclusion. While it was narratively satisfying, there were many changes fans hoped to see in Horizon Forbidden West. One such change was an improvement to Horizon Zero Dawn’s traversal, with the hope that Aloy would be able to free-climb as fluidly as Link does in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. This wish was not granted, but Horizon Forbidden West does improve upon combat and traversal, and adds a thorough skill tree.
Horizon Forbidden West introduced better combination potential for its melee spear combat, but its traversal truly outshines the predecessor. Aloy is now able to swim infinitely with a particular gadget, scale rock faces somewhat freely, grapple to perches, or glide safely from any height. Where Horizon Forbidden West excels the most by expanding RPG mechanics in a skill tree more diverse and rewarding than Horizon Zero Dawn’s, setting a foundation that Guerrilla should build on in future Horizon games.
Horizon Forbidden West’s Skill Trees Personalize RPG Builds
Horizon Forbidden West’s skill tree is elaborate and a fantastic aid in progression. Players must purchase individual nodes that cost a predetermined number of skill points, and make their way down one of six branches: Warrior, Trapper, Hunter, Survivor, Infiltrator, and Machine Master. Each branch has its own niche abilities and passive buffs for a particular playstyle, such as an emphasis on spear melee mastery, stealth, or the player’s ability to override and mount certain machines.
If players are disinterested in a particular mechanic, they are afforded the option to not spend points on those abilities. Each skill path is neatly assigned to its own unmistakable branch, so players know where they need to look if they want to progress in one area over another. One of the most significant improvements to the skill tree adds entire abilities for specific weapons, dubbed techniques. Techniques include attacks such as Triple Notch for the Hunter Bow, Sustained Burst for the Boltblaster, and Penetrating Rope for the Ropecaster.
These are unlockable abilities that drain a stamina bar, which needs to be replenished before a technique can be used again. Only one technique can be equipped to a weapon at a time, but it makes swapping weapons more exciting and strategic if players have an assortment of effective weapons and techniques in their arsenal.
Horizon Forbidden West’s Valor Surges Should Only Be the Beginning
Techniques are essential to any player’s diverse catalog of weapons in Horizon Forbidden West. While techniques are specific to different weapons, there is a new ability mechanic that behaves independently.
Players build up a purple meter in Horizon Forbidden West called valor, which they can exhaust to perform a cinematic animation for buffs. These buff abilities are called Valor Surges, and are unlocked across the skill tree at different tiers. Valor Surges are typically activated mid-battle due to their temporary effects. Overshield, for example, buffs Aloy with a damage-absorbing shield that recharges if the player has unspent valor.
Likewise, Toughened replenishes the player’s health over time and raises their resistance to status effects, which could turn the tide in a dire hunt. The quick cutscene animations that occur after popping a Valor Surge are exceptional, demonstrating Horizon Forbidden West’s graphical fidelity as Aloy uncorks a potion with her mouth or activates an ancient armguard.
In future sequels, the Horizon franchise should concentrate on how to make techniques and Valor Surges even more essential. These mechanics are now definitive for the franchise, and each branch of the skill tree has a lot of room to expand if new techniques and Valor Surges are considered.
It would also be exciting to see how the Old Ones' technology from an ancient past could be introduced in terms of skill trees, where techniques and Valor Surges could potentially activate other weapons or gear not fashioned by any tribe or hunter. Machines are already mountable and can be overridden, but a sequel could debut new ways to combat them or turn them to Aloy's side through skill tree upgrades.
Gadgets and Other Items Should Have Future Skill Tree Upgrades
In Horizon Forbidden West’s inevitable sequel, Guerrilla will have the daunting task of making Horizon’s skill tree even more expansive and rewarding. This could be done by introducing a slew of new weapons, which would effectively introduce new techniques or passives to boost throughout skill branches.
Horizon has had only one melee weapon thus far, and perhaps including another could be favorable. Having an individual skill tree branch for each weapon might be interesting, if not overwhelming or cumbersome. There are many builds players can consider in Horizon Forbidden West, though they may want to have a well-rounded experience instead.
Fortunately, Horizon Forbidden West has enough optional activities and hunts to engage with, meaning players are never low on XP if they wish to peruse a skill tree branch that they previously ignored. Trying to add in even more features and mechanics may be desirable, but Horizon already leaves a lot on players’ plates, and a sequel may wish to reinforce or refine those features before adding more.
Gadgets and other items introduced in Horizon Forbidden West, such as the Pullcaster and Shieldwing, may want their own skill tree branches as well, with new functions or stats provided. Further, swimming could be the next feature improved in a profound way, where Horizon could introduce hunts and battles underwater that are influenced by skill tree abilities. Either way, Horizon’s future is exciting as the franchise continues to improve significantly with each installment.
Horizon Forbidden West is available now for PS4 and PS5.