HFW genre

• “Horizon Forbidden West” was developed by Guerilla Games and released on PlayStation consoles in 2022.
• The representation of gender identities, ethnicity, and power in "Horizon Forbidden West" is open to everyone.
• Players assume the role of Aloy, a skilled hunter and archer, to battle against mechanical beasts in a quest to save the world from another apocalypse.
• The combat sequences in “Horizon Forbidden West” are exciting, and the game world is full of fascinating lore, compelling characters, and stunning visuals, so it no surprise Sony sold over 8 million copies of the title worldwide in its first year.
• “Horizon Forbidden West” combines the physical challenges of real-time combat with a highly developed story full of interesting characters and rich landscapes, making it a hybrid of action and role-playing conventions.
• Quick response times and good hand-eye coordination are essential to battle the deadly machines in “Horizon Forbidden West”, but you will also need plenty of wit and patience to solve the puzzles and save the world.
• The action genre emphasises real-time gameplay and combat with the player taking control of the hero to overcome challenges and defeat enemies.
• In the tutorial mission, “Reach for the Stars”, Aloy tells Varl she “ran into a lot of trouble” on the way to the ruins and “lost a lot of… gear”, so you start the sequel with just the basic hunter bow and spear in your inventory.
• Foraging for ridge-wood is crucial in “Horizon Forbidden West” as it is used to craft hunter arrows.
• Most action games feature an enhanced targeting system, and “Horizon Forbidden Dawn” has its own concentration mode which slows down time and zooms towards your target to help you release the perfect shot.
• Stealth kills can be performed with the spear in “Horizon Forbidden West”, and both strategies require sharp reflexes.
• More weapons, upgrades and powerups become available as you progress through the story in “Horizon Forbidden West”, including the elemental bombs launched from Blastslings and Spike Throwers.
• The chronology of computer games rely on proairetic (action) codes to sequence actions and events in the narrative.
• The Focus is an augmented reality device worn by Aloy to help her process objects in the environment, target weaknesses in the machines, and decode other datapoints for information.
• The gameplay experience is mostly spent searching for a repair, embarking on exciting quests, revealing secrets, making choices, and developing new skills and abilities.
• The Focus makes a great user interface to experience the world.
• Dalgard, data screens, constellations, and the orbit of an exoplanet are typical signifiers used in science fiction films.
• The disequilibrium occurs when Aloy realises Sylens stole HADES.
• The machines are another obvious signifier found in science fiction.
• The opening credits roll while Aloy rides a machine through the wastelands towards the region referred to as the Forbidden West.
• The representation of these mechanical monsters is important for the game’s age rating because the graphic violence and intense combat events mostly contain fantasy elements with only occasional melees against human enemies.
• There are also plenty of hermeneutic (enigma) codes in “Horizon Forbidden West” to create suspense and prompt the player to uncover secrets.
• The disruption occurs when Aloy realises Sylens stole HADES.
• The promotional material for the game challenges players to overcome new enemies, uncover the mystery behind the blight and “restore order and balance to the world”.
• For symbolic codes, there are plenty of binary oppositions to analyse, such as the central conflict between the natural world and advanced technology.
• The amount of combat does place the action firmly in the PEGI 16 category.
• The pulse of sound coming through the controller’s speaker when you use the Focus draws the player further into the story.
• Small splatters of blood are depicted when you kill animals and people.
• The level of detail in the game is incredible, with semantic codes communicating meanings to the player in every moment.
• Role-playing games emphasise character development more than most other computer game genres, so it is crucial to represent Aloy as a vulnerable and dynamic character who is capable of change.
• Aloy is a “champion for all humankind”.
• The Uses and Gratifications theories suggest that players will engage with “Horizon Forbidden Dawn” because it offers diversion and is supposed to be fun.
• The developers of “Horizon Forbidden West” aim to deliver a good balance between the freedom of an open world with more linear gameplay to avoid frustrating players.
• “Horizon Forbidden West” contains 28 side quests and 20 errands, but the 17 main story quests and 3 interludes provide a clear structure and narrative for players to follow.
• Aloy is the red-haired protagonist of “Horizon Forbidden West”, exiled from the Nora tribe for being a “no-mother”, raised by another outcast, Rost, who trained her to survive and prepared her for the life-changing journey to uncover her true origins and the mysteries of the past.
• In open world games, players have more choice over the order they complete the quests and errands.
• The Guided mode in “Horizon Forbidden West” provides tips on your destination and the distance you need to cover, while the Explorer setting does not offer these tips.
• Open worlds can leave players feeling disorientated and confused.
• The open world of “Horizon Forbidden West” offers various landscapes for players to explore and experience.
• The game encourages players to discover hidden locations and uncover secrets by rewarding them with optional items and powerups.