Guerrilla’sHorizonfranchise is arguably one of PlayStation’s most thrilling IPs nowadays, and that’s not even necessarily only due to its rich story and unique science-fiction/post-apocalypse elements. Indeed,Horizonhas taken intriguing strides with its VR title,Horizon Call of the Mountain, an upcoming movie replacing plans for a series adaptation, and an ‘Online Project’ multiplayer game that was confirmed by Guerrilla back in December 2022 as part of a jobs listing post. As for its roots as a single-player action-RPG franchise, though,Horizon’s future seems more or less assured.
Horizon Forbidden Westimproved onHorizon Zero Dawnin nearly every way imaginable. Most notably, perhaps,Horizon Forbidden West’s traversal and mobility optionsfacilitate a more fluid experience between the Shieldwing Glider, Pullcaster, and Sunwing and Waterwing flying mounts. However, with flying mounts not being unlocked until extremely late inHorizon Forbidden West, it’ll be fascinating to see whatHorizon 3does to push envelopes further in terms of gameplay, especially considering how narrowly focused the series’ gameplay has proven to be in two mainline entries thus far.
PlayStation’s Latest Trend Has Been Companion and Ally Stories
It wouldn’t be fair to claim thatevery first-party PlayStation studiohas adopted this core premise, but it’s been quite apparent how popular companion and ally systems have been, particularly with a main protagonist accompanied for a prolonged period by one or more NPCs. This is no truer than inThe Last of UsandGod of War, with both even tackling rocky parent-child dynamics.
Plus, if there isn’t someone along for the journey, like howGhost of TsushimaandDeath Strandinghave reveled in the lonesome exploration of vast landscapes, side character NPCs will still play a big role within a narrative full of epic cinematic spectacle, as is the case inHorizon Zero DawnandHorizon Forbidden West. Moreover, a prominent and recurring throughline of this NPC ally trope in PlayStation franchises is that side characters, or even minor protagonists, are established as characters who either rise to the same status as the original mascot or supplant them wholly.
Obvious exceptions exist, and not every ally-related narrative has been cookie-cutter, either. But, while other landmark PlayStation blockbusters lately have revolved around character-driven stories with NPCs and often planted seeds in their side characters to one day have them be as or more significant than the series’ mascot, there is reason to believeHorizonwill continue to stray from that path.
Horizon May Have Missed the Companion System Bandwagon, But That Could Be Its Greatest Advantage
Either way, with gameplay being so similar betweenHorizon Zero DawnandHorizon Forbidden West, it is incredibly unlikely thatHorizon 3will make seismic shifts in core mechanics. IfHorizonwas going to have another character replace Aloy or join her as a second playable character, much less have a dedicated character follow her around at the hip at all times—a storytelling deviceGod of WarandDeath Stranding 2: On the Beachtake quite literally with Mimir and Dollman, respectively—it probably would’ve done so already.
IfHorizon 3is the lastHorizongame somehow, or the last game of a proposed trilogy, for instance, it’d be far too late and debatably superfluous to suddenly make NPC allies a fundamental feature. Rather, there are clearly plans to sustain theHorizonIPbeyond its standard outings, and there are plenty of characters who’ve been given the development needed to potentially reinforce them as playable characters in the future if Guerrilla wishes to bench Aloy.
