The launch of Horizon Forbidden West is scheduled for February next year and instead of releasing one more gameplay trailer, the developers have decided to detail lead character Aloy’s new abilities with a set of GIFs. Everything from the game’s grapple hook to a holographic umbrella will make its way into this much-awaited sequel.
A lot of agility has been brought to vertical traversal thanks to the grapple hook, while there’s also the introduction of underwater swimming, which is made all the more interesting by the fact that machines can go underwater too. Gliding in the air using the Shieldwing can not only provide a great view of the environment but also give an advantage during combat while playing Horizon Forbidden West.
A new free-climbing system has been introduced to the game. Rocky surfaces within the game are freely climbable without the use of tribal handholds, which is a huge departure from the previous game, Horizon Zero Dawn. The grappling hook, called a Pullcaster, allows players to swiftly and easily ascend the environment, while also enabling the dynamic manipulation of objects in the environment.
A workbench will be making its way into the game, where Aloy will be able to upgrade her weapons and outfits. A completely redesigned skill tree finds its way into Forbidden West, featuring skills that synergize with those that are either already present on outfits or need to be unlocked on them.
Dennis Zopfi, Lead Combat Designer, Guerilla Games, says, “We put a lot of effort into creating more choice and depth for the players, and are super excited to see how people will play as Aloy with so many new possibilities of skills, weapons and gear she can obtain throughout the mysterious Forbidden West. We had a lot of fun creating cool and powerful combinations for players to discover, and we hope people will enjoy the game when it launches!”
February 18 has been marked as the release date of Horizon Forbidden West for the PS4 and PS5.