10 Things We Want From Horizon Zero Dawn 2
Will it be called Horizon One Dawn? We doubt it.
Horizon Zero Dawn was first released back in 2017, developed by Guerrilla Games. Since then Aloy has become one of the most iconic characters in modern gaming.
Aloy’s journey was widely celebrated for its fantastic environments, story, RPG mechanics and great voice acting. It’s one of the finest open world games of the modern generation, and that’s why many want to see a sequel.
There’s been no official statement confirming a sequel, but voice actress Janina Gavankar did tell a fan to “wait until you see the sequel” at the Star Wars Celebration in October. It may not be much to go on, but it’s enough to get all Horizon Zero Dawn fans excited.
Here’s 10 things we really want to see in Horizon Zero Dawn 2, whenever it is released.
Don’t be a killjoy; give us more Aloy
Aloy is presented as an awesome kick-ass female protagonist in Horizon Zero Dawn. She is confident, independent, and highly skilled in combat. But more importantly, her backstory is deep and meaningful, making her a very well-rounded character who endears every player who took control of her
Simply put, we want more Aloy. Although the majority of her mystery was solved in Horizon Zero Dawn, it’s hard to imagine a sequel without her included. She’s such a vital component to what made the game such a big success, and we hope to see Aloy return once more.
Environments to explore
The open world in Horizon Zero Dawn is absolutely fantastic. There’s so much to see and do, and we want more of this. So much of what makes an open world great is content, and the world of Horizon Zero Dawn is so full of things to do that hours can be lost simply exploring.
Whether it’s the rustic villages, a vast wilderness, or even futuristic settings, Horizon Zero Dawn has it all. Quite honestly, the highly engaging story would not work without the setting as so much is dependent on it. We hope to be as equally impressed with the setting to the sequel.
Machines 2.0
In the futuristic setting of Horizon Zero Dawn, the machines dominate the lands and skies. There’s a variety of different types of machines too, and each has their own characteristics. But in the sequel, we want to see an even wider range. We’d also love to see the machines play a bigger part in the overall story, and not just the setting.
Too often in Horizon Zero Dawn we’re fighting against very similar enemy types, and once their patterns have been learned they can be defeated much more simply. In the sequel we’d like to see a wider variety, and more that give that ‘wow’ effect, just like the Tallnecks.
Not just the trifecta of tribes
In the post-apocalyptic world of Horizon Zero Dawn the tribes coexist with the machines. Relics from the ‘Old Ones’ are still spoken of, but it’s a civilisation that has devolved into tribes. In Horizon Zero Dawn three main factions are focused upon: the Nora, the Carja, and the Oseram.
We’d like to see even more tribes added to the sequel. Each tribe has fully identifiable traits, and it would be great to come across more. More tribes means more potential conflict, and new secrets that could be unravelled by Aloy.
Tribes at war
The relations between the tribes can range from friendly to hostile. In Horizon Zero Dawn we can see the Carja being much more aggressive, and even join with the Oseram. It’s great to see that each faction is lifelike and ever-changing, but we’d love to see even more of this in a sequel.
Take Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas for example, which is one of the best games to feature rival gangs. Each gang has their own territory, and it can be won at any point, but it also needs protecting. It would be brilliant to see lands that can won in Horizon Zero Dawn 2, and having to protect them would heighten the sense of tension and excitement.
More developed side characters
Horizon Zero Dawn features an array of minor characters who support the overall plot. However, these characters are pretty forgettable, and none of them have backstories quite as defined as Aloy. Sylens is by far the most intriguing side character, and we’d love to see more like him.
If Horizon Zero Dawn does feature more tribes, we’d love to see a system put in place similar to the Nemesis system from Shadow of Mordor and Shadow of War. It allows each character to have their own motives defined, and for the character development to be more realistic. If implemented well, a system like this could add a lot to the game.
Better combat
When it comes to taking down the machines, Aloy is brilliant. Horizon Zero Dawn offers some spectacular takedowns when done right. However, combat against humans is rather lacklustre – and it would be nice to see this improved upon in the sequel.
There are plenty of great examples of games based around refined combat experiences, and we hope that the sequel can live up to these standards. Make it less of a swing-and-hope-for-the-best situation, and more based on timing, counters, and choosing the right moments.
Deeper side quests
Horizon Zero Dawn has a multitude of side quests on offer, and these did vary in type, but they never truly felt properly developed. In comparison to the main story, tackling the side missions just felt a little lacking, and at times occasionally a chore that’s there simply to help levelling up.
For the sequel to be on the level of modern classics such as The Witcher 3 and Breath of the Wild, there needs to be more of an investment in the side quests. They should feed into the development of side characters, and provide a deeper narrative that complements the game’s main story.
More variety in machines to ride
From Striders to Thunderjaws, there are a variety of Machines that can be tamed by Aloy, which she can then use to ride across the map. There are five in total in Horizon Zero Dawn – but we’d like to see even more in a sequel. Variety is the spice of life, as they say.
We’d also love to see Horizon Zero Dawn 2 offer the chance to tame a Machine that can fly. Watching the Stormbirds soar is always incredible – but imagine being able to grab onto the back of one! Flying could be a true game changer, and we hope to see it in the sequel to Horizon Zero Dawn.
Improved graphics
Horizon Zero Dawn is an absolutely gorgeous game. From setting, to costumes, and machines, the overall graphics were breathtaking. But, with no formal announcement for a sequel yet, it seems we could be waiting a while, and it’s more likely that a Horizon Zero Dawn 2 will release on next-generation hardware.
If that’s the case, we want it to lead the way in cutting edge technology. It needs to push the PlayStation 5 to its limits and create an even more incredible world for us to explore. Immersion is so important in any good RPG, and graphics could go a long way in helping that.
