Welcome to our comprehensive guide to mastering Horizon Forbidden West! In this guide, we will cover everything you need to know about the game's quests, outfits, skills, weapons, collectibles, and more. With our help, you will become a skilled hunter and uncover the secrets of this mysterious world.
1. Customize Your Settings for Optimal Gameplay
Before diving headfirst into Horizon Forbidden West, it's essential to take some time to customize your settings for an optimal gameplay experience. Make sure to adjust aspects like difficulty level, control configuration, and accessibility options so that they suit your preferences and abilities.
- Experiment with Difficulty Levels: The game offers various difficulty levels, from Story Mode for those who wish to focus solely on narrative progression to Ultra Hard Mode for seasoned players seeking an intense challenge. Feel free to switch between difficulty levels if you find that your current choice is either too easy or too challenging.
- Customize Controls: Take advantage of customizable controls by remapping buttons according to your preferences or any physical limitations you may have.
- Explore Accessibility Options: Horizon Forbidden West offers a range of accessibility options designed to make the game more inclusive for all players. These include settings related to vision, hearing, motor functions, and cognitive accessibility.
2. Choose Between Performance and Resolution Modes
Horizon Forbidden West boasts stunning visuals that can be further optimized by choosing between Performance and Resolution Modes in the settings menu. If you prioritize smooth gameplay with faster frame rates, select Performance Mode. If you prefer higher-resolution graphics and better image quality at the expense of slightly lower frame rates, choose Resolution Mode.
3. Master Combat Techniques
Combat is an integral part of Aloy's journey in Horizon Forbidden West, so it's crucial to familiarize yourself with her arsenal of weapons and abilities. Here are some tips to help you become a formidable force in battle:
- Experiment with Weapons: Aloy has access to an impressive array of weapons, from bows and slingshots to spearguns and trip casters. Each weapon serves a unique purpose, so be sure to experiment with different combinations to find your preferred playstyle.
- Upgrade Your Gear: As you progress through the game, you'll have the opportunity to enhance your weapons and armor with modifications that can drastically improve their performance. Keep an eye out for upgrade materials and invest in crafting the best gear possible.
- Learn Enemy Weaknesses: Each enemy type in Horizon Forbidden West has specific weaknesses that can be exploited for massive damage. Familiarize yourself with these vulnerabilities by scanning enemies with your Focus and adjust your tactics accordingly.
4. Develop Aloy's Skills and Abilities
As Aloy gains experience, she'll earn skill points that can be invested in various abilities across three skill trees – Prowler, Brave, and Forager. Choose skills that complement your preferred playstyle or focus on a balanced approach by investing in all three skill trees.
5. Explore the World Thoroughly
Horizon Forbidden West's vast open world is filled with hidden treasures, side quests, collectibles, and breathtaking vistas waiting to be discovered:
- Seek Out Datapoints: Scattered throughout the game world are datapoints that provide valuable insight into the history of the world before its collapse. These data points come in various forms, such as text logs, audio recordings, and holographic projections.
- Complete Side Quests: Engaging in side quests not only fleshes out the game's narrative but also rewards you with valuable resources, experience points, and sometimes even unique items.
- Discover Collectibles: Keep an eye out for collectible items like metal flowers, ancient vessels, Banuk figures, and more. Collecting these items can unlock valuable rewards and provide insight into the world's lore.
6. Utilize Aloy's Focus and Override Abilities
Aloy's Focus is an invaluable tool for scanning the environment, revealing enemy weaknesses, tracking their movements, and uncovering hidden secrets. Additionally, Aloy can override certain machines to turn them into allies or even use them as mounts for faster traversal.
7. Outfits and Their Benefits
Outfits play a crucial role in Horizon Forbidden West by providing protection and enhancing specific abilities. There are four types of outfits:
- Heavy armor: Offers maximum protection but slows down movement speed.
- Medium armor: Provides balanced protection while maintaining mobility.
- Light armor: Prioritizes agility over defense but offers minimal damage reduction.
- Stealth armor: Maximizes stealth capabilities for sneaking past enemies or launching surprise attacks.
Choose your outfit according to your preferred playstyle or adapt it to suit specific situations.
8. Skills Overview
Aloy starts with basic skills but can acquire new ones throughout her journey. Skills are grouped into three categories:
- Prowler: Focuses on stealth abilities such as silent takedowns or increased movement speed while crouched.
- Brave: Enhances combat capabilities with stronger melee attacks or increased weapon damage.
- Forager: Improves survival aspects like gathering resources or crafting items more efficiently.
Allocate skill points earned by leveling up wisely to enhance Aloy's strengths according to your playstyle.
9. Valor Surges: Powerful Combat Abilities
Valor Surges are special abilities that can turn the tide of battle in your favor. You can acquire and upgrade them by obtaining Valor Cores throughout the game. Some examples of Valor Surges include:
- Earthshaker: Unleashes a powerful ground slam that knocks down nearby enemies.
- Whirlwind: Creates a tornado that damages and disorients foes caught in its path.
- Resurgence: Restores health over time for a short duration.
10. Weapons Guide
Horizon Forbidden West offers a vast array of weapons to suit various playstyles:
- Bows: Silent and precise, bows are ideal for long-range engagements and stealthy assaults.
- Slingshots: Launch elemental projectiles to exploit enemy weaknesses or create area-of-effect attacks.
- Melee weapons: Deal devastating close-range damage with powerful swings or quick, agile strikes.
Experiment with different weapon types and find the ones that best suit your approach to combat.
11. Collectibles Locations
Scattered throughout Horizon Forbidden West are numerous collectibles, ranging from hidden relics to unique items. Keep an eye out for:
- Audio logs: Provide insight into the game's lore and backstory.
- Artifacts: Reveal more about the world's history and culture.
- Machine Cores: Can be used to upgrade Aloy's equipment or sold for currency.
Exploring every corner of the world will reward you with these valuable collectibles.
12. Checklists, Trophies, FAQs, and More
To help you keep track of your progress and obtain all available achievements:
- Use in-game checklists to monitor completed quests or found collectibles.
- Consult online trophy guides for tips on earning difficult achievements.
- Visit community forums or FAQs for answers to common questions or assistance with challenging areas.
In conclusion, mastering Horizon Forbidden West requires dedication, exploration, and strategic thinking. By following this guide and tailoring your approach to the game, you will become a skilled hunter capable of overcoming any challenge that stands in your way. Good luck, and happy hunting!