The new forums will be named Coin Return (based on the most recent vote)! You can check on the status and timeline of the transition to the new forums here.
The Guiding Principles and New Rules document is now in effect.

[Horizon Forbidden West] Burning Shores - Out Now!

GMaster7GMaster7 Goggles PaesanoRegistered User regular
edited April 2023 in Games and Technology
The land is dying. Vicious storms and an unstoppable blight ravage the scattered remnants of humanity, while fearsome new machines prowl their borders. Life on Earth is hurtling towards another extinction, and no one knows why.

It's up to Aloy to uncover the secrets behind these threats and restore order and balance to the world. Along the way, she must reunite with old friends, forge alliances with warring new factions and unravel the legacy of the ancient past – all the while trying to stay one step ahead of a seemingly undefeatable new enemy.


fc9t1l4ao7b8.png
As a mega-fan of Horizon Zero Dawn, I have been eagerly anticipating Aloy's second chapter - and now that it's here, I figured we needed a new thread for it. Let me use this opportunity to share a few resources:

"23 Things I Wish I Knew Before Starting HFW" (Kotaku) - Really nice starting resource and some really useful tips.

"Horizon Zero Dawn - The Story So Far" (YouTube: Suggestive Gaming) - I spent an hour watching this recap of the first game, the Frozen Wilds DLC, and the more recent Horizon comics before jumping into HFW; it's a beat-by-beat recap of plot points and lore, much of which I had actually forgotten. Worth a watch if you want to catch up (there are also shorter, 15-20 min recaps from sites like GameSpot and IGN on YouTube).

Lego Tallneck - Coming May 1, 2022 for $79.99. Give it to me.

"Machine Strike: All Pieces and How to Play" (PushSquare) - I haven't actually looked at this guide yet, but I will. Seems like a really thorough resource for HFW's in-game minigame.

Hope everyone has a blast returning to the wonderful world of Horizon and exploring the Forbidden West.

hnbf0fmipser.png

PSN: SKI2000G | Steam: GMaster7 | Battle.net: GMaster7#1842
GMaster7 on
«13456740

Posts

  • GnomeTankGnomeTank What the what? Portland, OregonRegistered User regular
    More Aloy! Yay!

    Sagroth wrote: »
    Oh c'mon FyreWulff, no one's gonna pay to visit Uranus.
    Steam: Brainling, XBL / PSN: GnomeTank, NintendoID: Brainling, FF14: Zillius Rosh SFV: Brainling
  • GMaster7GMaster7 Goggles Paesano Registered User regular
    I'm off to Vermont for a few days (the Frozen Wilds!), so I may be delayed in updating the OP if anyone wants to add any resources or has any feedback... but hey, stop reading the OP anyway and go play HFW.

    I played a few hours today but plan to dive way in starting Monday. Feels great so far - and looks absolutely amazing.

    PSN: SKI2000G | Steam: GMaster7 | Battle.net: GMaster7#1842
  • ProhassProhass Registered User regular
    edited February 2022
    It takes a while to really get going but it definitely spends that early slow build-up capital really well once it does. Lots of wonderful little quiet moments and locations that work because the game takes time to build everything up slowly, fantastic characters as well, every damn npc looks so good and is acted so well, it’s great. So happy to be back in this world.

    And once again…holy shit the mocap on the faces

    Also yes give me that Lego tallneck

    Prohass on
  • KetarKetar Registered User regular


    John Carpenter continues living his best life as a retiree who games like a loon. And remains a man of exquisite taste.

  • GMaster7GMaster7 Goggles Paesano Registered User regular
    I would back John Carpenter on Patreon if he wanted to start a gaming podcast called "The Thing (I'm Playing)"

    PSN: SKI2000G | Steam: GMaster7 | Battle.net: GMaster7#1842
  • SpawnbrokerSpawnbroker Registered User regular
    I'm not very far in, just did the first side quest and some exploration in the beginning area.

    First off, that side quest was very fun. Was a nice little mini-setpiece dungeon type thing with some story.

    The motion capture is goddamn incredible. I don't know how they achieved this. Some of these characters look like real people.

    I turned on "always show climbing nodes" or whatever in the menu and I'm not turning it off. I like it better this way, Aloy always has the focus on anyways.

    Steam: Spawnbroker
  • klemmingklemming Registered User regular
    I turned on "always show climbing nodes" or whatever in the menu and I'm not turning it off. I like it better this way, Aloy always has the focus on anyways.
    On that, there's no 'always show pickup icons' option, is there? I've developed the nervous twitch of tapping R3 like I'm sending out constant sonar pulses.

    Nobody remembers the singer. The song remains.
  • SpawnbrokerSpawnbroker Registered User regular
    Oh no

    this game has Warhammer

    Steam: Spawnbroker
  • This content has been removed.

  • H0b0manH0b0man Registered User regular
    While I appreciate that the game marks my map when I come across something I don't have an item for, I feel like it's happening so often that the game is telling me "No fuck you. Stop exploring and go do the main quest"

    FFXIV: Agran Trask
  • ED!ED! Registered User regular
    Last night I was getting frustrated with the same shit I was getting frustrated with from the first game. . .then I did the main quest and opened some stuff up and was like, "Okay, I can start digging it." I then fiddled with the HDR settings in-game and finally the color exploded, and I was like "Alright, finally seeing the graphical punch." "Completed" the first town and now I'm firmly in the "Jesus, is this the largest jump in quality from an first to second game in the history of gaming?!*"

    . . .because that is what it is feeling like. The weapon wheel for example. I thought "Alright this is fantastic," then saw that the split elemental weapons and was like, "What the fuck!" and finally (after unlocking some weapon mods and upgrading) landed on "How many times have you ONLY needed Tearshot Arrows and wasted a single slot for them! You don't have six weapon slots - you have six options to now mix and match crowd control for a variety of enemy encounters." The traversal is still dog shit, they've double-downed on that stupid fade to black when saving (used to only be for Quicksave, now it's for Manual saves too) and Aloy stopping dead in her tracks to drink feels dumb (instead of just slow jogging), but everything else is coming together. I can see some people not liking how they've gone full RPG-mode but this is just such a leap over the first game that I think these criticisms are going to fade into the background after - well not after 10 hours because somehow I've already logged that amount of time and have 4% completion, but maybe the 20th or 30th hour.

    (*No. That distinction belongs to The Witcha 2. But this is a close second. . .second.)

    "Get the hell out of me" - [ex]girlfriend
  • H0b0manH0b0man Registered User regular
    Post Death's Door mission
    Ok, so Aloy has a 'sister' and there are assholes with future tech and I'm sure that's all big plot stuff, but that's not what's important.

    Varl shaved. What The Fuck.

    FFXIV: Agran Trask
  • DeadfallDeadfall I don't think you realize just how rich he is. In fact, I should put on a monocle.Registered User regular
    edited February 2022
    My special edition arrived today. Awesome steel book. My art book, though gorgeous, seems to be printed upside down.

    Like the first page is the last page, upside down. Maybe I got the ultra rare collectors misprint?

    Deadfall on
    7ivi73p71dgy.png
    xbl - HowYouGetAnts
    steam - WeAreAllGeth
  • knitdanknitdan Registered User regular
    edited February 2022
    My copy is "out for delivery" but I need to go into town today so I think I'll only have enough time to get everything set up

    Edit: installing now. 2 disc install projected to take over an hour aaaaaaaaa

    knitdan on
    “I was quick when I came in here, I’m twice as quick now”
    -Indiana Solo, runner of blades
  • SniperGuySniperGuy SniperGuyGaming Registered User regular
    Yes yes I know I need to get to the embassy but I HAVE TO BEAT THIS LADY IN MACHINE STRIKE FIRST

    MORE CHALLENGERS! BRING THEM TO ME!

  • GnomeTankGnomeTank What the what? Portland, OregonRegistered User regular
    Oh no

    this game has Warhammer

    This was my exact thought when I played Machine Strike. They added basic Warhammer to Horizon.

    Sagroth wrote: »
    Oh c'mon FyreWulff, no one's gonna pay to visit Uranus.
    Steam: Brainling, XBL / PSN: GnomeTank, NintendoID: Brainling, FF14: Zillius Rosh SFV: Brainling
  • JazzJazz Registered User regular
    This happened to a friend of mine. No spoilers (that I'm aware of).



    Horizon 2077? :lol:

  • Johnny ChopsockyJohnny Chopsocky Scootaloo! We have to cook! Grillin' HaysenburgersRegistered User regular
    edited February 2022
    Jazz wrote: »
    This happened to a friend of mine. No spoilers (that I'm aware of).



    Horizon 2077? :lol:

    Fuckin' got em

    In less fun bug news, I may have hit one for side mission progression? Apparently I should have gotten an early one from a conversation with Petra, but she hasn't said a thing about it and the area I'm supposed to go to to do it is locked off.

    Edit: Nevermind, it was waiting for story progression

    Johnny Chopsocky on
    ygPIJ.gif
    Steam ID XBL: JohnnyChopsocky PSN:Stud_Beefpile WiiU:JohnnyChopsocky
  • GnomeTankGnomeTank What the what? Portland, OregonRegistered User regular
    Anyone know where to find a Tear ammo weapon that doesn't require Tear ammo to get the components to upgrade it to actually have Tear ammo? :pensive:

    I have a bow with Tear ammo, but to unlock it I need a hard to get component from a machine that requires Tear ammo to knock it off.

    Sagroth wrote: »
    Oh c'mon FyreWulff, no one's gonna pay to visit Uranus.
    Steam: Brainling, XBL / PSN: GnomeTank, NintendoID: Brainling, FF14: Zillius Rosh SFV: Brainling
  • The Zombie PenguinThe Zombie Penguin Eternal Hungry Corpse Registered User regular
    Jazz wrote: »
    This happened to a friend of mine. No spoilers (that I'm aware of).



    Horizon 2077? :lol:

    Fuckin' got em

    Everyone knows that the Yeet is a traditional hunting method.

    Ideas hate it when you anthropomorphize them
    Steam: https://steamcommunity.com/id/TheZombiePenguin
    Stream: https://www.twitch.tv/thezombiepenguin/
    Switch: 0293 6817 9891
  • SniperGuySniperGuy SniperGuyGaming Registered User regular
    I did my first rebel camp and let me tell you, there are a LOT of stealth kill animations. And many of them are brutal

  • knitdanknitdan Registered User regular
    I had to quit for the day in the first area but I'm gonna be thinking about the game all night

    Got the new tool and immediately forgot how to use it

    Lol

    Also LOL at "yeah I lost all the cool shit I had between games" but only because you always, always, always have to rebuild your equipment loadout.

    “I was quick when I came in here, I’m twice as quick now”
    -Indiana Solo, runner of blades
  • Johnny ChopsockyJohnny Chopsocky Scootaloo! We have to cook! Grillin' HaysenburgersRegistered User regular
    GnomeTank wrote: »
    Anyone know where to find a Tear ammo weapon that doesn't require Tear ammo to get the components to upgrade it to actually have Tear ammo? :pensive:

    I have a bow with Tear ammo, but to unlock it I need a hard to get component from a machine that requires Tear ammo to knock it off.

    The OG Hunter Bow arrows do some great tearing, actually, especially if you slot a Tear Coil on it.

    ygPIJ.gif
    Steam ID XBL: JohnnyChopsocky PSN:Stud_Beefpile WiiU:JohnnyChopsocky
  • This content has been removed.

  • knitdanknitdan Registered User regular
    Loving some of the new enemy variants especially the weasel-Watchers (Burrowers)

    Can't wait until I get to kill one of the (big machines that show up in the opening area)

    “I was quick when I came in here, I’m twice as quick now”
    -Indiana Solo, runner of blades
  • The Dude With HerpesThe Dude With Herpes Lehi, UTRegistered User regular
    Whyyyyyyyyyyy couldn't they have made it so you can tag caches in forbidden West?

    And I was so excited to not have to spend so much time slowly looking around in focus mode having seen a preview where the focus was used like a pinging thing instead of "slow to a halt because you can easily miss any number of things if you don't stop and move at 1/10 speed and look everywhere" mode. Turns out the pinging is completely useless, particularly if you turn handhold highlights on in the menu. :(

    I think I might need to set Forbidden West aside and give the gameplay a break after just 100%ing Zero Dawn this past week (ended up getting the ng+/ultra hard achievements by just blasting through the main quest line and ignoring everything else). It could just be I'm burned out on the gameplay, which, while having some aesthetic and nominal changes, are largely the same (I'm sure it opens up later when you have access to more skills). Which isn't an inherently bad thing, but it's just a lot!

    Sure is purdy though! And while I can definitely notice the difference in resolution and detail in resolution mode, once you move that 30fps motion blur camera even slightly, all that detail is meaningless. Good for looking at the pretty things, but imo useless in gameplay. Performance mode, 100%, is the way to go.

    Steam: Galedrid - XBL: Galedrid - PSN: Galedrid
    Origin: Galedrid - Nintendo: Galedrid/3222-6858-1045
    Blizzard: Galedrid#1367 - FFXIV: Galedrid Kingshand

  • knitdanknitdan Registered User regular
    edited February 2022
    Is that what the weird audio cue I kept hearing was? Like a chirping that increases or decreases in volume?

    I heard it in a couple places but I couldn't figure out what it was trying to tell me.

    I was standing right under a climbing spot at least once though.

    knitdan on
    “I was quick when I came in here, I’m twice as quick now”
    -Indiana Solo, runner of blades
  • This content has been removed.

  • edited February 2022
    This content has been removed.

  • GrisloGrislo Registered User regular
    GMaster7 wrote: »
    I would back John Carpenter on Patreon if he wanted to start a gaming podcast called "The Thing (I'm Playing)"

    He can team up with Burch and revive her old "Hey Ash, whatcha playing?" show.

    Carpenter can play the Ash part, and Burch can be the foil this time. He can even remaster the synth score.

    This post was sponsored by Tom Cruise.
  • This content has been removed.

  • This content has been removed.

  • GnomeTankGnomeTank What the what? Portland, OregonRegistered User regular
    Orca wrote: »
    I think I'm just past the prologue and the facial animations and gestures are next level. They don't always stick the transitions between moods, and the lighting is still a little buggy (in one transition the white balance changed between camera cuts in the same scene, which was disorienting), but it looks really good on my PS4.

    I've clearly forgotten how to play this game on a console unfortunately. I am incredibly awkward moving, switching weapons, and my aiming would make even baby Aloy shake her head. The verticality is interesting but I'm not sold on it yet--we'll see, it's still early.

    The machines seem much more deadly this time around--or maybe it's because they're assuming you have half a clue going into the game. I'm sure if I was just off the back side of Zero Dawn with a controller I wouldn't feel this awkward.

    Overall, I'm quite satisfied so far, so here's hoping I don't end up fucked like Aegeri did because that sounds like a bug.

    I played HZD on the PS4 when it came out, with a controller. Than played it again this year on PC with KBAM. It's been...a transition to going back to controller for PS5. I miss the precision the PC offered.

    Sagroth wrote: »
    Oh c'mon FyreWulff, no one's gonna pay to visit Uranus.
    Steam: Brainling, XBL / PSN: GnomeTank, NintendoID: Brainling, FF14: Zillius Rosh SFV: Brainling
  • This content has been removed.

  • Genji-GlovesGenji-Gloves Registered User regular
    Well I had a strange thing happen last night while playing. Playing PS5 in performance and noticed it was hitching a little fps wise. By the time through this story encounter which puts you up against a couple of machines my FPS was like 3-4.

    I ended up having to reset after I literally played the fight all the way through. Hasn’t happened since or ever before.

  • JavenJaven Registered User regular
    Yeah that happened to me once too, during a very fast-paced chase segment. Wasn’t great.

  • ED!ED! Registered User regular
    HUNTING GROUNDS are still my least favorite part of this game.

    "Get the hell out of me" - [ex]girlfriend
  • This content has been removed.

  • JavenJaven Registered User regular
    Aegeri wrote: »
    I have to say, I feel like my equipment has been surpassed by machine armour and weapons very early compared to Zero Dawn in this game. A very brutal four way fight against apex machines was more difficult in this game than anything on the hardest difficulty in Zero Dawn.

    I'm definitely finding myself having to pay a lot more attention to inflicting status ailments much earlier in the game than I did in HZD, when I really only cared about it in Ultra Hard or in the DLC.

    Non-story spoilers
    The game also gates you a LOT more than HZD did, so you can't just like, run to all the hunting grounds, get a bunch of the best equipment, then be set for the rest of the game

  • klemmingklemming Registered User regular
    Orca wrote: »
    Also is literally everybody thirsty for Aloy? Jesus.
    Have you met Aloy? She's brilliant, she's beautiful, she's humble, and she's saved the lives of literally everybody she's met an average of more than once.
    I'd almost say the game needs a series of Mass Effect romance options.

    Story progression question:
    In story-gear terms, I just got the glider (and am now spelunking in the first Cauldron I can find to get some override options). How many main quests do I want to do to get the underwater breathing thing? I saw it in trailers, and oxygen meters give me enough anxiety that I'm just avoiding water until I can find it.

    Nobody remembers the singer. The song remains.
Sign In or Register to comment.