After two highly successful single-player action RPGs, theHorizon Zero Dawnfranchise has entered the VR space.Horizon: Call of the Mountainbrings players on a brand-new journey within theHorizonworld, it expands this series in new ways, and introduces fans to a new cast of characters that call this world home. While the VR experience is not perfect, this feels like a worthy entry in Guerrilla Games' fast-growing franchise.
Horizon: Call of the Mountainis the first spin-off of theHorizonseries, and hopefully it will not be the last. There are so many stories that could be told in theHorizonworld, and the spin-offs should not be relegated to PS VR2.Horizon: Call of the Mountainmay help sell more PSVR2s, but non-VR players also deserve to explore theHorizonworld through new eyes. If Guerrilla wants to make the best sci-fi series it can, then it needs to make sure thatHorizonis not stuck within the confines of VR.
RELATED:Why Horizon Forbidden West’s Sequel Could Be a Shorter Game
Horizon is Filled With Stories Waiting to Be Told
The world that Guerrilla Games created withHorizon: Zero Dawnis seeping with story potential. So far, players have only gotten to experience this post-apocalyptic machine-ridden United States from the eyes of series protagonist Aloy. Her journey forms the backbone of this franchise, and she will stop at nothing to ensure humanity’s survival. While her story may be interesting, there isfar more toHorizonthan just Aloy.
Horizon: Call of the Mountainis the first time that the series has let players experience this world through someone else. It puts players in control ofnew protagonist Ryas, a former Shadow Carja rebel who is trying to atone for his crimes. He must protect the Sundom from a new threat, and will do this alongside new and returning characters. It is an interesting new adventure within theHorizonseries, and it seems to be a great launch title for the PS VR2
It is nice to see theHorizonseries branch out from Aloy a bit, even if she is still present within the story. However, a lot of the fanbase has been left out of the spin-off fun unless they are willing topurchase a PS VR2. Locking the first majorHorizonspin-off on new hardware seems like an interesting choice, and it is hopefully not a sign of things to come.
The focus of theHorizonseries will likely be on Aloy for the foreseeable future, but that does not mean that moreHorizonspin-offs are out of the question.Spin-offs help expand franchisesin new ways and let fans see aspects of their favorite worlds that they may have never seen with the mainline series. They can help expand a world, fill it with new characters, and bring fans on exciting new journeys. Spin-offs can do a lot for a franchise, but they should not be relegated to a niche market like VR.
VR is still a niche market when compared to the entire gaming industry, but it is slowly growing. The cost of entry is still pretty high, and a lot of the games still pale in comparison to their console counterparts. EvenHorizon: Call of the Mountainis not on par withthe mainlineHorizonseries, but it does attempt to emulate some of the franchise’s most popular mechanics. While VR is getting better every year, it is still missing something, and locking the firstHorizonspin-off to the new VR headset feels like a disservice to the larger fanbase.
Sony likely hoped thatHorizon: Call of the Mountainwould drive PS VR2 sales, and it probably helped a bit. It is the first major spin-off of one of Sony’s biggest franchises right now, and it served as a launch title for the device. It makes sense that the studio would want to do something like this, and if it sold well then it will likely not be the last time. VR experiences are fun, butHorizonalso deserves non-VR spin-offsin the future. It could expand the franchise immensely, and let the majority of the fanbase explore the world through new eyes.
