So...what the hell happened to the writing? Is the story going to get better? (No spoilers)

[Corrosion]

To preface: Horizon has been without a doubt one of my favorite modern IPs. I waited for so long for HZD to come out on PC and though it had some gameplay flaws, I found it exceedingly well-written and overall compelling. I collected all the data points, did the DLC to completion, and have like 150+ hours without getting the UH difficulty achievement.

Needless to say I've been looking forward to HFW; and having played around 10 hours of it gameplay wise it is everything I wanted. It also looks gorgeous, the machines are intricate and Nixxes has made one of the strongest PC ports ever.

This franchise gets a lot of random reactionary hate: Aloy not being "pretty," random misappropriations of feminism (because woman = feminism apparently) but when I read the lingering story critique, I was like eh, I'm sure it can't be that bad.

But it is. I just got past the first ""boss"" in a story mission and I had that sinking feeling I had when I was playing Deus Ex: Mankind Divided — great sequel in every way BUT the narrative. That entire fight was embarrassing, and Aloy has become a completely different person from HZD?

Only the side characters have been given more depth, which I enjoy. But for some reason the turn is into HARD sci-fi territory to the point where it looks the cast of Star Trek is joining the game. What's going on? Does this get better?

I appreciate that nothing they do can be as revolutionary as writing the backstory for the origin of the machines, but it feels like they're not trying. I will finish this game regardless but does anyone think they hit the highs of HZD's narrative at any point?

[Hydra_360ci]

I like what they did with the gameplay. First game knocking off stuff just gave you more hit damage and weakened attacks. Now it's a choice of quick battle or farm.

Though gamers still managed to break the game via a duplication glitch.

[SeiFeR]

It's called woke writing, that's why it's bad.

[Hydra_360ci]

First game had woke writing, too.
Though more girl NPC were prettier.... in the first game.

All the girls in this one look like that black girl that made movies in the 70's and 80's what's her face... OH..yeah... Grace Jones.

[Corrosion]

Sigh, no, "wokism" or whatever you think that word means is not why this game's writing is mid.

[Parry Hotter]

Everyone has an opinion about the story, for sure. But I'm with the majority here, the story had potential but then fell flat once certain characters entered the fray. Definitely elements of woke clearly sanctioned by some third party company that persuades heads of studios that their woke opinions/dialogue/characters are aligned with what games need in order to stay out of any legal issues concerning the woke ideology that has permeated throughout pop culture into entertainment.

[Gabi]

Diposting pertama kali oleh a passerby:

Diposting pertama kali oleh Corrosion:

I just got past the first ""boss"" in a story mission and I had that sinking feeling I had when I was playing Deus Ex: Mankind Divided — great sequel in every way BUT the narrative. That entire fight was embarrassing, and Aloy has become a completely different person from HZD?

Sorry, you just got past the first boss, which I'm assuming is the tutorial boss, and then immediately rushed to post about the writing? How are you even suppose to come to the conclusion that Aloy is a "completely different person" when you haven't even played 5% of the game?

Because how she behaves at the start of the game contradicts how she behaves when we last saw her and no solid reason is ever given. The writing for forbidden west is generally subpar with occasional moments of okayness.

[chipartist]

<spoilers alert!>
Regarding the final TBS boss, recall that the Horus was not an offensive machine that decimated the world all by itself, but instead was a massive mobile support system for the offensive machines. They did mainly repair and some fabrication. This was well-documented in HZD. The Scarabs (Corruptors) and Khopeshes (Death Bringers) were the principal offensive units. Londra had already enabled the Horus fabrication systems to build his spaceship, and so was familiar enough with it to also engage its arms and a few weapons. But he was not a pro operator, as can be heard as he mumbles about managing the beast while Aloy crawl;s through its innards.

Like all the machines and in particular the Khopesh, the Horus had an Achilles heel that even less tech-advanced weapons could target. although to be fair Aloy's arsenal is pretty damn high tech even if not using the Zenith weapon, with elemental and explosive payloads and more. As did the Eclipse forces, Londra let his conceit and arrogance lead him to believe no "primitives" could harm him, and it was his downfall.

The HFW main story I found well implemented, a little wordy at times but that only felt overdone in my first NG+. I thought the Zeniths were handled just right, enough exposure to set their role in the story, but what more can you do with what appear to be invulnerable foes? As the story unfolds it becomes clear why they are a background threat -- they are pursuing their own agenda and don't feel the tribes are a threat, so they ignore them. The scuffle with Erik seemed more contrived in terms of the set pieces and combat goals than most other "boss" fights in either game, but in many ways it was not much different than a number of the HZD fights including the finale -- Aloy dodging and shooting while facing overwhelming odds, and barely escaping with her life. It's what she does. And taking advantage of the environment is a mainstay tactic in both games.

I like the changes in Aloy's character. Yes, she is more abrasive, occasionally dismissive (but for the best of reasons) and at times even more sarcastic, but remember she's spent months in a fruitless search for a world-saving solution and is likely more that a little stressed by it all. Messiah complexes can do that. Cut her some slack. And be honest, would the complainers about the changes be as vocal about it if the main character was male? I doubt it. Aloy is a strong, proud, and uppity woman, and a lot of guys seem threatened by that. Too bad.

[Napalm®]

Diposting pertama kali oleh chipartist:

<spoilers alert!>
Regarding the final TBS boss, recall that the Horus was not an offensive machine that decimated the world all by itself, but instead was a massive mobile support system for the offensive machines. They did mainly repair and some fabrication. This was well-documented in HZD. The Scarabs (Corruptors) and Khopeshes (Death Bringers) were the principle offensive units. Londra had already enabled the Horus fabrication systems to build his spaceship, and so was familiar enough with it to also engage its arms and a few weapons. But he was not a pro operator, as can be heard as he mumbles about managing the beast while Aloy crawl;s through its innards.

Like all the machines and in particular the Khopesh, the Horus had an Achilles heel that even less tech-advanced weapons could target. although to be fair Aloy's arsenal is pretty damn high tech even if not using the Zenith weapon, with elemental and explosive payloads and more. As did the Eclipse forces, Londra let his conceit and arrogance lead him to believe no "primitives" could harm him, and it was his downfall.

If only the entire 21st century humanity, incomparably more numerous and technologically advanced, would have figured out you could shoot the coolant cells, the world would not have ended.
Hard not to ROFL.

I like the changes in Aloy's character. Yes, she is more abrasive, occasionally dismissive (but for the best of reasons) and at times even more sarcastic, but remember she's spent months in a fruitless search for a world-saving solution and is likely more that a little stressed by it all. Messiah complexes can do that. Cut her some slack. And be honest, would the complainers about the changes be as vocal about it if the main character was male? I doubt it. Aloy is a strong, proud, and uppity woman, and a lot of guys seem threatened by that. Too bad.

I'd say she's not abrasive enough. Most of the people she meets are at best not helping at all, and some are downright sabotaging her efforts.

[chipartist]

Diposting pertama kali oleh Napalm®:

If only the entire 21st century humanity, incomparably more numerous and technologically advanced, would have figured out you could shoot the coolant cells, the world would not have ended.
Hard not to ROFL.

As I understand it, the Faro plague was too far advanced in numbers for Enduring Victory to have any chance of success -- exponential population growth if I recall correctly. And many machines did fall, just not enough to make a difference.

I'd say she's not abrasive enough. Most of the people she meets are at best not helping at all, and some are downright sabotaging her efforts.

She does come off as much less willing to put up with uber-passive attitudes like the Utaru chorus' fatalism or Sylens' warmongering machinations, yet still has a core empathy that sustains her drive to find solutions and keeps her caring for her friends, allies, and the world in general. This contributes to her ability to think around the edges of problems to come up with viable answers.

[Hydra_360ci]

If you replay the first game... just briefly. (when she's already adult). Her voice is much softer in the first game than this one. I found it to play a pretty huge factor on my likeablity towards Aloy between the 2 games. Her VA got older, big surprise, right?

As for the attitude change.. that's on the voice director.