Horizon Forbidden West Avoids Open World Filler By Giving POIs Purpose
Am I the only one that played Horizon Forbidden West all weekend long and got absolutely nowhere? I know there’s a big important job to do and I’m the only one that can do it, but I just can’t help getting distracted by all the shiny objects along the way. It’s been a long time since I last let myself get this lost in an open-world game, and I think it’s a testament to Horizon Forbidden West’s exceptional points of interest that I never feel like I’m wasting my time by getting sidetracked. All the optional activities scattered across the Forbidden West feel intentional and purposeful, largely thanks to clever narrative decisions and overlapping systems that make side quests matter. Unlike most open world games, nothing in Horizon Forbidden West ever feels like filler.
Modern open world games emphasize quantity over quality. Assassin’s Creed and Far Cry fans may appreciate the opportunity to dump hundreds of hours in by roaming around the world checking off map markers by completing simple, similar tasks, but as someone that plays a lot of different games, I just can’t justify doing busy work. I appreciate when games respect my time and tend to avoid open world games for that reason. I didn’t even jive well with Marvel’s Spider-Man - a universally beloved PS4 game - because of how much of a chore its missions were. Maybe you liked finding hidden back packs and chasing pigeons, but I did not.
Related: Horizon Forbidden West Shines Brightest In Las Vegas
Horizon Forbidden West’s side activities are on a whole different level. Practically every question mark on the map leads to a unique challenge supported by an interesting story that rewards valuable items for progression. There’s nothing I would consider busy work because
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