Horizon Forbidden West: Concrete Beach Party Makes an Interesting Statement About Canon

gamerant.com:

Guerilla Games' 2017 hit Horizon Zero Dawn and its recent follow-up Horizon Forbidden West were a breath of fresh air in the video game market. In a medium that is flooded with remakes and sequels to decade-long series, a brand-new IP featuring a strong female protagonist was a welcome addition. The combination of an original open world setting with challenging but enjoyable gameplay ensured that both Horizon Zero Dawn and Horizon Forbidden West were hits, but the unique stories in both titles elevated them to another level. Exploring the post-apocalyptic landscape littered with antagonistic machines as the imperturbable Nora hunter Aloy gave players a chance to experience a vast world filled with surprisingly touching stories and moments of humanity.

While the broader story of Horizon Zero Dawn and Horizon Forbidden West has a satisfyingly wide scope, encompassing space-faring immortal humans, last-ditch world-saving attempts, and all-powerful AIs, it was the smaller moments that truly stood out amidst the action. Whether it was optional side missions or hidden stories within Horizon Zero Dawn: The Frozen Wilds DLC, there are some surprising connections between seemingly insignificant narrative details and the sequel. One, in particular, is the datapoints players can find during the first game's DLC which feature an unlikely musical collaboration and a touching friendship. The developer then includes references to this apparently non-essential narrative moment in Horizon Forbidden West, providing an insight into its view of canon storytelling.

Horizon Forbidden West Ending Explained

Horizon Zero Dawn: The Frozen Wilds was the only DLC that the first game received, and was met with praise from players who felt that Guerilla