Horizon Call of the Mountaintakes the franchise in a new direction, allowing gamers to experience the future dystopian world in stunning virtual reality. Thanks to the PS VR2’s advanced features - including haptic feedback and eye tracking - the experience is as immersive as can be, and it is very easy to forget about reality and sink into the dangerous world of machines.Horizon Call of the Mountainis a fun, albeit short, experience, though it does drop in quality when it comes to combat. This could be a sign that a spin-off game without combat would be a good idea.
The bulk ofCall of the Mountain’s gameplay involves exploration and traversal. These are some of the best moments in the game because they are exhilarating while providing some jaw-dropping views of theCarja Sundom. A future spin-off title, perhaps one set in a time when the Derangement is no longer a threat, could have players peacefully exploringHorizon’s sublime world in VR without fear of being attacked.
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The Gameplay of Horizon Call of the Mountain
Call of the Mountainfocuses on Ryas, aShadow Carja who is on a quest for redemption. To do this, he must complete several tasks to acquire a pardon. These tasks have climbing perilous heights and sparring with ferocious machines. For most of the game, players will be exploring. This involves entering caves, scaling mountainsides, swinging from ropes, and leaping across yawning chasms. These are the most exciting moments of the game, as they provide a sense of discovery. Additionally, players also get a good feel of VR gaming and its potential, as various styles of movement are tested in creative ways.
When Ryas is up against machines, gameplay changes a bit. Players can no longer move freely, and instead, they skirt around the edge of the arena as they dodge attacks from the machines. Dodging attacks can be a bit of a cumbersome task when using gesture controls, especially when players also need to concern themselves with reloading their bow and firing their own shots. There are also plenty of opportunities for movement to not be detected, leading to players getting hit by attacks they should have dodged. Overall, the machine combat is still exciting, though it is a low point ofCall of the Mountain’s gameplay.
A New Horizon Spin-Off Should Stick to Exploration
Should Guerrilla Games choose to exploreHorizon’s world in VR once again, it would be nice to have a spin-off title that does not feature any combat. This could come occur after thethirdHorizongame, once Nemesis has (hopefully) been defeatedand the Derangement has ended. Such a game could have players exploring regions ofHorizon’s world, enjoying the traversal, and taking in the amazing sights without worrying about attacks from machines and malevolent tribes. AHorizongame where players venture through the snowy lands of The Cut or explore the various nooks and crannies of the Forbidden West in VR could provide a peaceful experience similar to what games likeKayak VR: Mirageoffer.
Horizon’s first step into VR has been successful, and it serves as a wonderfulintroduction to the PlayStation VR2. The combat could certainly use a little more polishing, or it could be ditched altogether for a game more focused on traversal and exploration, whichCall of the Mountainexcels at. Either way, the franchise’s future in the VR realm has the potential to be very fruitful.
Horizon Call of the Mountainis available now on PS VR2.
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