Horizon Forbidden West has quickly become one of the most popular open-world action role-playing games, praised for its stunning visuals, intricate storylines, and expansive world. As a sequel to Horizon Zero Dawn, Forbidden West continues the journey of Aloy, a fierce and resourceful hunter, as she embarks on a quest to save the world from looming threats. One of the game’s most appealing features is its vast open world, filled with secrets, side quests, collectibles, and hidden locations waiting to be discovered.
For many players, the question arises: When should you start exploring the world of the Forbidden West? Is it better to stick to the main questline, or should you dive into side content and exploration early on? In this article, we’ll explore the best time to begin your adventure and how exploring early on can benefit your overall gameplay experience.
Exploring Early vs. Focusing on the Main Story
While Horizon Forbidden West offers a lot of freedom, there’s an ongoing debate about whether it’s better to focus on the main story or start exploring the world right away. There are pros and cons to both approaches, so understanding what each offers can help you make the right decision for your playstyle.
- The Case for Exploring Early
- Unlocking Valuable Resources: One of the key benefits of early exploration is gathering valuable resources that will aid you in the main story. Scavenging for materials such as crafting components, upgrade materials, and special collectibles can give you a significant advantage as you progress. Early exploration also allows you to level up faster by discovering hidden caches, solving environmental puzzles, and completing side activities, which makes boss fights and main missions a little easier down the line.
- Leveling Up and Gaining Skills: Exploring the world of the Forbidden West early on helps Aloy level up by gaining experience through combat and exploration. Many of the game’s areas are filled with machine enemies that drop useful loot, allowing you to upgrade your gear and unlock new abilities. This can be especially helpful if you find the main story missions to be challenging at first. Side quests and challenges are designed to gradually ramp up the difficulty, giving you the chance to build Aloy’s power and unlock important upgrades.
- Finding Hidden Locations and Secrets: The world of Horizon Forbidden West is teeming with hidden locations, ancient ruins, and lost treasures. Some of the most rewarding experiences in the game are tucked away in off-the-beaten-path locations that are only accessible through exploration. These can range from small campsites and merchant settlements to secret entrances and underground bunkers. By exploring early, you’ll be rewarded with unique loot, new tools, and even collectible data points that deepen the story and lore.
- Variety of Side Quests and Activities: Horizon Forbidden West is packed with side content, including cauldrons, tallnecks, rebel camps, and bandit hideouts. These side quests and activities are not only fun to complete, but they also provide unique rewards that enhance your overall experience. For instance, completing a cauldron grants you new abilities to override more powerful machines, which will be essential for later parts of the game. By starting early, you can familiarize yourself with these mechanics and develop strategies for handling tougher challenges.
- The Case for Focusing on the Main Story
- Progressing the Narrative: If you’re more focused on the narrative and want to experience the core story of Horizon Forbidden West without distractions, it’s perfectly valid to focus on the main story. The game offers a well-paced narrative with emotionally charged moments and character development. Sticking to the story ensures that you are continuously progressing through the campaign without getting sidetracked by optional content.
- Understanding Key Mechanics: The main storyline serves as an introduction to many of the game’s core mechanics. By focusing on the primary quests, you’ll gradually unlock new tools and skills that will make side activities more manageable. Certain abilities, like the pullcaster and shieldwing, are unlocked as you progress through the main story, and these tools can make exploration and combat easier and more enjoyable.
- A Structured Progression: For those who enjoy a more structured progression, sticking to the main story helps you follow a clear path through the game. You’ll be guided to key locations, receive important plot points, and unlock new areas at a manageable pace. Plus, the game is designed to have a natural flow, where the main story gives you just enough freedom to explore without overwhelming you with choices.
When Should You Start Exploring?
The best time to start exploring in Horizon Forbidden West depends on your preferences and playstyle, but there are some key milestones in the game when exploration becomes particularly rewarding:
- After the Prologue (The First Few Hours): The opening section of the game serves as a tutorial and introduction to the core mechanics. Once you’ve completed the prologue and have access to the open world, it’s a good time to start exploring. By then, you’ll have unlocked key abilities and tools (like the focus and bow), allowing you to begin engaging with the world around you.
- After Unlocking Fast Travel: Fast travel is unlocked relatively early on in the game, and once you have this feature, exploration becomes much more convenient. Being able to quickly move between discovered locations gives you the flexibility to venture off the beaten path and return to key areas as needed.
- After a Major Story Event: Many players recommend starting to explore after reaching a significant story event, such as entering the Forbidden West for the first time or unlocking a new area. These moments open up new regions that are packed with side content, secrets, and challenges, making them the perfect time to branch out and start uncovering everything the world has to offer.
- After Leveling Up a Bit: If you prefer a more relaxed approach, consider waiting until you’ve gained a few levels and upgraded your gear before embarking on extensive exploration. Early exploration can sometimes be tricky if you’re underleveled or don’t have the right equipment, so getting your bearings through a few main missions first can make your adventures much smoother.
Conclusion
Ultimately, the question of when to start exploring in Horizon Forbidden West boils down to personal preference. Some players may prefer to jump in immediately and immerse themselves in the world, collecting resources and uncovering secrets from the get-go. Others may want to stick to the main story for a while before veering off into side quests and exploration.
No matter when you start, one thing is certain: Horizon Forbidden West is an expansive world full of surprises, and exploration is one of the most rewarding parts of the game. Whether you’re uncovering hidden machines, tracking down collectibles, or unlocking powerful abilities, there’s always something new waiting around every corner. The more you explore, the more you’ll discover about this breathtaking world and the story of Aloy’s journey to save it.