Summary
Over the last few decades, PlayStation has been gradually increasing its first-party line-up, and now, it’s getting ready to use those franchises in a brand-new way. For a year or so, PlayStation has made it clear that it’s going to be making a big push into the live-service market, and it seems to be using its first-party roster to lead the charge. Alongside the recentlydelayedLast of Usmultiplayer spin-off, aHorizonmultiplayer title is also apparently in the works, and there’s a great deal riding on its shoulders.
Likely being one of the first bigfirst-party live-service PlayStation gamesout the gate, theHorizonmultiplayer spin-off needs to go above and beyond to convince fans that this new approach for PlayStation is worthwhile for the player, and not just a new way for the company to earn more money. To do that,Horizon’s multiplayer game is going to need to be a truly high-quality experience, and that means embracing all the series' core features, including its climbing and platforming mechanics.
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Horizon’s Multiplayer Spin-Off Needs to Keep an Emphasis on Climbing
Horizon Zero DawnandHorizon Forbidden Westare two incredibly mechanically-rich games, with a slew of complex features and systems working in tandem with one another to create an excellent AAA action-adventure open-world experience. From shooting mechanics and melee combat to stealth and RPG elements, theHorizonseries juggles a lot. But one of the most important features, and a mechanic that acts as the glue joiningall ofHorizon’s systemstogether, is its climbing and platforming mechanics, features that have become an inherent part of theHorizonexperience.
Currently, practically no official information has come out about theHorizonmultiplayer project. Technically speaking, there hasn’t even been an official announcement yet, just individual members of Guerrilla Games confirming its existence during interviews, and several job listings further cementing that it’s definitely in the works. The only official information fans have to go on is that it’ll be an “online project set inHorizon’s universe,” featuring a “new cast of characters and a unique stylized look.”
In terms of gameplay, fans know absolutely nothing aboutHorizon’s multiplayer title, meaning that it really could be anything, from a vast MMO to a small 2-player co-op adventure or anything in between. But whileHorizon’s multiplayer gameplay loop could be anything, it should make sure that it keeps platforming at its core. Platforming has become an integral aspect ofHorizon, with even theVR spin-offCall of the Mountainputting a great emphasis on the mechanic, and if Guerrilla wants its upcoming multiplayer game to feel like an authenticHorizonexperience, then it simply needs at least some form of platforming.
But that doesn’t mean that Guerrilla Games can’t get creative with its platforming in aHorizonmultiplayer game. ThoughHorizon’s climbing mechanicsare very accessible and generally enjoyable, they can get a tad repetitive after a while, and a multiplayer setting is the perfect opportunity to shake things up a little. With at least two players in the game, aHorizonmultiplayer spin-off can include a new set of climbing mechanics specifically tailored to multiple friends climbing the same environment at the same time. For instance, players could unlock a new piece of gear that lets them swing off each other via a rope to traverse the landscape quicker, like in the recent co-op Indie gameBread and Fred. Platforming could also be made into more of a challenge in multiplayer, with races being a great way to incentivize more strategic and involved platforming.
