After much speculation, Horizon Forbidden West was delayed from its initially planned 2021 release due to the COVID pandemic. While players can still affect outcomes through the choices they make for protagonist Aloy throughout the game, Horizon Forbidden West will only have one possible ending. This is consistent with 2017’s Horizon Zero Dawn which also had a single ending.
It’s unsurprising that Horizon Forbidden West would follow in the footsteps of Horizon Zero Dawn by only having a single ending, as it’s a prominent feature of the first game. Although completionists can obtain additional content and rewards for completing everything, the main storyline ending remains unchanged regardless of the player’s decision-making and chosen responses for Aloy throughout the game. While it will take approximately 50-60 hours to Platinum, 100% completion in Horizon Forbidden West could take hundreds of hours, with plenty of side quests and achievements to keep even the most detail-oriented players engaged.
Horizon Forbidden West’s narrative director, Benjamin McCaw, revealed in a recent interview with Everyeye, that the game will follow in the footsteps of Horizon Zero Dawn in regards to how the player’s choice will affect the story’s outcome, with most decision-making resulting in different dialogue. However, McCaw also revealed that for the first time in the franchise, players will be faced with a couple of in-game moral dilemmas, with the choices made having “extremely powerful consequences.” These are called Critical Choices and can change quite a bit in the game.
Why Horizon Forbidden West Only Has One Ending
In regards to why Horizon Forbidden West won't have multiple endings, McCaw describes the game’s ending as “very strong and impactful.” This serves to reassure players that a single ending will be enough, and a lack of multiple endings won't be noticeable. The reviews for Horizon Forbidden West have been overwhelmingly positive, with reviewers citing the game's story (and ending) as highlights. However, players may want to be cautious about which Critical Choices they pick for Aloy.
Horizon Forbidden West remains loyal to its predecessor, Horizon Zero Dawn, by having one single ending. However, the game's narrative director promises that Horizon Forbidden West builds on the successes of the original game while fixing things that needed improvement, like Horizon Zero Dawn's annoying climbing mechanics. The long-awaited sequel promises to live up to its predecessor, and critic reviews suggest that Horizon Forbidden West delivers on that promise. Despite a long five-year wait between Horizon games, exacerbated by delays due to the pandemic, players will finally be able to experience Horizon Forbidden West, and its single but powerful ending, very soon.
Source: Everyeye
