Horizon Forbidden Westis a sequel that brings many new features over its predecessor. There are new machines to battle, a wide variety of new weapons to play with, and a base where players can gather their thoughts before heading out again. One of the most celebrated features is theability to mount Sunwings, which allows players to soar over the tribes below. This is an amazing addition, though there is a feeling that it isn’t used to its full potential.
Horizon Forbidden Westintroduced flying mounts, but it appears it will be up to future games to take it further. This could be done by giving Sunwings more of a prominent role in main story quests and allowing them to perform more functions. Aloy is seen riding a Sunwing in the trailer for the upcomingBurning ShoresDLC, and this may hint that the machine will be playing a bigger role.
RELATED:Horizon Forbidden West’s Sequel Could Redeem Minor Villains Like Dervahl and Ulvund
Sunwings Are Underutilized In Horizon Forbidden West
Sunwings make their first appearance inHorizon Forbidden West. These flying machines enjoy perching in high places, and when they are fighting with an enemy, they hurl Plasma attacks. Aloy gains the ability to override them quite late in the game, and she uses a Sunwing to make a surprise landing inthe battle against Regalla. Once players can override Sunwings, it makes traveling across the map a tad easier, and players are afforded stunning views of the landscape. Sunwings also give players access to a few side quests that are cordoned off without the ability to fly to them.
Although mountable Sunwings are an amazing addition fulfilling a wish held by many fans, it is a feature that is used minimally. Aside from accessing a bit of side content and speeding across the map, players don’t get much use out of the Sunwing. This is a pity, as it is a machine that has great potential and could open up a great deal of new gameplay and mission types. TheupcomingBurning ShoresDLCcould do this, especially because it will not be held back by the PS4.
How Future Horizon Titles Can Fully Utilize Sunwings
One of the biggest downsides of riding a Sunwing is that players are left vulnerable and without a means to retaliate if they are attacked by enemies. This could be fixed by giving players the ability to strike back while riding a Sunwing. In much the same way thatAloy’s mounts on land inHorizon Forbidden Westcan be ordered to attack, Sunwings should have the ability to do the same. It would also be a major improvement if Aloy could use her bow while riding a Sunwing, as it would allow for some clever aerial strategies.
Sunwings could be integrated into more missions by taking advantage of their ability to grab onto items. This is used minimally inHorizon Forbidden Westwhere it is used to pick up a Horus Energy Cell. It appears that the Horuses will be playing a big role in theBurning ShoresDLC, as the trailer shows one awakening. Defeating a titan that big could involve Aloy riding a Sunwing and stealing Energy Cells from the machine’s back, then using them against it.
TheBurning ShoresDLC will have Aloy traveling to Los Angeles, though it is unrecognizable because it has been turned into a volcanic archipelago. Her next foe appears to be a Horus, also known as a Metal Devil. Though these massive machines pose a serious threat, they are only an appetizer for Nemesis.
Horizon Forbidden Westis available now on PS4 and PS5. TheBurning ShoresDLC is set to release on April 19 on PS5.
