TheHorizonfranchise seems inspired by a wide variety of open world, science fiction, hack and slash and RPG games. Despite not working on any open world game or RPGs beforeHorizon, Guerrilla Games' work reflects stellar open world and RPG titles such asSkyrim,The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings, andVampire: The Masquerade. WhileHorizonhas turned into its own successful action RPG series in its own right withHorizon Zero DawnandForbidden West, Guerrilla Games can still build on elements from modern RPG titles forHorizon 3. One particular element Guerrilla could use from the celebratedBaldur’s Gate 3forHorizon 3is its party system.
How Baldur’s Gate 3’s Companions Work
Having companions join a party is a common mechanic in many RPGs, but each RPG utilizes companions in its own way. For example,Bethesda’sFalloutgamestypically only allow one humanoid companion to join the player alongside a secondary animal or robotic partner, whileMass Effecttypically allows two crew members of theNormandyto join the player at a time.Baldur’s Gatehistorically allowed up to five companions to join the player in a part back when the series was in its PC-only, pixelated isometric form. InBaldur’s Gate 3’s more modern cinematic form, gamers can have three companions or three other players join them for a total party of four.
Baldur’s Gate 3features 10 unique companionsthat can be found and recruited to join players’ on their quests. While players can theoretically finishBaldur’s Gate 3solo, companions can be crucial in combat and exploration, such as a Rogue thief helping with lock picking or a Cleric healing the player during battle. Each companion inBaldur’s Gate 3additionally features their own exclusive Companion Quest that will showcase their character and develop their relationship with the player. Some companions inBaldur’s Gate 3can even be romanced, resulting in various consequences that may impact other members of the party, factions, or the player, such as having Astarion turn the player into a vampire.
Horizon’s Existing History with Companions is Fertile Soil for a Party System
MostHorizongames primarily feature Aloy going about saving the post-apocalyptic United States from violent tribes and rogue machines on her own. While Aloy does make many allies throughout theHorizonseries, she’ll typically face most conflicts on her own directly, save for a few quests where companions such as Erend or Varl will join her. However,Horizon Zero DawnandHorizon Forbidden Westdon’t allow players to choose who can join Aloy on certain quests, aside fromLEGO Horizon Adventures, which allows a second player to control Varl, Teersa, or Erend on quests. Even when companions join Aloy in certain events, they don’t really help much in fighting off machines or groups of crazed cultists.
Horizon Forbidden Westspent much of its quests focusing on Aloy opening herself up and allowing her friends to help her save the world alongside her, overcoming her lone wolf attitude. By theend ofHorizonForbidden West, Aloy had formed a strong coalition of friends and allies like:
While many of these companions have gone back to their tribes to prepare them for the incoming threat ofthe Far Zenith AI Nemesis, they could all return inHorizon 3to form a party with Aloy alongside new companions. To help balance combat scenarios, it may be best to limit Aloy’s party to only feature two companions at a time, to keep machine or human encounters challenging.
Potential Mechanics of Horizon 3’s Party System
IfHorizon 3were to delve deeper into its RPG influences and feature a fully-fledged party system, it could expand upon each character’s history and personality and help make combat encounters more dynamic. For example, each companion could react to certain events or actions in unique ways, such as Erend expressing bombastic joy atdestroying a Thunderjaw, while Beta could comment on making future encounters less violent or intense due to her introverted nature. Companions can even help in dialogue scenarios, such as Kotallo easing tensions when encountering new Tenakth warriors or Zo offering first aid to an NPC in exchange for information.
In terms of direct combat, having companions omnipresent with Aloy in the thirdHorizongame could make tough encounters more dynamic and potentially easier. For example, each companion could have their own strengths or weaknesses, such as Zo being able to craft Aloy health potions or provide her with medicinal berries mid-battle. Similarly, Kotallo could be more effective against human enemies rather than machines, while Alva and Beta could help override machines and locked ruins thanks to their advanced technological knowledge. Each companion could be given their own skill tree to upgrade their abilities, such as one skill upgrading Erend’s war hammer into the Shock orEarthquake Hammer fromLEGO Horizon Adventures.
