Language
Introduction
Read this review of Horizon Forbidden West in the Financial Times (should be non-paywalled but you can read the text of article here if needed). Answer the following questions:
1) Why does Guerrilla Games have 'a serious case of bad timing'?
As they always release a good game but another company comes a releases it at the same time. When Zero Dawn was released, Zelda: Breath of dawn came out soon after, and when Forbidden West was released Elden Ring came out straight away.
2) What is the narrative for the original game Horizon Zero Dawn?
The game took place a thousand years after a robots took over humanity. The survivors separated into different tribes who see the technology as suspicious or have religious reverence to them.
3) How is the central character Aloy described?
"Gold with flame-haired heroine Aloy, who balances grit and tenderness as one of the most memorable new characters of its console generation."
4) What is the narrative and setting for sequel Horizon Forbidden West?
It is set from Nevada to California so all along the west coast. There is a threat to humanity which you have to resolve.
5) What does the review say about animation and graphics?
It is described as an eye-popping flex of PS5's muscles and that it is beautiful. The way the landscape, robots and the other characters are animated along with their facial expression, it is realistic.
6) What do we learn about the gameplay and activities in Horizon Forbidden West?
It is suggested that the gameplay offers robust and satisfying combat, and the transitions for Aloy between climbing and sliding are "ultra-fluid". The weapons and tools are great and patches have been resolved from Zero Dawn. There are more settings and things to see in the game for for players to explore, like underwater caves, towering giraffe bots etc.
Close textual analysis
Watch the trailer for Horizon Forbidden West:
Answer the following questions:
1) How is narrative, character and setting introduced in the trailer?
The adventure and mission style narrative is introduced in the game through the voice over and that. The character is a female protagonist who is up against these robots who are taking over the world. The setting is established through the crane shots, just like a film. There are many settings located in the game. The post-apocalyptic time period of the game is further reinforced through the jungle.
2) How is the game's open world / sandbox genre shown in the trailer?
Through the multiple setting and locations which you could explore and how you have the ability to try out what you want to.
3) What representations can you find in the trailer?
This game empowers females - it has a female protagonist who is the heroine (Propps character types). This is seen through how she is armed with weapons, the voice over of herself speaking talks about how she is independent. She is create to look like a lone-wolf.
AQA recommends watching the following gameplay trailer in their CSP booklet:
Watch the gameplay video and answer the following questions:
1) How does the game use media language to communicate ideas about narrative and genre?
Aloy is the main protagonist so is the heroine (Propps character types) as she is there to restore the peace (new equilibrium - Todorov). The other character who are with her, helping her fight the robots villains, can be seen as the donors. Binary opposition (Levi-Strauss) can be seen through Good tribe vs Bad Tribe, or Aloy vs The machines. Action codes (Barthes) are created through all the weapons which shows some conflict is about to occur.
2) What representations of people, places or groups can you find in the gameplay video?
You can find representation of females through characters like Aloy. There are characters from the BAME community. Also, there are representations of indigenous people and tribes as there are multiple different groups and even the jungle location reinforces this.
3) What audience pleasures are suggested by this gameplay trailer?
Blumler and Katz - Uses and Gratifications:
- Diversion - the game allows the audience to escape.
- Personal relationship - audiences might bond with the main character Aloy, and other characters.
- Personal identity - some people could see themselves as Aloy as she has a responsibility to look after the earth such as groups such as climate change activists and Just Stop Oil could be seen as this as they are trying to look after the world, and that if you don't then you who will.
- Surveillance - The game acts as a social commentary for the world will be like if we don't care about it.
Narrative and genre
Read this excellent Den of Geek article that addresses elements of narrative and genre. You can find the article text here if the link is blocked. Answer the following questions:
1) Read the opening to the article. How can we apply Steve Neale's genre theory to Horizon Forbidden West?
The article suggests that the game sticks to a formula (Neals's repetition) and that the game is similar to Zero Dawn.
2) How many copies did the Horizon Zero Dawn sell and why did this influence the design of the sequel?
The game has sold over 20 million copies so has significantly helped it reach a wider audience.
3) How does the article criticise the story in Horizon Forbidden West?
That there are too many side characters springing out from nowhere, but they are reliant on endless dialogue.
4) What do we learn about the gameplay?
It is a " "hunting" combat system game" where you have to take down robots which have taken over the world and learn to survive and live in this new world.
5) What is the article's overall summary of the game?
The article is generally positive to the games suggesting that the open-world genre of the game is a step in the right direction. It creates a fresh feeling from the concept due to genre conventions and has "ambitious artistic ideas".
Representations
Read this fascinating Polygon feature on why Horizon Forbidden West isn't post-racial and answer the following questions:
1) How does Horizon Forbidden West use narrative to create a fully diverse cast of characters?
As humanity is destroyed, robots take over the world and recreate humans with the genetic diversity of humans but without the history and societal underpinnings of the 20th century which allows the game to have characters of all colours.
2) What is orientalism?
A type of racism where the west thought the East was a threat and were all savages and so the Westerners had to go and civilise these people.
3) How does the article suggest orientalism applies to Horizon Forbidden West?
The setting of southwestern U.S. and California is seen as Aloy's Orient. They have tribes, religions and customs. As Aloy is white and is the main character she is seen as superior and understand the stake the world is in. This is reinforced by the different settings. Also the elephant was common in war and used by Indians, Africans and other South Asians.
4) Who is the player encouraged to identify with in the game and how does this influence how representations are constructed?
The player was asked to identify with Aloy and support her mission to save the planet.
5) Finally, what did the writer of the article (an Asian American) feel when playing the game?
She felt discriminated due to the Orientalism within the representations of culture, design choices etc.
Focusing on Aloy and the representation of women in videogames, read this Forbes feature on the topic. Answer the following questions:
1) What is the debate regarding Aloy in Horizon Forbidden West?
Regarding the attractiveness of Aloy.
2) What examples are provided of other female characters and representations in videogames?
Lara Croft from Tomb Raider, Genshin Impact and Bayonetta - they all have female characters wearing "skimpy outfits" and have sexist depictions of women
3) What are the issues facing the videogame industry in terms of gender?
The industry has issues with female employees and that female characters have all been made for the male gaze - male gaze and they are made for "attractiveness". PlayStation is facing gender discrimination.
A/A* extension tasks
Read this interesting CBC article on indigenous representation in Horizon Forbidden West. How does it present issues regarding representations of Indigenous people both in terms of in-game and in the inudstry?
When the game was played, one of the players was "weirded out by the esthetic of native imagery, native culture". Indigenous gamers and indigenous game developers were disappointed at what they called "stereotypical portrayals of indigenous characters and imagery.
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