Videogames: Horizon Forbidden West - Language & Representations

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'? 

The release of Zelda and Elden Ring were around the same time and overshadowed it. 

2) What is the narrative for the original game Horizon Zero Dawn? 

Hunter-gatherer fighting robot dinosaurs across a post-apocalyptic US.

3) How is the central character Aloy described? 

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?

Robot enemies are ingenious works of biomechanical clockwork, shaped like snakes, hippos, ferrets, rams and pterodactyls, with electric cables for sinew and gleaming steel for ligaments.

5) What does the review say about animation and graphics?

graphics so beautiful that I have often found myself halting the adventure just to gawp at the landscape,

6) What do we learn about the gameplay and activities in Horizon Forbidden West? 

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Forbidden West’s gameplay offers robust, satisfying combat beneath its good looks. Aloy’s movement feels ultra-fluid as she deftly transitions between sliding, climbing and making use of new tools such as a grappling hook and paraglider.

Close study analysis:

Trailer:

1) How is narrative, character and setting introduced in the trailer?

The trailer quickly establishes a story hook by showing a mysterious new threat or dramatic. 

Aloy is the emotional and narrative anchor. From the opening shots we see her reacting, exploring, and preparing for conflict, immediately telling the viewer who the story is about and suggesting her goals/mission. The trailer introduces a post-apocalyptic yet beautiful world filled with lush overgrowth, vast landscapes, dramatic ruins, mechanical creatures, and distant horizons to explore visually grounding the story in a futuristic wildness.

2) How is the game's open world / sandbox genre shown in the trailer? 

Panoramic views of new mountains, forests, seas imply a large world waiting to be explored. By showing different landscapes and machine designs, the trailer suggests a world with multiple ecosystems.

3) What representations can you find in the trailer? 

The trailer centers on a female protagonist, which is a strong gender representation choice, especially in gaming. The trailer depicts tribal and futuristic elements that are inspired by a mix of real-world cultures. People shown represent multiple ethnic appearances, suggesting a variety of backgrounds within its world.

Gameplay:

1) How does the game use media language to communicate ideas about narrative and genre?

Represent a sort of survival style of game where players can experience all sorts of things with complex fighting styles while also enjoying the settings. 

2) What representations of people, places or groups can you find in the gameplay video?

Wide range of racial representations and good level of gender representation.

3) What audience pleasures are suggested by this gameplay trailer?

Relaxing journey and compelling fighting and story sequences. 

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?

Experience that justifies the wait, the one thing they won’t find is a game that feels substantially different from its predecessor or even some other open-world titles released in recent years.

2) How many copies did the Horizon Zero Dawn sell and why did this influence the design of the sequel?

Over 20million. There was an idea that Horizon Zero Dawn may be a kind of test run for the new franchise and that Forbidden West would really lean into what really makes this series stand out. 

3) How does the article criticise the story in Horizon Forbidden West? 

Forbidden West’s reliance on extended dialog sequences starts to wear you down relatively early into this massive adventure

4) What do we learn about the gameplay? 

On-the-fly inventory management is still a cumbersome process that requires you to learn to love a series of menus and hotkeys, too many platforming sequences make it too obvious where you can and can’t go, and Aloy’s expanded skill tree features a few too many filler abilities that don’t always make leveling up feel like the rewarding experience it should be. 

5) What is the article's overall summary of the game?

Games like Forbidden West and Ghost of Tsushima belong to this new breed of open-world titles that don’t necessarily revolutionize the genre but rather find ways to make the entire concept feel fresh again by using that genre’s conventions to support ambitious artistic ideas.

Representations

Race representations in Horizon Forbidden West

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?

The players follow different stories in different settings, so that allows for a diverse cast.

2) What is orientalism? 

A type of racism in which the West projects savagery and exoticism onto the East.

3) How does the article suggest orientalism applies to Horizon Forbidden West? 

Through it's discovery of San Francisco

4) Who is the player encouraged to identify with in the game and how does this influence how representations are constructed?  

Aloy, she gives perspective as some struggling and surviving but also gives a unique perspective by following her romantic relationships where sexual orientation is explored.

5) Finally, what did the writer of the article (an Asian American) feel when playing the game?

Racially influenced

Gender and videogames

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? 

Her level of attractiveness. 

2) What examples are provided of other female characters and representations in videogames?

Bayonetta, Genshin Impact.

3) What are the issues facing the videogame industry in terms of gender?  

Sexism and the male gaze.