The early part of 2022 is jam-packed with new titles, with numerous releases planned for next year. Horizon Forbidden West, the successor to Horizon Zero Dawn, is one of the most anticipated games. Players take control of Aloy, a teenage adventurer.
Horizon Forbidden West appears to be a continuation of the original game, with many of the same elements. Considering the first game’s well-executed combat systems, stunning colors and aesthetics, and fantastic robot dinosaurs. But one new element, in particular, is a head-turner and, considering what the game is, a bit of a puzzler.
The feature in question is a game within a game. Horizon Forbidden West will include a board game called Strike, which will be an actual element of the universe that players may learn about and play. This was disclosed in a FAQ concerning the collectible edition pre-order for Horizon Forbidden West.
Some editions will include actual Strike pieces for players to collect as well as digital copies of the same pieces to use in the game. These rare components, it’s assumed, can’t be found anywhere else in the game.
The game of Strike is not discussed at great length. The plot of Horizon Forbidden West will teach players about the game, and they will be able to acquire their own pieces and challenge NPCs to matches.
According to the description, it’s a one-on-one game with pieces that look like the mechanical monstrosities that inhabit Horizon Forbidden West’s planet. Chess and the game Cyvasse from A Song of Ice and Fire come to mind as examples. Another parallel may be seen with Gwent, which has its own game and expansions. Strike’s popularity will be determined throughout time.
It’s also unclear how prominently Strike will appear in Horizon Forbidden West’s narrative. It might be nothing more than a little annoyance or something more essential to the main narrative. There’s no mention of it in any of the Horizon Forbidden West trailers so yet, leaving plenty of opportunity for conjecture.
However, whether the collector’s editions are worth the additional money, Strike pieces or not, is still disputed. If Strike turns out to be a dud, those pieces may come to symbolize squandered cash more than anything else.
Of course, the PS5 update for Horizon Forbidden West isn’t free, so that’s another cost to factor in for some gamers. Strike, even if it doesn’t become the next Gwent, should prove to be an entertaining mechanic.
