One of the biggest selling points of an action-RPG is the amount of character customization it usually offers. Whilesome ARPGsrestrict this customization to just the type of weapon the player can wield, some give players a bit more freedom in how they go about expressing themselves, andHorizon Forbidden Westis certainly one of those games.
By progressing throughHorizon Forbidden West’s main storyand all of its side activities, players will gradually start to unlock a plethora of customization items for main protagonist Aloy, from new clothing options to headgear to face paint. But there’s one big customization area that theHorizonfranchise hasn’t explored just yet, and for the series' next entry, it might be time to look at games likeStar Wars Jedi: Survivorfor inspiration.
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The Next Horizon Game Could Learn From Star Wars Jedi: Survivor’s Hairstyle Customization
Horizon Forbidden Westfeatures several different forms ofcustomization for its main character Aloy. The most prominent form of customization inHorizoncomes from the series' many different armors. Broken into categories based on rarity, Aloy can equip a range of different armors throughout her adventures, with each one giving her a completely different look. These outfits often encompass both Aloy’s top and bottom halves, as well as her head. InHorizon Forbidden West, players can use a simple transmog system to apply the stats of one piece of armor to another in order to keep the favored visual design. These outfits can also be dyed different colors usingHorizon Forbidden West’s Dye Flower collectibles.
Aside from armor,Horizon Forbidden Westalso lets players customize Aloy’s face a little via a slew of collectible face paints. Categorized intoHorizon Forbidden West’s different tribes, these face paints give players another opportunity to make Aloy feel like their own unique version of the character. These face paints range from simple black markings on Aloy’s cheeks to full multi-colored displays across her whole face. Some face paints even act as Easter eggs to other PlayStation franchises, such as theGod of War-inspired Mark of War face paintunlocked by finding all three Totems of War.
But whileHorizon Forbidden West’s customization options were pretty great, especially for an action-adventure game that only has light RPG elements, there’s always room for improvement. Over the last two games in theHorizonseries, and their respective DLC expansions, Aloy has rocked the same hairstyle throughout. While the twists and central braids of Aloy’s hair are one of the main contributing factors behind the character’s now-iconic look, it might be time for Guerilla Games to go just that one step further, and let players customize Aloy’s hairstyle. And when it comes to customizable hairstyles in action-adventure-RPGs, there’s no one leading the charge quite likeStar Wars Jedi: Survivor.
Though the first game in the series only had a handful of customization options for main characterCal Kestis,Star Wars Jedi: Survivorwent above and beyond, letting players truly create their own version of the Jedi Knight. One of the biggest additions inStar Wars Jedi: Survivorwas the inclusion of hairstyles for Cal, with 14 scattered across the galaxy for players to collect. These hairstyles ranged from classic Jedi looks like short cuts and ponytails, to more eccentric looks like a full-on mullet. On top of that,Jedi: Survivoralso included 12 different facial hairstyles for Cal. The nextHorizongame could really benefit from taking inspiration fromStar Wars Jedi: Survivor’s hairstyle customization, letting players customize Aloy just that little bit more to make her their own unique version of the character.
Horizon Forbidden Westis available now on PS4 and PS5.
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