Horizon Forbidden West’s raccoons got an upgrade

It’s easy to look at gameplay of the Horizon Zero Dawn games and be gobsmacked by the majestic robotic fauna that inhabit their vast worlds. Robots are kinda the point of these games, so you’d be forgiven to only have eyes for them. You might consider focusing your attention on something else. Below the towering Tallnecks, or the all-powerful robo-skulls.Stegosaurus, you’re liable to find the best pal you’ll ever need: the raccoon.

Both Horizon Zero Dawn Horizon Forbidden West The areas where they start are home to raccoons. The raccoons scamper along, sporting cute bandit-masks faces and raccoon tails. They are hunted in the game’s context. For example, to make a quiver that can hold more arrows you need a piece of raccoon fur. While later upgrades may require pelican stomachs and random fish bones, the original ones require only raccoon parts. This makes me very sad.

For all of the technological advances that are available in, please see Horizon Forbidden WestGuerrilla games somehow made the raccoons cuteer. This is what stands out for me.

Watch the progression:

I’m not going to analyze exactly what makes these new raccoons more adorable, but I don’t think anyone could come away from this game not thinking the same thing. Just open your eyes.

Many nonrobotic beings are found here Forbidden West can’t be interacted with for long. The birds fly off, the lobsters go rogue, then they disappear forever. The raccoons are different. Spend some time with them.

Image: Guerrilla Games/Sony Interactive Entertainment via Polygon

The AI of their raccoons follows a very simple pattern. They walk slowly away from Aloy before becoming tired, then they stop and rest for a few seconds. If you keep this in mind, they’re easily corralled and directed, letting you guide a particular raccoon far and wide.

Consider Jerry, my friend.

Image: Guerrilla Games/Sony Interactive Entertainment via Polygon

Jerry, who was chilling out in a rock quarry nearby Chainscrape’s early settlement, I discovered. His surroundings were filled with Chargers who didn’t seem to care much about him. The Chargers didn’t care for me much, though, so I had to dismantle them before meeting my new best friend.

Our journey together was amazing. We went all over the quarry. A little bit beyond the quarry. Jerry wanted to go on an aqua journey. I suggested that Jerry be taken to the nearby riverbanks raft. We took photos, and posed here for photographs. Jerry and me.

Image: Guerrilla Games/Sony Interactive Entertainment via Polygon

I was done with Jerry after about 30 minutes. We’d had our fun, but I had a long quest ahead of me, and he was destined for raccoon things. He was unable to join me on my long, dangerous journey to the Forbidden Wild.

It occurred to me then: He could join me on my journeyYou can do it!

Then I turned Jerry into an archer.