#flora: corruption glaze root

[horizon-series-details]

The potion mechanic is a mechanic that was actually slightly changed between Zero Dawn and Forbidden West. While there are some major changes, most notably the amount that can be held at a time, and the variety of potions between both games, what I wanted to talk about was the means of obtaining potions to deal with elemental afflictions.

In Zero Dawn, the player has to use plants to make potions that boost Aloy’s resistance to certain elements. For example, in order we have the Corruption Glaze Root, the Freeze Rime Root, and the Fire Kiln Root. (Not pictured is the Shock Wax Root.)

This is the Corruption Glaze Root. It’s used to make antidotes, which are potions to help resist corruption damage. This plant is commonly found close to the water.

This is the Freeze Rime Root. It’s used to make resist freeze potions. This plant can be found commonly in Carja territories and snowy areas.

This is the Fire Kiln Root. It’s used to make resist fire potions. It’s often found in warmer regions.

What’s interesting is that these plants do not show up in Forbidden West. This particular branch of the potion mechanic seems to have been replaced by the Cleanse potion, which is used to clear all elemental status effects. I can understand the Corruption Glaze Root not being needed, as the west has to deal with the Blight, not Corruption. However I have the feeling that the most likely options are that either the plants just aren’t native to that region, or that the developers knew having this mechanic this fleshed out may be a little too complex alongside other mechanics that use plants in a similar manner.

[system-threat-detected]

Hello yes this is my gut reaction post to the new Horizon Forbidden West trailer. Ya know, besides the crying and dying. I will not be freaking out about the new machines here, that will be reserved for a different post, probably. Story elements and character stuff ONLY!

Anyways. Here we go.

HELLO miss Utaru woman, for some reason I thought you would be in the east and not the west, but I’m glad you’re here anyways. 

Looks like she is having some problems growing her crops because of this mysterious red plant. Who do we know is in charge of mysterious plants? That’s right! Our good friend DEMETER! I’m a little surprised we’re seeing such aggression from this flora-loving subfunction, especially since (I can only assume) it developed Corruption Glaze Root found ingame specifically to combat corruption poison. 

Speaking of subfunctions, who do we know is in charge of the weather? AETHER! It would seem we will be dealing with at LEAST two of the subfunctions we didn’t cover in Zero Dawn! I for one am excited to see how this is handled, since AETHER has always been a little nebulous to me. Maybe we’ll see some kind of airship base designed to help it monitor the atmosphere, or some tall mountain base. That landmass in the right of this screenshot looks suspiciously like it’s floating, but it could also simply be perched on top of something blocked by the scary red plant tendrils. 

Hello there. And who are YOU? Not enough blue to be Tenakth, too much armor to be Utaru, not enough red handprints to be a bandit, though it could be some kind of bandit superclan. Are those cannons on your arms? Whoever you are I love you. 

Are those palm fronds on your shaman friend in the background? I’m excited to meet you. 

Is that halfdome? Are we in northern California, Yosemite? This could be the new tribe’s territory, or possibly part of the Cut. 

But I think I’m going to have to go with a new tribe. Oseram do not dress like this, and they for SURE don’t know how to override machines. (yet)

The Bastard man Sylens has returned!!! And he’s watching something mysterious fall from the sky! What do we know that exploded on launch? That’s right kids! The spaceship Odyssey! In 2065, Elisabet Sobeck sent a message to the other Zero Dawn Alphas that Odyssey failed, presumably destroying everything on the ship, including the Alpha build of APOLLO *eyes emoji*. Could this be some debris from the ship, falling to earth from orbit?

Another theory is that AETHER has some kind of space station in the upper atmosphere, as that is its job. These could be energy bursts from it trying to cause some cool storms, like we saw earlier in the trailer harassing that poor Utaru woman. 

But back to Sylens. Looks like the Bastard Man himself is teaching this new tribe how to override machines. We saw in the end-credits scene that he recaptured HADES, and the red tendrils tell me that HADES is being forced to cooperate with Sylens’ plans, so now Sylens has an army, I guess. We know he’s only after knowledge, but will do anything to get it. So I’m interested to find out what he wants an army for. 

AND he took his lance back from the HORUS processor that HADES was occupying, and the Master Override with it. This scares me. Like a lot. Things are not looking good for the other subfunctions, or Aloy, who now has no way to purge them. Though I suppose since Sylens doesn’t have Alpha privileges, neither can he. 

Thanks buddy, I’m sure that won’t backfire on you or Aloy. My mans likes causing problems on purpose, apparently. 

Hello what’s this? Architecture like we’ve never seen before, or the arms of a Metal Devil. New dungeons to explore, or capital of the new tribe? 

The lightning and aspen trees suggests this is in Yosemite, so my best guess is this is an entrance to the new clan’s territory/their main city proper. I’m loving the painted(?) designs though. 

And of course, the underwater mechanic makes me think that we may run into POSEIDON, but the quick glance we were shown of swimming Aloy gave no insight as to where or what that subfunction might be doing.

In conclusion. I am very very very excited for this game. Sony take my money.