The launch of PlayStation VR2 is fast approaching and will bring a new wave of mind-blowing and fully immersive experiences to the PlayStation ecosystem. Among the most anticipated games in the launch window is Horizon Call of the Mountain, a brand new adventure set in the world of Horizon. As Rias, a disgraced soldier seeking redemption, you will experience beautiful landscapes and the terrifying machines of the horizon like never before. Guerrilla and collaborator Firesprite have created this PlayStation VR2 exclusive adventure specifically to showcase the power of PlayStation VR2.
We spoke to several members of the Guerrilla and Firesprite development teams to find out more about the process and challenges of creating Call of the Mountain's massive virtual world, and what players can expect from this exciting game.
Haptic feedback and headphone feedback immerse you in the world:
Alex Barnes, Associate Director of Games at Firesprite, is excited to bring PS VR2 features to gaming. “The haptic feedback from the PS VR2 Sense controller and headset has allowed us to create a living world around you in PS VR2,” he says. I am completely immersed in the world of horizons. It's a whole new way to give feedback to players in VR and it's incredibly rewarding."
It's especially gratifying for Burns to watch players and their reactions to events large and small. "It's always especially nice to see how people react to moments like the flapping of a petrel's wings," he added.
Alteration of the car for a new POV:
Since you see the action through the eyes of Raias, the developers had to make some changes to the famous mechanical horror Horizon. “The team wanted to make sure Mountain Horizon's amazing machines reached new heights,” said Richard Wood, director of animation at Guerrilla Studio. “When you see them up close, the extra zoom makes them more impressive and realistic. This level of immersion, achieved through the VR space, brings each machine to life in a way players have never known before."
Due to the 360-degree first-person perspective, the models and animations had to be re-tuned for different cars, according to Oud. “The VR headset allows for a more detailed and interactive experience, allowing players to see the vehicles from new angles. To make this possible, a lot of work has gone into reworking the combat and animations. Readability during combat so that the vehicle and attack behavior become evident from a new perspective view. Players can now use their physical movements to throw, aim and shoot, adding another layer of realism and excitement to combat.
What it's like to collaborate with a new composer to create a new soundscape:
Another challenge was to create a new sound for a VR game like Call of the Mountain that matched the feel and style of the Horizon series," says Bastian Zilbach, Audio Director at Guerrilla. "We wanted our approach to soundtracking Horizon Zero Dawn and Horizon Forbidden West was closely related to the style we used for Aloy's adventures in Horizon Zero Dawn and Horizon Forbidden West."
The band turned to composer Alistair Kerley. “Our goal was for players who know the franchise to stay home. [Curley] immediately won us over with his approach to the subject, which balanced Aloe's journey very well with what we did with Call of the Mountain. Rias' theme instantly merges with the world of Horizon and has its own fresh, recognizable and distinct sound. We are very pleased with the results and look forward to seeing our players experience the world of Horizon through Reas' musical lens."
Adapting the world of Horizon to virtual reality:
The Horizon series is known for its beautiful scenery and challenging gameplay, but it is also known for its elaborate third-person flat-screen experience. Why take the series out of its "comfort zone"? “Horizon Call of the Mountain is a unique New Horizons adventure that the team has built from the ground up for next-generation PlayStation VR hardware,” said Jan-Bert van Beek, Studio Director and Studio Art Director at Guerilla. "Virtual reality is generally an immersive gaming experience and it's great to take advantage of the new PS VR2 hardware as it offers gamers an authentic experience that takes them into gaming to a whole new level."
The development team saw this as an exciting prospect to create a new Horizon gaming experience that would stay true to the series. “At Horizon Call of the Mountain, we set ourselves the task of creating a game that offers an incredible gaming experience not only for VR veterans, but for newcomers as well,” said Van Beek. “We look forward to players entering a vibrant and immersive world, allowing them to enjoy deeper interaction with the world at their fingertips.”
Rias bow design:
The weapon Rias will use the most is her trusty bow. Since the player often sees the weapon in first person, this amounted to compromising the design and functionality of the weapon, as explained by Rob Sutton, Associate Art Director at Fireprite. “When designing Rias' arc, we took inspiration from Horizon Zero Dawn's Shadow Sharpshot arc due to Rias's connection to Shadow Karza. Over time, Rias made his own improvements and modifications, partly to create more effective weapons, but also for range. yourself from your dark karya past.
The designers knew the bow would be one of the most common aspects in the game and wanted it to look like a character. “Since the player will never see Rias's face, we started looking at the bow as his image. We knew that in VR it had to look fantastic and realistic. All the mechanisms and joints had to work the way you can see them close.” Sutton confirms that no detail has been overlooked: “For example, when the bow is fully taut, the little carbon fiber springs open; I always have them imagine yourself as some kind of threat indicator that can be seen on a bird!
As you can see, Call of the Mountain was meant to be a very special experience for fans and newcomers to the series, one that the developers put a lot of attention, love and effort into. On 22nd February, you can experience the incredible technology behind PS VR2 and entrust Rias' fate with Horizon's most exciting game yet.