Serving as one of Sony’s PlayStation VR 2 launch titles, Horizon: Call of The Mountain is an absolute must-play for fans of the series. It features impressive graphics, surprisingly intuitive controls, and streamlined first-person gameplay that draws inspiration from its predecessors.

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However, plenty of new features and mechanics make Call of the Mountain stand out from previous Horizon games, including new combat, exploration, and progression systems. Keeping track of them all while absorbing the story can prove tricky at first, but with these tips, you’ll be ready for any challenge the Sundom throws at you.

10 You Can Adjust The Movement Controls

Horizon Call of the Mountain Thunderjaw Boss Fight with a bow

One of the benefits of advancements in VR technology is the ability to pick from different movement options and tailor the controls to your liking. Horizon: Call of the Mountain is a great example of this, as it features two movement options: traditional analog-stick controls and gesture-based inputs.

The second option is the most natural and immersive for VR but is not required as some people may not feel comfortable playing this way. To find your personal preference, give both options a try and see what works best for you.

9 There Are Multiple Paths To Explore

beautiful landscape in horizon call of the mountain

Considering how linear most story-driven VR games are, Call of the Mountain is fairly flexible in letting you explore multiple paths throughout your journey. This includes alternate routes leading to the same location, usually with a reward or secret scattered along the way.

To get the most from the game, try exploring new environments any chance you get, as you never know what you’ll discover. It could be a shortcut that gets you to your objective faster, special arrows for your bow, or an Easter egg referencing other Horizon games.

8 The Adventure Is Pretty Short

climbing rope in horizon call of the mountain

Clocking in at around eight to twelve hours of playtime, Horizon: Call of the Mountain is quite short compared to other games in the series. At the same time, it’s on par with similarly-scoped VR experiences, particularly those from a high-profile developer and publisher.

With that said, no minute goes wasted as the game keeps things moving at a brisk pace throughout the story, layering on new characters, obstacles, and stakes. This is great news for anyone prone to nausea or dizziness while wearing a VR headset for prolonged periods.

7 Aloy Is Not The Main Focus

Aloy in Horizon: Call of the Mountain speaking to Ryas

Assuming you didn’t thoroughly research the game before playing, you may be surprised to learn Aloy is not the main focus of the story. After all, Call of the Mountain is a spin-off that takes place during the events of Horizon: Zero Dawn.

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While Aloy does have a cameo during one of the missions where she speaks to the main character, the two quickly part ways and carry on with their separate journeys. This doesn’t make her appearance any less exciting for fans, of course!

6 You Need To Prepare Before Every Fight

crafting arrow in horizon call of the mountain

In line with previous games in the series, Call of the Mountain rewards you for coming to every battle prepared with a full stock of arrows for your bow. While you always have the option to craft them on the fly, you may struggle to find an opportunity during tense boss fights.

A good rule of thumb is to have at least one to two different arrow types already crafted and ready to go at all times. Maintaining your health isn’t as challenging as other Horizon games, as Call of the Mountain places apples throughout arenas that you can eat to recover health.

5 Every Arrow Type Has A Specific Use

arrow selection menu in horizon call of the mountain

Another similarity between Call of the Mountain and other Horizon games is just how pivotal the bow and arrow are to combat. As a self-proclaimed master archer, Ryas has access to a wide selection of arrow types that can quickly help turn the tide of any battle.

As such, you should use fire and shock arrows when fighting machines vulnerable to burn or stun effects, precision arrows to deal rapid damage in short bursts, and tear arrows to inflict large amounts of damage to a targeted area.

4 There Are Canisters Everywhere

picking up ammo canister in horizon call of the mountain

As players, we tend to hoard potions, ammo, and crafting materials for far longer than we should. More often than not, this leads to tougher boss fights and bloated inventories filled with pages of precious resources that never get used during the adventure.

In the case of Call of the Mountain, one of the most common items you’ll come across are canisters, a key ingredient for crafting arrows. At the onset, it can be tempting to hold onto any canisters you find in the world, but rest assured; there are more than enough to go around.

3 Enemies Can Be Scanned For Weaknesses

highlight enemy weakspot in horizon call of the mountain

Similar to Aloy, Horizon: Call of the Mountain’s protagonist can scan the battlefield to highlight different vulnerable parts of enemies’ bodies. This includes exploitable weak spots that will momentarily flash to indicate where you should target.

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Doing so not only deals more damage and eliminates the threat faster but also has the chance of staggering the enemy mid-attack. Therefore, it’s best to keep an eye out for any flashing body parts on bosses and spam them with precision and tear arrows.

2 Sometimes It’s Better To Roll Toward Machines

enemy targeting ryas in horizon call of the mountain

Learning how and when to properly dodge or roll out of an area where the enemy is attacking is a crucial part of Call of the Mountain’s combat. At the same time, there are instances where it’s much wiser to roll toward an attacking machine rather than away.

This is especially true when dealing with long-range attacks with a brief wind-up period and area of effect. In these instances, rolling towards the enemy can prevent you from taking damage and offer a few precious moments to plan your next move while the enemy repositions.

1 Glinthawks Are Weak To Fire

glinthawk battle in horizon call of the mountain

If you were to rank Horizon machines from least to most annoying, Glinthawks would, without a doubt, take the number one spot. They’re constantly moving around, firing off both long and close-range attacks, and tend to spawn in groups, making it tough to focus on targeting just one.

Thankfully, Glinthawks also have one glaring weakness: Fire. If you can manage to inflict burn status onto one, you’ll find it much easier to kill, as the damage dealt over time contributes to any follow-up shots you land. Also, who doesn’t love a well-roasted metal chicken?

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