Adapting Horizon: Zero Dawn for an audience of eight-year-olds

During last month's Summer Games Fest, the Horizon video game series expanded its reach into the realm of mass media. The franchise, known for its adaptations into comics, a VR experience, and a board game, has also seen its protagonist, Aloy, featured in other popular games like Monster Hunter, Fortnite, and Genshin Impact. There are plans being hinted at for a possible television series in the future.

Last month also marked an intriguing development: Guerrilla Games, in collaboration with UK-based Studio Gobo, announced a Lego Horizon game. This upcoming title will be available on several platforms, including the Nintendo Switch. Notably, this is the first time in over 25 years that a PlayStation-owned intellectual property will appear on a Nintendo console.

"Guerrilla hosts many devoted Lego enthusiasts," stated James Windeler, narrative director at Guerrilla Games. "Some team members even have entire rooms filled with Lego. Our initial Horizon: Zero Dawn machine prototypes were made from Duplo. Thus, there's a natural synergy with Lego.

"Additionally, some developers have been with us for nearly a decade and now have children. The Lego collaboration offers them a chance to work on a lighter, more family-friendly game.

"Moreover, the bright hues of our game world and the positive themes in our narratives made us ideal partners for Lego. The machines in Horizon naturally lend themselves to Lego's construction format. It felt like a perfect match through our organic discussions."

I had the chance to try Lego Horizon Adventures at Summer Games Fest and was quite impressed. The game is reminiscent of Lego movies, with all game assets composed of Lego bricks. It retains that self-aware humor typical of Lego productions.

"We are selective about our projects and protective of the Horizon brand," Windeler says. "But this collaboration was a chance to break norms and have fun with familiar elements of the franchise, allowing us to poke fun and introduce varied gameplay elements.

"While inspired by Horizon: Zero Dawn, Lego Horizon isn't a mere retelling. Iconic scenes and themes, like Aloy's quest for her mother, remain central. Still, it's not just for Horizon fans; the humor is designed to be accessible to a broader audience."

The game aims to attract a wide demographic, appealing to both young children and existing fans. It's a cooperative title that eight-year-olds can enjoy, featuring sillier content and visual comedy.

"We've designed it to entertain a younger audience with humorous visual gags and more sophisticated self-referential comedy, akin to Lego movies," Windeler emphasizes. "It's an opportunity to appeal to a broad group, offering something for both kids and their parents."

The decision to release this game on the Switch makes it potentially an entry point for new players into the Horizon series.

"Although not our main objective, we recognize the potential for younger audiences to be introduced to Horizon through this game," says Windeler. "We aim to offer a fun experience for both kids and their parents."

"We saw this as an opportunity to break our own rules. It's a chance for us to have a lot of fun with elements of the franchise"

The development partnership with Studio Gobo allows Guerrilla to take the lead on narrative elements.

"We are deeply integrated into the project," explains Windeler. "Guerrilla has a core team working closely with Studio Gobo. Regarding narrative, we brought in Mark Llabres Hill, a seasoned writer known for work on Fable and Sackboy, to ensure the story resonates well with our target market."

Horizon: Zero Dawn, known for its darker themes, presented challenges in translating those elements into a game for younger audiences. While not spoiling details, Windeler assured that the team balanced maintaining the essence of the original game while adapting it to a lighter tone.

"We retained as much of the original story's essence as possible," he says. "Although some heavy themes, like the destruction of the old world, remain, we've approached them in a manner more suitable for younger players. The story is simplified but echoes significant elements of the original."

In conclusion, while Lego Horizon Adventures offers a lighter, more humorous take on the series, it remains true to the Horizon franchise.

"It still needs to feel like Horizon," Windeler concludes. "We've bent some rules, but core characters stay true to themselves. With returning voice talents like Ashley Burch as Aloy and JB Blanc as Rost, we've kept the essence of Horizon intact, offering a different but recognizable experience."