Just like any good open-world action-adventure game should be,Horizon Forbidden Westis absolutely jam-packed with content. While the real meat and potatoes ofHorizon Forbidden Westis its lengthy set of story missions, there’s so much more to chew on, fromminigames like Machine Striketo difficult challenges like the Melee Pits to expansive dungeon-like Cauldrons. And that’s not even mentioning the game’s many collectibles.
Horizon Forbidden Westhas no shortage of collectibles. There are six different types ofcollectibles inHorizon Forbidden West, and the vast majority of those have around 10 individual collectible items each, all scattered across the game’s expansive open-world. But while five of these collectible types can be pinpointed on a map, there’s one type of collectible that goes completely hidden, relying on sheer luck to be found - or, now that the game’s been out for well over a year, a guide. These collectibles are called War Totems, and though they can be tricky to find, they’re certainly worth the effort.
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Horizon Forbidden West’s War Totems Double as a PlayStation Easter Egg
Every majorAAA first-party PlayStation gameof the last decade or so has had some kind of reference to at least one fellow first-party franchise. InGhost of Tsushima, players can find a table littered with little origami representations of iconic PlayStation series likeRatchet and Clank,Gran Turismo,God of War,Shadow of the Colossus, andHorizon Zero Dawn. InGod of War Ragnarok, each PlayStation first-party franchise got its own unique Kvasir poem. And inRatchet and Clank: Rift Apart, players could open up rifts to some series' dimensions, bringing characters likeSly Cooper,Jak and Daxter, and a Sawtooth Machine fromHorizoninto the game.
Back in February 2022 it wasHorizon Forbidden West’s time to return the favor. During the course ofHorizon Forbidden West’s lengthy runtime, players should be able to encounter a number of Easter eggs that reference other gaming franchises, both PlayStation exclusives and other series. A red fox fromGhost of Tsushimacan be found, guiding Aloy to a shrine. The LSR44 Spoor fromKillzone Shadow Fallcan be spotted in LATOPOLIS. And in a handful of Cauldrons,The Legend of Zelda’s Triforcecan be spotted above some doors containing additional loot.
But by far the most rewarding Easter egg inHorizon Forbidden Westis the game’s War Totems. Not marked on Aloy’s map at any point during the game,Horizon Forbidden West’s War Totems are a set of three statues that depict characters from Santa Monica’sGod of War. The first War Totem players will likely stumble upon is actually technically the third and final collectible of the set, appearing in No Man’s Land on the south-west shores of the Jagged Deep region. These are the Totems of Brotherhood, with one representing Sindri and the other his brother Brok, the two dwarven blacksmiths.
By heading to the Cliffwatch settlement in the far west of the game’s map and making it to the Greenhouse, players should be able to find the Totem of War. As the name suggests, this totem is a little representation of the God of War himself,Kratos, complete with his Leviathan Axeand body markings. The third and final War Totem set can be found on the western coast of the Isle of Spires. Called the Totem of Youth, this statue depictsGod of War’s Atreus, specifically the 2018 version of the character, as his face looks fairly young. For collecting all three War Totems,Horizon Forbidden Westrewards players with the Mark of War face paint, giving Aloy the iconic white and red markings that Kratos has on his own face.
Horizon Forbidden Westis available on PS4 and PS5.
