Clawstriders and Sunwings are just a couple of creatures that make their debut in the sequel. Immediately iconic designs, they were heavily featured in the promotional material for Horizon Forbidden West and even appear on the game’s box art. It’s no surprise, then, that creators have taken to them in their own artworks.
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User sittingIsFriendly has uploaded their own take on the machines in some pictures uploaded to the r/horizon subreddit. In one, they show off their watercolor sketchbook designs of the Clawstrider in the style of the Explorer Notes found in ARK: Survival Evolved, another open-world action-adventure game that features dinosaurs. Across Ark’s island are the collectible pages of these Notes, which detail each creature’s unique traits alongside a drawing. SittingIsFriendly has managed to capture the essence of a scrapbook in their work while still maintaining impressive attention to detail.
The Clawstrider drawing is highlighted impeccably with grey and black shading, allowing the paper white of its armor to shine through, while the orange accents boldly stand out. Beside the sketch, sittingIsFriendly has also included the tails of the Fire and Acid variants, which burst with vibrant yellow and green. Their notes also highlight the various abilities of the Clawstrider, their detatchable components, as well as what Cauldron their override can be acquired at.
This isn’t the only machine that sittingIsFriendly has drawn, as the day prior they posted a beautiful sketch of a Sunwing in much the same style. This sketch follows the same artistic principles as Forbidden West’s Clawstrider, though this drawing shows off a much more dynamic pose like the one seen on the box art. With wings outstretched in a swooping position, the brilliant blue of the solar panels bursts with life. Along with this incredible piece is a close-up of an overridden Sunwing beside a landscape watercolor of Sunwings roosting on a mountain.
The purposely imperfect nature of these sketches and notes truly immerses viewers in the fiction of these creatures. Moreover, the accuracy and attention to detail make it hard to believe these notes aren’t lifted directly from the game. With the build-up to a new Horizon sequel thoroughly established, fan artists and enthusiasts alike could have more awe inspiring robots to look forward to.
Horizon Forbidden West is currently available for PS4 and PS5.
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