Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered: The City of the Sun Walkthrough
Key Takeaways:
- Unlock and explore new Carja territories by reaching Meridian in Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered.
- Follow the main questline by investigating Olin’s House for clues and tracking Olin to the excavation site.
- Choose between sparing or condemning Olin in a crucial decision that impacts future interactions but not rewards.
In Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered, entering Carja territory through the gates is a milestone, as it reveals the broader world map and opens access to the city of Meridian. This quest, “The City of the Sun,” is a journey into new, vast regions and encounters with larger machines and critical storyline developments. In this walkthrough, we’ll guide you through each section, giving tips on tackling powerful enemies, finding hidden paths, and making key decisions. Spoiler alert: Proceed with caution!
Entering Carja Territory and Heading to Meridian
Once the corrupted machines are taken care of, Aloy can finally access the Carja territory and begin the trek to Meridian. This journey will take you far from the comfort zone you’ve known, venturing into regions teeming with new challenges and enemies.
Exploring the Map:
- Campfires: Make sure to activate every campfire on the way for future fast-travel options.
- Tallnecks: If you spot Tallnecks, approach them to scan and extract valuable data that will reveal map areas.
Encounter with the Thunderjaw:
- On the path to Meridian, a high-level machine known as a Thunderjaw patrols uncomfortably close to your route. Avoid engaging with it until you’re at a higher level, as its attacks are lethal for early-stage players.
Arriving at Meridian and Inspecting Olin’s House
Upon reaching Meridian, you’ll notice guards performing inspections on merchants but letting you pass freely. Approach the guard at the gate to initiate a cutscene. Once inside, you’ll meet Erend, who will help you on the next part of your quest.
Searching Olin’s House Erend leads you to Olin’s house to uncover clues about his involvement with the mysterious cultists.
- Uncovering the Hidden Hatch: Use Aloy’s Focus on the left side of the room to reveal a hidden hatch under a rug.
- Accessing the Basement: To break open the hatch, head upstairs, climb the ladder to the second floor, and locate a shipment of ingots. Push them off to break the hatch below.
- Exploring the Secret Room: Once the hatch is open, descend using the ladder to avoid damage. Activate your Focus to scan three items: a map, an audio device, and a journal. This exploration ends with a cutscene that sets you on a path to confront Olin.
After examining these items and speaking with Erend, the next objective begins tracking down Olin at an excavation site.
Tracking Down Olin at the Excavation Site
Leaving Meridian, you’ll head north to locate Olin. Along the way, you’ll need to stay vigilant, as the excavation site is heavily guarded by cultists and corrupted machines.
Navigating the Excavation Site:
- Approach Stealthily: As you near the site, keep a low profile to avoid detection by patrolling cultists and machines.
- Climbing to the Site: Climb up the rocky ledge and make your way down to the equipment-filled area, where a cutscene will initiate, revealing the extent of the cultists’ defenses.
Defeating Corruptors and Cultists
After the cutscene, prepare to engage two Corruptors and several cultists.
- Targeting Corruptors: Use Fire Arrows to overheat the Corruptors and aim for their weak points on each side to maximize damage.
- Dodging and Movement: Keep moving to avoid incoming attacks from cultists while you handle the Corruptors. Once these larger threats are down, clearing the cultists becomes significantly easier.
Once the site is secure, you’ll be able to confront Olin directly.
Talking to Olin and Making a Pivotal Choice
With the Corruptors defeated, Olin will be more open to talking. This conversation leads to one of the game’s more morally complex choices: you can choose to either spare or condemn Olin.
Impact of the Choice:
- Sparing Olin: If you choose to spare him, Olin will assist in a future quest to rescue his family from the cultists.
- Condemning Olin: Choosing not to spare him leads to his absence in the future storyline but doesn’t impact your rewards or story progression.
Regardless of the choice, the conclusion of this conversation brings “The City of the Sun” quest to an end, unlocking the next main storyline path. Aloy’s journey continues as she delves deeper into the mysteries behind the cultists and her own past.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: What level should I be for “The City of the Sun” quest? A: It’s recommended to be around level 12–15 to ensure you can handle the enemies encountered on the way to Meridian and the battles at the excavation site.
Q2: Can I revisit Olin’s house after completing this quest? A: Yes, Olin’s house in Meridian remains accessible, though there isn’t much left to explore there once you complete this quest.
Q3: Does sparing or condemning Olin affect future quests? A: Yes, sparing Olin allows him to appear in a later side quest, but the decision does not affect the rewards or main storyline.
Q4: What’s the benefit of scanning Tallnecks? A: Scanning Tallnecks reveals large portions of the map, helping you locate points of interest, enemies, and campfires.
This guide covers all the essentials for completing “The City of the Sun” quest in Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered, setting you up for the next stage of Aloy’s adventure through Carja territories.
