Of the 43 different machine types in Horizon Forbidden West, none are quite like the majestic Tallneck. These gigantic metal monstrosities are completely uninterested in Aloy and her antics, making them the only non-hostile machines in either of the two Horizon games. They can also grant access to some useful information about the surrounding areas, though players will first need to climb and then override a Tallneck in order to get their hands on its secrets.
While most can typically be overridden as soon as players find them though, there's one Tallneck that's a little different from the rest. Try as they might, players will eventually come to realize that there's no way to get on top of the Shining Sands Tallneck when they first find it, leading many Horizon Forbidden West players to wonder whether they might be missing something. In a way, they are, though it ends up being a lack of story progress as much as it is some special tool.
How to Override the Shining Sands Tallneck
Usually, there'll be a tall structure of some kind near a Tallneck, making it easy for players to see how they're supposed to climb on top of it. This isn't the case with the one in the Shining Sands, however, nor are there ballistae nearby with which to bring the Tallneck down as there with the Stillsands Tallneck. This is because players aren't actually supposed to override the Shining Sands Tallneck until a very specific point in the main story.
The next section of this guide contains information about one of the late-game main story missions in Horizon Forbidden West . Those wishing to avoid spoilers should turn back now.
Players will need to override the Shining Sands Tallneck as part of the Wings of the Ten. This late-game main story mission is triggered once Aloy and her companions have recovered HEPHAESTUS from the Gemini cauldron: a process which also sees Aloy getting her hands on the Sunwing override key. After successfully overriding a Sunwing, players will then need to fly out to the Shining Sands and land on top of the Tallneck there to override it.
Unlike traditional Tallnecks, players won't be able to jump from the top of the one in the Shining Sands, nor will they be able to rappel down to the ground. Instead, they'll need to use the flying mount, which can be summoned by pressing Left or Right on the D-Pad until the picture of a Sunwing appears in the bottom left-hand corner of the screen and then pressing the Down button to make Aloy whistle. The Sunwing will then swoop down to pick Aloy up and players can continue on with the mission.
Horizon Forbidden West is available now on PS4 and PS5.
