and I'm also doing as much side quests as I reasonably can so I can level up and because I don't want to miss anything and have to backtrack too heavily if I passed side missions up.

I'm also not using a grip of the available equipment (the slingshots and traps) as I mainly used the Bow and Arrow to beat the first Horizon Zero Dawn. I might have to rethink that strategy since I'm getting humbled on a regular basis by the machines this go round.