Horizon: Zero Dawn - Staggering fights and incredible graphics gives an epic experience
Guerilla Games, a game development studio based in The Netherlands, behinds titles like Killzone takes a 180 degree turn and goes for an epic, explorable post-apocalyptical setting. Initially Guerilla Games got a lot of criticism for this move, but now with the finished product in hand, many of the old skeptics get to hang their heads in shame as the history and destiny of Aloy and planet Earths unveils.
Horizon: Zero Dawn is a action role-playing game, with the action elements taking a precedent. We take control of the banished archer Aloy in a crippled civilization that has been thrown back to the stone age in its development but time-wise we are thousands of years into the future. Corrupt, lethal robots roam the environment and the remaining living humans are living in a society built by tribes, where resentment, conflict and hate exists between them. Except for Aloy's quest to find and fight the cause of the corruption that has crippled the human race so severely she also want to solve the mystery of her own past and find her true place in the world.
Horizon: Zero Dawn - the most beautiful game to ever hit a gaming console
The world that you will explore comes delivered to you in a fully open-world format and invites for exploration in the pace and to the extent that you as a player feel most comfortable with. The dramatic landscape drives my thoughts against games like Skyrim, with high snow-capped mountains, escarpment forests and mysterious ruins left from the previous humans that inhabited this place. All this is delivered in a graphic and with such care to details that my chin keeps falling to the floor time after time. Were talking insane graphics here on a extremely big scale, giving its an open world and all. The rendering distance is ridiculously good, lighting is spectacular and the flowing, high grass looks so soft you wanna take a nap in it.
Are you sporting a Playstation 4 Pro and a 4k-tv at home? Well, congratulations - Horizon Zero Dawn makes it abundantly clear that the current gaming generation is in zenith. You cant really get anything better then this under the hardware that exists out there today. When we, after a long intro, finally get to run and jump trough the terrain every soft sun ray that breaks trough the pale trees in a distant forest makes you sometimes just stop and stare in awe. The orchestral soundtrack helps with the epicness and also provides a good "cherry-on-the-top" for the artistic feeling the game gives.
Once you get out of your coma from the awesome jaw-dropping graphics, you will notice some slight lip-sync error in dialogues, and the characters you interact with can sometimes move a bit edgy. Aloy and some of the other main characters in the game are triple-A grade well done, but this world has many inhabitants with some who might not have gotten the same care as the main npc:s got. The water effects could also be better, both visually and interaction wise.
Sweaty battles and tight controls
As Aloy goes out on her journey a rich flora of both human and mechanical foes will cross her path, with the mechanical foe fights being a tad more interesting in this case. At first you will just dominate som easier targets as runner robots and scouts, but as we progress trough the world and game more formidable enemies appear. They all have their weakness, but when a giant 2 ton metal-colossus is ravaging towards you while firing a dozen giant grenades and comes with meter-long tusks right in the height of your solar plexus, it is not always the easiest to think exactly where to aim with the bow (i told you it was more action then RPG remember?).
Many fights are actually very hard in Horizon Zero Dawn - often all that it takes for Aloy to visit the promised land is a few strikes - but the controls are very responsive so at least you have a chance. We roll, jump and dodge frictionless. It would have been welcomed with a lock on-function though in my opinion.
The arsenal we have in our disposal is relatively small, but damn it's good and very upgradeable once you find the correct resources. Except for the close-combat fighting spear there is an array of different types of bows, slings and traps with the potential to even do some elemental damage. More difficult fights will demand multiple weapon switches, which you can seamlessly do trough a quick selection-menu. Trough this we can also craft ammunition for our weapons on the fly, right in the heath of battle. You can also self heal yourself with different potions and healing herbs on traveling foot.
The joy of exploration and flower picking
The acting world of Horizon: Zero Dawn should be enough for even the most demanding explorer. The large map is divided into sections of varying climate-zones and has plenty of interesting places to explore. There are side quests to complete and some errands you can run to keep us occupied while not going trough the main storyline, and besides that we more than once fall into complex cave-systems that lead us to secrets and rare items.
The collection aspect in Horizon Zero Dawn does take a salient position in the game. Earlier we have seen many examples of certain games taking the concept way to far in my opinion. In Horizon it works pretty good, much thanks to the joy of traveling around the beautiful open world. This world is riddled with an abundance of plants, machine arts and animals skins that can quickly be tracked and harvested. Aloy moves nimbly trough the landscape in much the same way Lara Croft from Tom Raider would do, but with less emphasize on climbing and acrobatic movements. Some of the robots you are able to hack to then tame them. After taming a robot you can ride it and enjoy a quicker journey on your new mount.
Characters that give and take
Aloy is a sympathetic protagonist with a story which we get to follow since the very beginning. She goes trough many bewildering events on her journey to adulthood, which clearly contributes to the person she seems to become. The other characters are pretty generic and its rare that we meet friends and often we meet enemies.
The voice-acting is okay, but out heroin has an annoying habit of wanting to talk to herself. Sometimes to help us solve a problem, but also when she picks somethings up, becomes wet after a swim or happens to slip down a slope. Some of Aloy's comments are just flat or kind of stupid that you get irritated - it just does not feel like it does justice to the other aspects of the game.
Something old, and something new
When i play any game i can't help my self to compare it to other titles. In Horizon: Zero Dawn titles like Elder Scrolls, Tomb Raider and Uncharted has given some clear inspiration, but Guerilla Games has managed to create an all-around experience that really takes everything that works, and disses everything that does not. The unique influence i can see is the overgrown environments - fantasy-inspired, mystical and lethal. And then there are those frequent picks of excellent fights for life and death with a multifaceted and impressive enemy gallery.
This is a action game with an capital A, the RPG elements are pretty quickly worked trough. You cant make Aloy a certain class or role, but instead you increase her efficiency in those areas you are most interested in like archery, near-combat and resource collecting. Guaranteed you have already managed to buy all the skills before ending the game. Some might see this as a disappointment, but this game seems to have taken the approach of awesomely epic action moments instead of putting points in a skill tree.
Concluding
I feel confident in saying the Horizon: Zero Dawn is one of 2017's best games of the year. With it's stunning graphics, truly entertaining action sequences and a fantastical designed game world Aloy sets her claws in me right away. The exploring, the story and all the side quests and challenges will keep you entertained for many, many hours.
This impressive title has to bow a little to other titles in the genre though, as this feels like a mix of all the best games i played lately, but that doesn't sound to bad though eh?
Trailer
Released March 1, 2017 to the PS4.
Days Gone - A Post-Apolytic Zombie World
Diablo III - Rise of The Necromancer
Dishonored 2 - Death Of The Outsider
Bloodborne - Hunt Your Nightmares
Horizon: Zero Dawn - A lush post-apocalyptic world
Conan Exiles - Survive, Build & Dominate The Hyborian Age
Agony - A Hellish Trip Into Madness
Skull & Bones - Become The Ultimate Pirate
Overwatch - Fight For The Future
One one the best games I have played in a long,long time! 5*
Agree but sadly not available on pc.
Buy a PS4 haha
Why? to play on medium graphics settings on 30fps?
My 1080ti eats these games like
BrexitBreakfast.Anti-Consumerism is deadly disgusting, why can't we just have cross-platform online games, I don't get it.
I agree that the cross platform online gaming should be better, but i have to strike back on the "medium graphic settings". Especially when where on a post review for one of the most beautiful games i have ever seen on a console, and i also have a gaming rig with an 1080ti, the difference is not that big when comparing with this game. Medium is just the wrong term for this game at the very least.
Just as with a computer, you need the correct gear to get the most of it, i have a PS4 Pro and gaming on a 4k TV, and i can promise you that it is NOT medium graphics, if you have not seen the game in pure 4k on a PS4 Pro for yourself i would advise you to check it out.
I will, thanks for the review
Thanks for the info on Sony, it's always good to spread truth :)
Peace dude!
@aircoin You need to get a PS4 ASAP! I know PC gaming is awesome, i love it to, but get yourself a console (ps4) there are some truly epic, unforgettable experiences that you get with many console exclusive games (god of war 4!!)!
Thanks to both of you for reading :)
I have a problem with the company behind the console.
Sony is after apple and all fossilfuel car companies the most disgusting and anti-consumer company!
You have to pay to play online?
And they want your Personal ID Card information to verify you .... << Sure its not NSA Verifying or even better selling infos to adcompanies.
I mean just knowing that they have your PersonalId information stored on their weak databases makes me uncomfortable.
Now wonder why lizardsquad wants to get into sonys database so badly ;)
Again, I like the idea of a simple console to play video games with your friends, local on a tv screen, i like it, BUT I will never buy one if I see the names sony, ea, apple, microsoft on it because they are the biggest anti-consumerism on this planet!
They milk their customers and the customers even accept it!
I understand your concerns, i mainly saw it from a gaming perspective and i am not as well-read in the subject as you are! Thanks for opening my eyes, going to research all this further, to bad i am a helpless console gamer since such a young age... hard to break old habits :)
Thanks for your comment dude:)
yo follow me up guys for great daily gaming content and a few laughs, follow upvote comment and resteem for more of the best gaming blog on steemit
Not much of a gamer but your review is really tempting. Maybe I should try this with my gamer friends.
Hey super fun that you liked my review, i spent a lot of time writing it :) My girlfriend is not a gamer AT ALL, but this game blew her away and almost made her a gamer, so give it a try if you have a PS4! (who doesn't like robot-dinosaurs?)
Awesome review. this is one i have been wanting to play. currently i am playing RE VII. can I include your review in the best reviews of the week Issue #2? Its a new series i made to highlight reviews and reviewers here on steemit in hopes of spreading the great reviews more.
You may share any of my content without asking in the future, just fun that you liked it that much bro! =)
yeah it was great. I love to see all the great reviews that are coming out here on steemit.
Unbelievable review! Thank you so much :)
I love the game, the whole story and idea is great. Can't wait for the expansion. I'll be following you and looking forward to more reviews.
Thanks for the compliment dude :) Agree, awesome story, gameplay and graphics, what more do you need right? :)
Thanks for the follow, i hope i can keep you satisfied with more great gaming content:D
Go in peace dude!
great review! Beautiful story and graphics... one of the best games i have ever played..really!
Thank you, sweet that you liked it! One of the most beautiful games and intriguing/creative stories in a great while IMO :D
Se ve interesante lastima q para mi pais esta complicado tener un PS4 pero igual gracias por el post
It looks interesting pity q for my country is complicated to have a PS4 but same thanks for the post follow me and I follow you
I personally can't wait for the expansion.
Frozen Wilds is looking awesome, we agree there dude! :D
One of the best games released in 2017 I want to purchase and play it long time!
It's been a long time since i played anything as good as this :) You need to buy it ASAP!
wow.when are we expecting the expansion
The latest i checked we had not got a definitive release date, but before the end of 2017 according to devs :) We will get new characters, new quests and new areas, it will be totally awesome!!
I love games but this Zero Dawn seems to really stretch the imagination! great article love the review! keep up the good work
Awesome that you liked my review, thank you man! :) Yea if i told my friends i am playing a game that's set in the future, but with stone-age like tools fighting robot-dinosaurs, it sounds like a pretty funky game thats all over the place, but its just so well done it makes for an epic journey :)
Thanks for commenting bro!
This game alwz kip me busy all de tym
Smoked a bowl of Amnesia Haze when i first started playing this, and i was lost for like 6 hours straight... Epic to play high! :D
Nice post @conexus i love this game :D
Glad you liked it, thanks for reading i love it to :D
That's so interesting! I didn´t know about that kind of game too realistic where everybody can play this game in a higher lever! Thank u for this information @conexus. I´m gonna play this game soon and hope will be fantastic! :D
It's fantastic so get your game on! :)
This was such an awesome game. Tomb Raider with a post-post apocalyptic twist. Excellent world building...hmmm...sounds like my next article. Great article sir!
Exactly, we needed another female adventurer in a new setting, H:ZD really delivered in this aspect and can't wait for the expansion to come out!
Thanks for reading my man, glad you liked it!
i want play this game but i dont have ps4, so sad. :(
I now the feeling of wanting to play a game but not have the correct console. Honestly i wish evert game was multi-platform, the exclusive war between console is just hurting players more then creating a strong community IMO :/
Perhaps one day we will get a platform flip to at least the PC or something, it has happen before, otherwise you might have to save up and get yourself a PS4 ;)
Peace friend!
Loved this game! Already pre-ordered the DLC!
Great review. HZD is one of my favorite games this year on PS4. I hope Guerilla keeps making games like these, I didn't care much for their Killzone series, but this game exceeded my expectations.
Yeah who needs a generic-Killzone FPS shooter when you can get giant mech-dinosarus in a post-apocalyptic world instead? :D
Glad that you liked my review, thanks for reading :)
This is the review I was looking for. Thanks for sharing it with us :)
That's awesome that you like it my man, go in peace! :)
thats realy interresting
I absolutely loved HZD, and the ending cinematics with Miss Sobek were definitely heartbreaking. If the Frozen Wilds DLC is anywhere as fantastic as the main game, Guerrilla Games is going to become a main name on the Triple A stage.
I have honestly considered bying this game more times than i can count, but something always stops me, do i really need another open world game but this time with future ai dino robots ... the story might be amazing the gameplay might be blow mind but what am i paying for ?
More and more hit this part for something to happen , i went thru many years playing purly indie games because i didnt have the computer to run triple A titles but that i do have the computer do i really want to invest my money into a game i may not even play.
I loved the game review I really did but looks like monster hunter mixed with elder scrolls and uncharted. like you said.
This game an amazing plot, best one I have seen for a while.
I have been wanting to get this game. I'm waiting for it to go on sale in the PS store. Now i want it even more.
read now '5 REASONS WHY STEEMIT IS LIKE CLASH OF CLANS'https://steemit.com/gaming/@ivylifestyle/5-reasons-why-steemit-is-like-clash-of-clans
Hi friends/Steemit. Let me introduce myself. My name Winny Putri lubis. I am from Medan, Indonesia. Thank you.
Follow me @princessexi
Plz read 10 Top Games is Not Original Content @ivylifestyle