Update: I've had the game several months and have played through twice. Intetestingly, i receive an e-mail from Sony Games, saying i had played it for 300 hours! The second go through, seemed a bit easier, since I'd of course, become much more adept at using the weapons and knowing the best strategies to defeat even the most powerful robot animals. But i uncovered side stories i hadnt explored the first run, so the game was even richer and rewarding. There are just a few games over the years that i played several times, but this mind blowing game has become my favorite. Cannot recommend it highly enough if you love franchises like, Dishonored. Tomb Raider, Bioshock and Uncharted.
Original review: Very rarely, a game comes along that sets a completely new standard in immersive entertainment. Horizon Zero Dawn certainly borrows from the best that came before it, but the developers at Guerrilla Games have combined brilliant elements of extreme creativity, eye candy graphics, a story line that’s completely fantastic but bizzarely believable considering developments in AI and Robotics. Game play and controls are fluid and intuitive, despite being somewhat complex, as to weapon enhancements and skill evolution as you progress. The social structures and relationships that exist in this post apoctolyptic world are believable as well, as society has devolved into tribal units that are matriarchal and include social practices like casting out members of society and shunning them for various offenses. The main character, Aloy, a great name in this post-age the tribal leaders called the Metal World, that is terrorized by a growing cast of robotic machines now operating in a feral existence, is one such outcast who was cared for and later trained by another outcast, a warrior named Rost. You see their angst as they are shunned and belittled any time they come in contact with the established tribal members in the story line’s beginning, but especially the frustration of Aloy as an innocent child trying to understand why she is different and not accepted. Ironicallly, many younger players might relate to that socal stigma if they’re part of the complicated social strata that exist in western culture adolescence. A periodic competition exists that allows young tribal members to become braves but also allows an outcast to prove their metel, wherein, if they finish, are allowed to become a brave and shed the social stigma as they will now help defend their tribe. Fittingly the competition is called, “The Proving”. The deity that permeates the culture’s spiritual beliefs is curiously also referred to in phrases that incorporate the word ”Mother” making it female as their life giver and sustainer. There are, of course, quests that must be accomplished, but to me they seem less structured and predictible as many other games I’ve played. There periodically exists social interractions where Aloy is given the opportunity to respond in a variety of ways which you can choose. Your choices of her responses will help determine how her character develops and how she is regarded. As for the mechanical creatures you encounter and whose diversity is gradually revealed as you progress, they are nothing short of epic and mesmerizing with movements that are reminescent of the dinosaurs that roamed the earth eons ago. Completely unique in size, function, defense capabilities and ferosity, you initially approach them timidly, as any of them can easily kill you and learn their weaknesses and vulnerabilities in order to bring them down. You also acquire the ability to transform them to be docile and even an ally in limited ways. One early creature, for example, is called a Watcher, and resembles perhaps, a raptor in size and movements, whose purpose is mainly to observe so their head is dominated by a lens eye. When they detect you, a question mark appears over their heads and they will approach. If they spot you the eye turns red and the entire screen takes on a milky hue, indicating you are being scanned and under attack. Aloy found a small earpiece that attaches too her head, one day as a child accidentally, when she falls into an abandoned underground cavern that contains remnants of the wrecked Metal World age. The device gives her a heads up scanning projection of the area around her, revealing useful hidden information, items and vulnerabilities. I’ve been playing for hours and see I’m only 20% into the game, despite learning and accomplishing volumes. The game has some elements that really make the experience seem so believable and realistic. Besides the changing light as the day progresses, at times there will be flash rain or snow showers which change the visibility and game play. You’re able to do periodic game saves when you locate a camp fire, well, a stack of wood which you light and then do a quick save or a manuel save. It’s a good idea, after you’ve accomplished a particularly challenging sequence or defeated one or a herd of very tough machines, to return to do a save. It’s not always close to your scene of action, but on the PS4 at least, you can push a button to bring up a map section and then quick travel there. One feature that may not be important to some gamers but to me it’s what makes the game even more involving and emersive, is the character development and the social complexity. Add to that the excellent voice acting. I waited to buy my PS4 Pro especially for the game Dishonored 2, and as fantastic as that game was in many ways, I felt very disappointed in the character development and lack luster voice acting which made much of it seem suprisingly flat, despite the spectacular graphics. Not so here. Guerrilla seems to have ticked all the boxes in every category. I would prefer to be balanced by listing a few things that seemed weaker, but honestly, I can’t think of any. This has become my new standard and all time favorite. The price will be reduced after another month or so. I paid full price to have it on it’s release date and have Zero regrets. If you enjoy games like Tomb Raider and Uncharted you’ll be mesmerized by Zero Dawn Horizon. Your main weapons are a lance and a bow which you can acquire specialized ammo for depending on the type of battle you're up for. To maintain your health, you are alerted to medicinal plants that you can pick and store in your medicine pouch till you need them. The scenery is absolutely spectacular, sometimes rugged mountain terrain or lush green forests and a pair or a herd of mechanical animals can appear around any bend, to be attacked and disabled or just avoided. Sorry for the long description but this game is really, incredibly beautiful, challenging and captivating. Do not hesitate to purchase it now or wait a few weeks and it should be reduced 20% or so as is the custom. Beyond a 5 star rating to me.
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From the manufacturer
Experience A Vibrant, Lush World Inhabited By Mysterious Mechanized Creatures
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A Lush Post-Apocalyptic WorldHow have machines dominated this world, and what is their purpose? What happened to the civilization here before? Scour every corner of a realm filled with ancient relics and mysterious buildings in order to uncover your past and unearth the many secrets of a forgotten land. |
Nature and Machines CollideHorizon Zero Dawn juxtaposes two contrasting elements, taking a vibrant world rich with beautiful nature and filling it with awe-inspiring highly advanced technology. This marriage creates a dynamic combination for both exploration and gameplay. |
Defy Overwhelming OddsThe foundation of combat in Horizon Zero Dawn is built upon the speed and cunning of Aloy versus the raw strength and size of the machines. In order to overcome a much larger and technologically superior enemy, Aloy must use every ounce of her knowledge, intelligence, and agility to survive each encounter. |
Cutting Edge Open World TechStunningly detailed forests, imposing mountains, and atmospheric ruins of a bygone civilization meld together in a landscape that is alive with changing weather systems and a full day/night cycle. |
Embark on a compelling, emotional journey and unravel mysteries of tribal societies, ancient artifacts and advanced technologies that will determine the fate of this planet, and of life itself.
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Reviews with images
A fantastic journey.
Let's get this out of the way right off: this game is gorgeous. It is probably the best looking game on any system right now (I played on a PS4 Pro with HDR and a 4K screen). Even after putting 60+ hours into the game I often found myself stopping to enjoy the vistas (and even taking a few pictures with the fantastic photo mode). A feat that is all the more impressive for an open world game where you can go anywhere and do anything.The crux of the game revolves around primitive humans fighting giant robot dinosaurs with frickin' laser beams in lush and varied environments. To that end the game is fantastically successful. There is a certain thrilling juxtaposition in watching a defeated machine twitch and spark as the sun sets on a beautiful windswept meadow.To hunt these mechanical monstrosities (and yes you have to hunt them to scavenge precious components) you have stealth, spears, bows, slingshots, various traps, and most importantly your wits. There are additional weapon types that can be taken from humans and machines and used temporarily. There is really no end to the number of ways that a battle can unfold. I spent hours just pitting different kinds of machines against each to see who was stronger (later in the game you can corrupt machines or even hack them to fight with you).Primitive humans and robot dinosaurs? How does that happen? There is a fantastically detailed story that explains everything. As good as the combat and graphics are the story itself is probably even better. The story has as much or as little detail as you want (and you will probably want it all). Peppered throughout the world are artifacts that flesh out the pre-apocalyptic world. These text, audio, and hologram logs provide not only story but also context of the people's lives before and up to the apocalypse.There is only one imbalance in this almost perfect game. With the exception of the absolute best weapons (which you have to earn through trials) and armor (available near the end of the main story) the 3 tiers of weapons are available too soon in the game. I don't feel like I earned the top tier items. There was almost no reason to even have tiers.
Top reviews from the United States
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Reviewed in the United States on March 12, 2017
Platform For Display: PlayStation 4Edition: StandardVerified Purchase
Reviewed in the United States on December 30, 2017
Platform For Display: PlayStation 4Edition: StandardVerified Purchase
Top reviews from other countries
Got for wife, got was good, she likes it, thumbs up for this one
Great game
Reviewed in Canada on September 24, 2023Platform For Display: PlayStation 4Edition: StandardVerified Purchase
Shabba
Beautiful
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 18, 2020Platform For Display: PlayStation 4Edition: StandardVerified Purchase
まま
感動そのもの
Reviewed in Japan on January 16, 2019Platform For Display: PlayStation 4Edition: StandardVerified Purchase
Jonathan Boulet
Five Stars
Reviewed in Canada on May 20, 2018Platform For Display: PlayStation 4Edition: StandardVerified Purchase
dhanis
日本語要らない
Reviewed in Japan on July 2, 2017Platform For Display: PlayStation 4Edition: StandardVerified Purchase
