Everything Wrong With Horizon Zero Dawn (No Spoilers)

PlayStation LifeStyle lists everything wrong with Horizon Zero Dawn.

[gammaray13]

all your points are absolutely ridiculous, also your voice is horrible

[ninsigma]

Well that seems an unnecessary comment to make.

The points are ridiculous because there isn't much to complain about with horizon so all that's left is nitpicking :)

[aksmashh]

Games amazing but most of his points are valid

Ironically his voice is very robotic

Anyone bought the arrow rifle?
Finding it useless and I paid almost a 1000 shards!!

[Ra3v3r]

You need to be close and hit them with a few at either side to keep them pinned. I struggled.with it to begin with but got it after a while. 2-4 usually pulls one to the ground.

He has a point about the AI, it's really stupid but the rest are nitpicking. It's a great game, but I am already swamped with icons, I've tried off the HD so I can keep focussed.

[Liqu1d]

Arrow rifle?

[rainslacker]

Is one of the points it's a PS exclusive published by Sony?

PSLS seems to have an unhealthy hate of everything PS, which seems out of phase with a site which is supposedly a PS fan site. They weren't always like this, but I think Sony pissed them off or something.

[guyman]

Smfh. This absolutely the worst series out there in gaming journalism.

[Sunny_D]

Guys, they gave the game a 10. No need to go ballistic for pointing out things a game can do better because no game is perfect.

I'm not done playing the game, in fact I'm still early as hell in the game. One thing I wish they allowed is the ability to go inside multiple buildings like the Witcher 3 did.

Another thing that's not really a criticism but more of a wish would have been the ability to ride the big ass robots like the Thunderjaw. NOW that would be awesome.

[_-EDMIX-_]

Agreed.

[ninsigma]

Mass destruction via thunder jaw. That sounds amazing 😂

[LucasRuinedChildhood]

For some reason, I'm not really enjoying the game. Maybe it's because I'm feeling a bit sick right now but a lot of the gameplay isn't really clicking with me (the larger robot fights are pretty good though and the story and the characters are great). I'm already bored of melee combat and fighting Humans and Watchers.

Everyone else loves the game so I kind of feel like the odd one out on this one. I know some morons like to troll but I've played about 7 hours of the game and this is just my genuine opinion. It think it feels both unique and generic; fun and boring; a good challenge at times and way too easy. I also liked the game a lot more before it completely lets you loose on the open-world. Maybe I should just take a break from it for a while or something. On paper I should love this game - I don't know what's going on.

[ninsigma]

You say you're bored of melee combat so maybe that's why you're not enjoying it?? In HZD the melee combat is secondary while bow and arrow is the primary form of attack. This makes the melee combat as basic as wildly swinging a light or heavy strike. Not sure if youre focusing on melee or not just that's what I picked up on based on your bored of melee comment which struck me as odd when the main combat is bow and arrow. If that's what you're doing, maybe try change it up a bit :) before release I was definitely unsure on the bow and arrow combat being primary but having played it now I found it great fun. For me it nails the combat pretty well. If after trying different styles it still doesn't click, perhaps the combat mechanics just aren't for you. Nothing wrong with that!

[jeremyj2913]

I was the same way with Witcher 3. I plan to go back to it at some point but I just wasn't as into it as I'd hoped to be.

[ninsigma]

@Jeremy
Imo wither 3 didn't have great combat. It was pretty basic but the rest of the game makes up for it. Well worth going back to it if you find the time :)

[Sparta07]

" I'm already bored of melee combat and fighting Humans and Watchers. " 😳

I hardly ever use melee attacks, only when I'm going in on a sneak kill.
Soooooo many things to do in Horizon I don't understand how you could get bored.
It's your opinion and I respect that. I'm not attacking you.
There are games out there that people love but I hate. Everybody has different taste.

[kreate]

only time I felt bored was listening to all those audio files. everything else was great.

[nveenio]

@LucasRuinedChildhood, you fight humans and watchers? I just take them out instantly with head/eye shots, or override the watchers to deal with everything else while I pass through the area with other intentions.

[rainslacker]

Maybe put it down and try something else?

Then come back to it when you're more in the mood?

Sometimes I can't get into a game at one point....often true for a highly anticipated game which I pick up when I'm not in the mood to play that kind of game....but then end up loving it later.

[arkard]

What difficulty are you on? Harder difficulties don't allow melee to be so much of an option and make you have to rely in your bow and precision aiming.

[LucasRuinedChildhood]

I'm playing it on Hard although I can easily increase it to Very Hard (no trophies for difficulty and you can just switch it in the Pause Menu). I only brought up the melee combat because the enemies really tend to rush you (especially the Human AI) and if they have low health, a melee strike is very effective. Maybe it's my own fault, but because the Watchers are so weak if they attack I just instinctively melee them. Otherwise I just kill them with a head-shot.

The melee combat wasn't really the heart of my complaint though. I think my biggest issues with the game is the human-only encounters and that traversing the world can be a bit monotonous if a mountable robot-type isn't around.

I don't know what they are called, but the fight against the Spider Robot after [potential spoilers I suppose] you become a Seeker was great. If fights like these become more frequent and the Humans just get mixed in with robots (as opposed to having so many Human-only fights) I think I'll really start to enjoy the game. As I said though, I think I'm going to take a break from it.

[arkard]

To much of a good thing can be a bad thing. I don't know how many breaks I took from the Witcher, but still one of my most cherished games this generation. Hopefully everything pulls you back in when you come back to it and it leaves you feeling satisfied and not dissapointed.

[ninsigma]

AI wise I agree with human AI. It's as basic as it gets really but I found the machine AI to be great! I was fighting a ravager yesterday in a small space so I was ropcasting him. He was half way to being fully pinned and couldn't reach me due to the placing of the ropes but that mofo DROPPED its own frigging armour so it wasn't tied down as much and managed to reach me and get a hit in! I was impressed.

What I didn't agree with is the fast travel pack. I was initially disappointed of course to find that having finally gotten a travel pack it was a one time use but then found out about the golden pack which completely makes that a non issue. Sure it was pretty pointless having both perishable AND unlimited fast travel in the game but I also felt it was a pointless point to make. Then again they did give fair warning about nitpicking at the start of the video 😂

Can't disagree with the shoulder camera. While I haven't had too much issue with it, being able to switch shoulders for better views isn't a bad idea.

Agree on machine control. I've often found myself wishing I could just point an overridden machine into a bandit den or machine site. Not a massive issue but it would have been nice.

I was quite surprised at the beginning that I couldn't aim while balancing on a rope actually. And I agree having two skills to extend your override time seems fairly fillerish. I was also quite shocked to find that having to done 3 cauldrons I only had one left to do. I think they could have been varied a bit more too.

I've had bosses repeat the same things as well. Not too big a deal but ya know, an extra bit of effort into that dialogue would have been nice considering the rest of the games dialogue is great would have been nice.

Outfit and mod combo for stealth is crazy nit picky because it's completely optional lol. Agreed that Aloy is pretty adept at stealth as it is. In fact she's so much so that I feel there's no point in actually having stealth boosts. She's already freaking ninja xD so I don't bother prioritising stealth at all.

A couple extra from me:
Climbing is fairly simplistic in HZD. Most of the time you can just point the thumb sticks in the direction you want and she'll pretty much auto climb a part from the points where the next point is far away.

This is a general game issue that happens in a lot of games and mostly open world games. Some times textures can be slow to load I've found.

Lastly, I've seen a disconnect between characters speech and their lip movement. It's possibly a delay to my sound bar but I'm pretty sure I've seen it when playing out of the tv speakers too.

Great game overall though and is one of my favorites this generation. Can't say it's my favorite this year because it's the first 2017 game of bought or played 😂

[MRMagoo123]

yup the A.I on the robots is way higher than I thought it would be , it's actually surprising GG didn't brag about it imo.

[ninsigma]

No need to brag. Let the work speak for itself :)

[Liqu1d]

I was surprised to see the shellwalkers walk around my tripwires.

[_-EDMIX-_]

Absolutely 100% agreed.

Those are all my same issues I felt that the human enemies we're almost afterthoughts they're interesting but they're not as complex as a robotic dinosaurs.

How you go after Target in fight each robot is what makes the game so amazing the idea of being able to set up traps and also being able to tie down specific types based on their strength is pretty amazing.

The physics of tieing down specific robots is what nails it for me simply because using the weapon to tie them down doesn't exactly fix the problem you still need to aim at specific body parts to make sure they stay down

The animations in regards to their speech is also something that I've noticed.

Another gripe that I have that I don't really think is a big technical issue but just how I personally like to play is her character doesn't dynamically climb specific edges they seem to be only edges specifically designed for her. I would like that to be explored a little more. I know this game wasn't specifically made to be some huge platformer but they already opened up the can of worms by having her climb at all lol

In regards to overriding robots I feel like I could have use that technique a lot more. Lol I just love fighting them head-on and stuff killing them but when you do override a robot in it goes beserk helping you it's pretty cool

This is still one of my favorite games this generation but it is not without fault.

This is still early in the series so I hope that all those issues are fixed with the sequels.

[ninsigma]

The robots having different types is great and really makes you think, especially when they mix up the types of machines in a certain area.

I would definitely like to see more meaningful climbing in future instalments.

Yeah I don't override too often either but I do love watching machines like the chargers or strikers completely flip out when they're fight the other other machines xD

[saffron3d]

Would you say that the human AI is one of the worst AI you have ever seen on video gaming history? The way some talk about it make me think it is, when it's probably just hyperbole.

[KickSpinFilter]

Really non of those things you mention. I'd say rather wonky facial animations compared to TLOU and UC4, and voice acting in some situations, are really the only things that stick out a bit.

[KickSpinFilter]

I'm sure Naughty Dog would have shared tech.

[SlightlyRetarted]

I'm still mindblown why people don't realize why linear games have better facial animations than open world games. Do you seriously think they could mo-cap facial animations when there are hundred times more dialogue.

[KickSpinFilter]

Most linear games don't except for TLOU and Uncharted. Even Tomb Raider was off but would have looked better than what was in Horizon. ND could have shared some of the assets not a full blown mo-cap even. Look love Horizon but I can pick out faults in a game I love.

[CrimsonWing69]

If there's not really a lot to complain about for the game why even waste your time with this?

[ninsigma]

The title alone will get a lot of people clicking even though "everything wrong with" is actually a piece this site does for any game. The title of the piece does sound clickbaity though, especially when its subject is a big highly praised game. They also give the game a 10 out of 10.

[_-EDMIX-_]

I don't disagree with a lot of what they listed but I just feel if they really felt this way they should have took away a point and I still would have been okay cuz I don't even disagree with some of the things that a lot of users have been saying.

Are all the issues we've all discussed worth taking away a point? I would say so, so my problem is not really that they made this list simply that their own review doesn't really reflect this

[ninsigma]

Actually you make a good point. The small things do add up. They aren't detrimental to the game or anything but review wise you'd think it would in some way affect the score. Another reason why we need standardised reviewing.

[KickSpinFilter]

I've read everything else and I'm at work...BAAM!

[leemo19]

Agree with all your points. For me its the voice acting and facial expressions on some of the characters that need to improve in the future. Not having any real interactions with people or things in city's and villages outside of vendors and side quests. It be cool if they added some sort of mini games to do, like archery competitions, card/board type games. Even being able to sit at a bar and drink little bit. Just something to make the places you visit more alive.
The way she stealth kills I think could be done better. Add more ways of taking some one out and doing it quietly. Having the ability to throw your spear at someone in case you don't feel like wasting arrows.
Plenty of things GG can improve and add upon, but overall the game is excellent right now.

[ninsigma]

Throwing the spear sounds like a great idea! Also you've reminded me that when she puts the spear on her back it just vanishes. Nothing major and you wouldn't notice it most of the time but it's something that's kinda inexplicable really and just as yourself why xD

[Liqu1d]

Why would you throw your only spear when you have access to a near endless supply of arrows?

[_-EDMIX-_]

I'm going to have to disagree with you on some of those points because it sounds like you actually need to play a little more of the game some of the things that you stated are actually inside of the game.

[leemo19]

Ive platinum the game, pretty much have done everything other than collect all the data points. Like what is in the game that Ive stated.

[TechnoGoat]

Facial animations, Done, everything else was fantastic.

[C_Ali88]

Lol When fanboys don't like what you say even though you gave it 10/10....lol

[Whirlwind_Fanfare_08]

PlayStationCrapStyle is more like it. These guys sux!

[WickedLester]

My only real nitpick (and yes it's just a nitpick) is the world isn't QUITE as interactive as I'd like it to be. For example, I hate that I cannot submerge underwater and explore. I hate that I cannot go into every cabin, look around, and interact. Also I wish there was a greater variety of wildlife. I seem to see boars, rabbits, turkeys, and geese over and over. But why aren't there any bears, deer, elk, moose, etc?

[BLKxSEPTEMBER]

My only complaints with the game is the enemy A.I. can be dumb at times when using stealth. And fighting human enemies is boring and takes away from the more imaginative ways to take out enemies other than that I love the game.

[psplova]

I'm kinda butthurt that she isn't wet after getting out of the water myself... Yuuuge oversight imo... : P

[SweetLeafSmoker]

blah blah blah... crap video... and the Fast Travel mechanic where you have you to CRAFT the item required for fast traveling is actually BRILLIANT!!!

and there is a backpack available that grants you unlimited fast travels.... so either way the crafting fast travel items eventually becomes irrelevant... but at the same time don't knock the way they did the fast traveling/crafting... it's freaking brilliant and a different way of doing it.. it makes the player be more conscious about where they are and what they are doing.

the only one I sort of agree with would be the shoulder swap but it's not a big deal or anything at all.. it's just a personal preference. and maybe the AI could be slightly better.. but by AI i mean the HUMAN AI no the machines... the machines are pretty damn spot on... You could be fighting or sneaking up one thing and then from across the way a herd of machines see you and enter the battle... I play on Very Hard/Dynamic HUD...

but then again... the way video games are made nowadays any of things you mentioned can easily be fixed or tweaked in patches/updates.

[fenome]

I don't understand the complaints on the fast travel packs, this is like the fifth thing I've seen complaining (nit-picking) about that and it makes no sense to me. I'm at end game right now and I've never run out of fast travel packs.

Whenever I start getting low I just craft more or go buy some from a merchant, I've never even bothered trying to get the golden pass because it's never been an issue for me.

Edit:

On the other hand (literally) shoulder swap is something that I really could have used a few times.

[SweetLeafSmoker]

yeah I don't get the hate for the fast travel crafting either.... I freaking love it..

I'd even go so far to say that it actually makes the game more immersive.

I didn't even notice the unlimited backpack until 30 hours into the game.. I never even saw it at the vendor hahaha.

The only other game that I can think of that had a similar fast travel system was Dragon's Dogma... I remember not being able to fast travel at all in the beginning.. but then at some point you could get these stones or something that allowed it.

I mean I understand why they do it and the need for fast travel, etc...

It kinda doesn't make sense in these games where we run around and uncover stuff and gain materials and items to craft things... It's like we have to find all this stuff and etc to make are character more powerful... but from the beginning we've always had this "magical ability" to travel to wherever we want to go as long as we've been there before.

[Realms]

People like to bitch and moan about everything, they like games that hold their hand just buy the unlimited travel pack it's not that hard to get enough shards to buy it. I only use it for story missions because I like exploring and gathering resources.

[Christopher]

***On the other hand (literally) shoulder swap is something that I really could have used a few times.***

I get annoyed with this as well, but it makes sense. Archers and shooters don't just normally go about swapping from right to left-hand. My bigger complaint is that foliage gets in the way of aiming, especially at flying enemies. Wish they had it so that foliage or any other object like an NPC would not show behind you when aiming/focus aiming.

[fenome]

Good point Christopher, I didn't really think about it like that; and yeah the foliage is a much better complaint, that's got in my way more than a few times.

I just got that golden fast travel pass last night, and I must say it is way more convenient for trying to tie up all the side stuff.

[ZombieKiller]

Let's change that title to: "Everything wrong with gaming journalism"

[TheColbertinator]

Great article. I bookmarked it to show other people who might consider buying this thing.

[fenome]

It's not even an article, it's a video (and not a very good one) made by the same site that reviewed the game as 10 out of 10, but that doesn't matter anyways right? It's not coming to Scorpio so it must be crap in you're little brain and you're trying to use the headline on this almost satirical video to fuel your little fanboy flames. Lmao

Feel free to bookmark and go show all your imaginary friends who you only know by gamertags about this horrible game, I'm sure the whole world is listening to your insignificant little crusade right now as we speak...

*crickets*

[mkis007]

A LITTLE TINY SIDE-SPOILER

i was blown away by the fact that the in game lore explains why there is so few animal diversity.

[mad-dog]

Those were actually pretty valid points. I LOOOVE the game though.

[Razzer]

Not watching. Loving the game. Don't need a buzzkill.

[Realms]

LOL. Where is everything wrong with Zelda? Oh right I didn't get the memo that game is perfect. Cough!! Cough!! FRAME DROPS!!

[SlightlyRetarted]

I just wish there was a bigger weapon wheel or a secondary weapon wheel. I find myself running one setup and ignoring other weapons as going through menus to switch weapons mid-fight kills the flow of the combat.