Horizon Zero Dawn and the Overwhelming Task of Completing an Open World Game

Lightgun Galaxy writes: "If you’re anything like me, whenever you play an open world game you inevitably stray from the main quest line as soon as humanly possible. Typically, as soon as a game removes the restraints, I run amok, getting lost in my surroundings. And lord help me if the game has any sort of looting, scavenging, or item collecting. I need to gather plants for crafting? Looks like my character has a new full-time job."

[UCForce]

It wasn't easy task for GG, but somehow they nailed it.

[Eonjay]

"I need to gather plants for crafting? Looks like my character has a new full-time job"

LOL Damn right! then you find out the limits of what you can carry and then your new job becomes enhancing your carrying capacity.

[Christopher]

HZD is actually one of the easiest to complete, IMHO. I'm a very slow and patient gamer and I finished this faster than any of the Far Cry games even though I found it more challenging. That includes finishing all side quest items (platinumed the game).

[Eonjay]

How long did the plat take?

[psplova]

Took about 90 plus hours to platinum.. My first game I've done that with actually. Took my time with too. It's the perfect length imo. I played the Witcher 3 for 500 plus hours and just beat the game and the dlc expansions and nowhere near getting the platinum in that one.. It's overwhelming.

[Christopher]

About 60 hours. I fast traveled a lot after the first third of the game and completed up to about 75 percent completion before I started back on the main missions. Once you get the best weapons and fully upgrade your containers, there's very little to do between missions.

[BushLitter]

HZD is actually the first game I've platinumed. Took around 100 hours, but you could easily take off 20-30 hours off that number if you consider that I never fast travel anywhere.

[discobastard]

wtf?! Why? I mean, no dis, its incredible and looks so amazing, but there are some real back n forth moments that needed the chop. Loving it still and only a few missions left myself. Will be a shame to finish th experience

[neoandrew]

Far cry has a lot less to do in game, yet you state that HZD was more challenging, but you finished it faster than content lacking FC games? How is this possible?

[Christopher]

I'd say they have about the same, there are a lot of side items in each Far Cry game. It's easy to ignore entirely, but it is there.

[Sunny_D]

I think that what makes it so fun. It gives you the scope of an open world but yet doing things seem manageable.

[Christopher]

It's a big world, but they do a good job of not making it a chore or feel like one.

[Noxrest]

Yes, i think is because none of the task needed to complete the game feel dull or booring, they also are very streamlined since you have a map that helps a lot.

[AspiringProGenji]

You are not forced to complete the game 100%. Play at your own pace then

[Manubiggs]

My quest to find magnetic flowers takes precedence over the main quest in HZD

[Silly Mammo]

Just finished collecting everything last night. Cups, flowers, views and banuks.

[Wallstreet37]

HZD is structured in such a way that you can continue to just do the main quest and not feel cheated by not doing the side quests.

I commend GG on finally giving me an open world I wasn't bored of. An open world that I actually want to do all the side quests and find everything.

I've stated this before but Horizon has set the bar imo on how open world's should be created. It isn't lifeless, just open terrain with fluff Sidequests that mean nothing. Sidequests are meaningful and the world is gorgeous and alive with dangerous npcs everywhere. It feels like a linear story driven game without the linear limitations and freedom of roaming the open world. Story is golden too and the combat. My favorite open world game hands down.

[UCForce]

Yeah, it feel so satisfying.

[girevik]

Yep! I love the feeling of not really wanting to fight three snapmaws but trying to figure a way to sneak past them.

Just a real fun game!

[Silly Mammo]

Does anyone else never ride a mount? Everytime I start riding a beast, I see something I need to collect​ and have to get off. I've ended up stop riding all together.

[girevik]

Haha! I do that too.

[Wallstreet37]

I don't ride mounts in HZD or Zelda. It's annoying to me lol like u said especially in HZD where u feel obligated to jump off every second to pick up things. They should have allowed you to grab things while on mount.

[BlakHavoc]

Open world games are often overwhelming to me, they start to drag for me around the 40 hour mark or so. I can't think of one game where I put in over 40 hours and can't recall just wanting it to end at one point. Thanks to Horizon I know that it's more about your enjoyment in the world itself, how's the exploration, sense of discovery, and combat mechanics? In the case of Horizon I feel like the driving force is the combat, and discovery. It's discovery it's utilize in a different way then say Zelda, as it's more about discovering things about the environment and what happened on Earth. The exploration isn't as good as it is in some open world games, but I still managed to log 70 hours into the game unnoticed, which is the first time I've spent that much time in a game that isn't a MP game.

[bondsmx]

Puh-lease. I already plat'd it. I really wish there was much more to do in it..
I very much enjoyed the game, but no it's over.

[skwidd]

Ha. I hear ya. I'm not finished yet but I feel Im on my way and I'm finding myself reluctant to play more in the fear it'll be over. Haha