5 Things Horizon Zero Dawn Did Incredibly Right

GeekReply: Here I am sitting while waiting for another one of Q1 or Q2’s great games to arrive on my doorstep. So many great titles so far this year and many more still to come. Still it’s hard to shake off this feeling of leaving Aloy behind. Horizon Zero Dawn still rings in my mind even with games like Resident Evil 7, Mass Effect: Andromeda, Nier: Automata, and Torment: Tides of Numenera under my recently completed belt. Hell, whenever I turn on my PlayStation 4 and make my way past the icon for Horizon Zero Dawn, I just stare at it wishing more content would magically appear within it. The experience was that enjoyable and I really do hope that Guerrilla Games is working on a singleplayer DLC. I’m so enamored these past two months that I just needed to get my feelings out other than with a critical eye. Although Horizon Zero Dawn was the first title I ever gave a 10/10 to since becoming an actual journalist. In an effort to think about Aloy’s adventure as much and long as possible, here’s five things that Horizon Zero Dawn did incredibly right.

[SideNote]

Best game ever. Im totally into this, love everything about it.

[Utalkin2me]

It wasn't perfect by any means. But it has a solid foundation to build upon.

[Armaggedon]

It is perfect, just not ultimate.

[Utalkin2me]

@Armaggedon

It's not perfect. It's a great game, like i said before has a great foundation to build upon and improve.

[madworld]

For god sick just look at this engine walkthrough it's one of the most powerful games engine in the world and yeh it's powerful then all third party engines such as Snowdrop,Unreal engine and cry tech!!!

https://www.youtube.com/edi...

[thekhurg]

You're not allowed to call PS4 exclusives less than perfect. Just sayin.

[Utalkin2me]

@Prince-Ali

Sorry majority rules. If it was so perfect then scores would have reflected that. A opinion is fine and everybody has one. But majority of opinions rules. My opinion reflects of what most journalist have said. Its 89 on metacritic and about where it should be.

@thekhurg

Well of course not. But i dont care. If it was so perfect then scores would have reflected that.

[BigTrain]

Im right there with you, my GOTY.

[omarja1405]

Incredible game all around & a strong GOTY contender.

[JBaby343]

I really need to get this game. I've heard nothing but good things. Soon.

[AspiringProGenji]

Story: I was really surprise by the story and how deep it is.

Gameplay: The gameplay and the graphics complement each otherm not every game plays as good as it looks

Machines: Some of the best enemy and AI designs ever. Just watching Snapmaws as a Crocodile lover move, attack, and even chill like a real croc was amazing.

Combat: Imo the best Open world combat to date. Not a single QTE, versatility, and epic soundtrack

Performance: Yet another thing that not every open worlds gets right. Solid perfomance with those graphics is a true achievement, something GG must be applauded for

All of that makes this game untrollable in my eyes. Amazing game!

[Next_gen_2015]

best enemy AI? The human AI is atrocious.

[UCForce]

But the machine AI was the star of the game.

[AspiringProGenji]

True, but I mean the machines. They are star of the show.

Human AI is on the list of things to improve for the sequel, but they got the machines right!

[Dark_Knightmare2]

Nice try but he specifically stated the machine a.i. which is absolutely amazing

[Utalkin2me]

@UCForce

He didn't mention the machine AI. So his comment still stands. But nice spin.

@AspiringProGenji

Again you defend then repeat exactly what he just said.

@Prince-Ali

Nice spin on some terrible AI. Im assuming where going by your standards, cause you know so much.

@Dark_Knightmare2

Maybe you have problems reading..."Some of the best enemy and AI designs ever" He put it together as a group, not calling a specific one out.

[magicted]

My opinion is this is the best game ever. Perfect or almost perfect in every category like the author said. Just my opinion about the game.

[jcole97]

The machine AI is great. Human AI on the other hand, not so much

[Ceaser9857361]

Well said Progenji

[cd1]

The best combat mechanics I've ever experienced.

[Legatus]

-story
-combat
-rich and interesting world
-lore
-protagonist
-variety and desing of machines
-game lenght
-graphics

Simply superb game in any aspect.

[Yohshida]

Putting me to sleep in the opening hour

[SkippyPaccino]

That's what happens when you put a ps4 game in your Xbox one... I kid, I kid... But seriously stop doing that

[Ceaser9857361]

Skippypaccino
Savage reply.. haha!!

[Liqu1d]

Of course it is.

[Armaggedon]

Opening hour was cool. A whole lot of mystery building.

[SideNote]

Your video game lab must be shut down or something. I doubt you own the game and watch youtube videos all day in 420p.

[DigitalRaptor]

His VideoGameLab is very busy producing more hilarious PR for Xbox: https://twitter.com/VideoGa...

[DigitalRaptor]

... This dude considers ME a troll.

LMAO!

[Ceaser9857361]

Videogame lab
"Putting me to sleep in the opening hour"
Lmao!!

[Istolla]

I just got this game but I'm worried that Breath of the Wild has spoiled open world games for me.

[SkippyPaccino]

Horizon has a long story heavy tutorial... It will take you a good 6 hours for the game to truly open up.

I platinum Horizon and moved on to Zelda and haven't really seen what everyone is over the moon about. It's good but after capturing all the Devine beast and finishing 80 plus shrines, I'm losing interest...

They're both fun games and have hours of entertainment, but I would man up and grind the first 6 hours of Horizon to truly see what Horizon is

(plus fix your menu so as little as possible is on screen, that also helps... Don't know why they think we love having the screen cluttered with inventory)

[SideNote]

The menu thing is one of the things I did straight away. Didnt to clutter those gorgeous visuals.

[SkippyPaccino]

@sidenote yep! I have a 65" tv and I felt suffocated by all the onscreen information...

[Istolla]

I hear you, but I shouldn't have to grind to enjoy a game. 6 hours of grinding sounds tedious.

[Dark_Knightmare2]

The only thing Zelda did better was the traversal. Horizon kills it when it comes to combat,enemies,story,voice acting,animations and of course graphics

[Dark_Knightmare2]

This in in reply to your other comment but you've seen two people say that one on gamespot and the other I forget which site but than again I've seen a couple say the opposite. You say horizon does nothing new but what does Zelda do besides the traversal that's new nothing at all

[Istolla]

The exploration is the whole point of the game. The physics engine made the game immensely enjoyable for me. I've never played a game that pretty much lets me visit/interact with anything I see the way BotW has. I love that there are no invisible barriers that prevent me from doing anything unless I've met a requirement. Hell, I could run to the final boss right from the beginning of the game.

I'm not saying Horizon is terrible, I'm just saying I haven't experienced that wow factor yet unlike I have with BotW. If I hadn't played Zelda I'd probably be enjoying Horizon a whole lot more.

[Istolla]

These videos capture what I feel makes Zelda so much better to me:
https://www.youtube.com/wat...
https://www.youtube.com/wat...

Despite how amazing the graphics in Horizon Zero dawn feel, the world feels so lifeless and bland because you can't interact with it. It takes away from the realism the graphics suggest.

[FreakyFox]

Fantastic game, pure class and it has so much going for it, i would not know where to start.

Hacking a Trampler and watching it go back into the herd and go berserk never gets old. :D

[NotanotherReboot]

Most overrated game this gen by far. Uncharted 4 and Bloodborne are still the best

[Armaggedon]

I actually dont think this one is overrated. I myself have yet to see people saying that all other games pale in comparison to Horizon. I see that stuff about the Witcher constantly though. " The Witcher 3 is the best game of all time, and s***s on other games." Or my favorite one , "Comparing the Witcher 3 to anything is unfair."

[UCForce]

Nope. GG proved them that they aren't waste their talent.

[UCForce]

You are the one with that low attitude. Seriously, give GG a credit.

[NotanotherReboot]

Sorry Twoforce, you can't change my opinion.

[Legatus]

Not even close, if anything it's underrated. Guerrilla Games made stuningly superb game that deserves to stand with Uncharted 4, Bloodborne, etc. as the best of the best that PS4 has to offer.

[uth11]

U4 is the overrated one out of the three, not HZD

[UCForce]

Maybe I can't change your opinion. But your reputation will.

[NotanotherReboot]

That makes no sense, but ok.
Why am i not allowed to like a game? Didn't realize that was illegal

[Ceaser9857361]

Frinker
It's not Overrated imo. It's a fresh new IP and GG has outdone themselves. Credit must be given where it's due..

[UCForce]

It was goddamn amazing.

[Armaggedon]

The game has yet to draw me in as Mass Effect has; However, I have a tremendous amount of respect for what Guerilla Games were able to accomplish. The game is exemplary.

[Wallstreet37]

My favorite open world RPG this gen.
What it does better than other rpgs this generation....

Combat! Got to love those weapons and the tactics behind using a grappler or a tripper. Having enemies turn on eachoter is epic. Enemy robot AL some of the best I've seen. Comatose feels accomplished akin to what you feel defeating enemies in Souls. Thank God it wasn't witcheresque.

Music-First time I've actually listened to an OST while not playing the game.

The World! Never a dull moment. Physics may suffer but what good is having all that dynamic physics if your world is barren, empty and you are it populated with a low variety of samey characters? Horizon lush world and density with enemies everywhere is top of the food chain.

The Story-Had me wanting to find out more and not skipping cut scenes.

My Goty so far.

[Officialxandr]

Did NOT expect the story to be so intricate and innovative. My God, Guerilla games has hit it out of the park. 10/10.

[jcole97]

This game literally makes my jaw drop with it's visuals. I can't stop myself from taking screenshots every few minutes. And the combat is exciting and challenging.

[blakeamanda2005]

The only issue I had was the voice acting left a little bit to be desired, but that's a very minor gripe. Fantastic game!