Image: Guerrilla Games
Horizon Zero Dawn, developed by Guerrilla Games and released in 2017, is an open-world action-adventure game set in a captivating post-apocalyptic world where nature has reclaimed the ruins of a forgotten civilization, and robotic creatures now roam the land. Players take on the role of Aloy, a skilled hunter and archer, as she unravels the mysteries of her world and discovers her own destiny. As a passionate gamer and lover of open-world adventures, I'm thrilled to share my review of Horizon Zero Dawn.
Story (9/10) Horizon Zero Dawn's narrative is rich and engaging, with an intriguing premise that combines post-apocalyptic, tribal, and science-fiction elements. The game tells the story of Aloy, an outcast from her tribe, who is determined to uncover her origins and the truth behind the world's mechanical creatures. The game's story unfolds through a combination of main quests, side missions, and collectible lore, allowing players to immerse themselves in the game's world and history.
The game's writing and character development are excellent, with well-rounded and memorable characters that bring the story to life. While some side quests can be formulaic, the overall narrative is compelling and thought-provoking, providing a strong emotional core to the gameplay experience.
Gameplay (9/10) Horizon Zero Dawn's gameplay is a blend of action, exploration, and RPG elements, with a focus on tactical combat against the game's robotic creatures. Aloy is equipped with a variety of weapons and tools, such as a bow, a spear, and a device called the Focus, which allows her to analyze and exploit the weaknesses of her mechanical foes. The game's combat is intense and rewarding, requiring strategy, timing, and precision to overcome increasingly challenging enemies.
The game's open world is vast and visually stunning, encouraging exploration and discovery as players uncover hidden locations, complete side missions, and gather resources to craft new equipment and upgrades. The game's RPG mechanics, such as skill trees and equipment crafting, allow players to tailor their playstyle to their preferences. However, the game's inventory management system can be somewhat cumbersome and unintuitive.
Graphics and Sound (10/10) Horizon Zero Dawn boasts breathtaking visuals, with a vast and diverse open world that is teeming with life and detail. The game's environments, character models, and creature designs are meticulously crafted, creating a truly immersive experience. The game's day-night cycle and dynamic weather system further enhance the atmosphere and realism of the world.
The game's sound design is equally impressive, with an orchestral score composed by Joris de Man, Niels van der Leest, and The Flight that complements the game's epic scale and emotional narrative. The voice acting is exceptional, with performances from Ashly Burch (Aloy) and Lance Reddick (Sylens) providing depth and nuance to their characters.
Performance and Optimization (8/10) Horizon Zero Dawn runs smoothly on various platforms, with stable performance and minimal technical issues. However, players may experience occasional frame rate drops or visual glitches, particularly in densely populated areas or during intense combat sequences. The game's initial PC release faced optimization issues, but subsequent patches have largely addressed these problems, resulting in a more polished experience.
Content and Replayability (8/10) Horizon Zero Dawn offers a wealth of content for players to explore, with a lengthy main story, numerous side quests, and collectibles scattered throughout the game's world. The game's challenging combat and RPG mechanics encourage experimentation with different strategies and loadouts, providing ample replayability. However, some players may find the game's lack of a New Game+ mode or additional post-game content a limitation to its replayability.
The game's expansion, The Frozen Wilds, adds a new region, quests, and challenges to the base game, providing additional content and story for players to enjoy. This expansion further enhances the game's longevity and replayability.
In conclusion Horizon Zero Dawn is a masterfully crafted action-adventure game that delivers an engaging story, breathtaking visuals, and innovative gameplay mechanics. Its blend of post-apocalyptic, tribal, and science-fiction elements creates a unique and memorable experience. The game's combat is challenging and rewarding, and its vast open world encourages exploration and discovery. Despite some minor performance issues and limitations in replayability, Horizon Zero Dawn stands as a triumphant accomplishment in the world of gaming.
Overall Score: 9/10