Horizon Zero Dawn
Killzone developers Guerilla Games have always had
a reputation for pushing the graphical boundaries of
a system - PS4 launch title Killzone: Shadow Fall is
still one of the best looking titles on the platform -
but with Horizon Zero Dawn the developer has really
outdone itself. Not just visually (though Horizon is
a truly breathtaking game to behold, prompting
questions about what kind of sorcery Guerilla has
employed to extract this kind of performance from
Sony’s hardware) but in pretty much every other
way as well. Horizon is a spectacular achievement,
and a stellar example of how world building, game
mechanics and story can come together to create an
open world adventure that’s unlike anything else out
there.
(PS4, Out Now)
apparent that there’s something rather unique about
Aloy and her knack for using old technology from
the ‘metal world’.
Horizon’s story is perhaps the unexpected highlight
of the game - it manages to balance a sense of
wonder and discovery as Aloy learns the history
of the world and the origins of the robots with
more personal, immediate dangers and story arcs.
And that’s without even mentioning the masterful
environmental storytelling; every region of the
map boasts wonderful vistas that practically beg
you to guess what the ruins once were, and in the
subterranean ruins of the metal world you’ll often
find the scattered corpses of prior inhabitants, along
with holographic and audio recordings of their last
days of life. Much of it is superficial, but some of the
stories you’ll uncover are hauntingly powerful.
Aloy can take control of some enemies, and even ride
them into battle
The premise is simple enough: Horizon presents
a post-apocalyptic future where robotic creatures
roam the ruins of long-lost cities. Humans live in
isolated tribal societies, eking out a living from the
land and defending themselves against the robots
when need be, occasionally hunting them for parts.
You play as Aloy, an Outcast and a bit of an expert
hunter, but who longs to be a full member of the
tribe. Such is the basic setup, but it quickly becomes
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Stealth is mostly optional, but often beneficial.
It’s Aloy herself that’s the real standout, however.
She’s capable and pretty badass, but exudes a quiet
confidence; never coming across as self-important
or cocky. She’s brought to life wonderfully by voice
actress Ashly Burch, a careful, nuanced script, and
subtle, believable facial animations.
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