9.5
Horizon Zero Dawn
Dec. 18, 2018 by Mikey Cannon
An absolute masterpiece delivered by the developers of the Killzone franchise. Horizon Zero Dawn is undoubtedly one of the best games of the eight generation of consoles. A breathtaking adventure from the first second the game defines ultra high definition gaming. Published by Sony Interactive Entertainment and developed by Guerrilla Games it is exclusive to the PlayStation 4.
With a detailed open world and immersive main story line supported by a diverse world of tribes full with NPCs who have their own stories, you assume the role of Aloy, an outcast who is determined to find out about her past and the circumstances that led her to be an outcast.
While seeking for answers Aloy sets out in the world only to discover that her answers lead her to deep secrets of the world. Playing Horizon Zero Dawn was the first time we did not experience a drop in frame-rate on the PS 4 Pro over the 2 weeks that we played the main story line. Guerrilla Games proved that single payer video games are not out of fashion, you just need to hit the sweet spot.
The campaigns are driven by a splendid narrative, interesting quests and challenging combat. Everything from character design to stunning anti aliasing on a large scale open world has been executed with style. We were amazed by the detailed work given to each model of machines down to the last wire and spark. The game has a beautiful day and night cycle along with a weather system supported by wildlife and captivating landscapes. The game takes advantage of a well designed skill tree and a wide variety of interesting crafting elements.
Unlike other games finding collectibles, completing side quests and exploring actually rewards you with wider knowledge of the plot and circumstances connected to the main story line. Character development has been kept in line with the story and thus the game provides us with strong protagonist and antagonist.
While the technical aspects and narrative are to be applauded for consistency and performance the most captivating element in the game is the journey of Aloy to find out who she is and about the origins. The ending gives you a sense of achievement but also leaves you wanting more. We hope Guerrilla Games can outdo themselves again in the sequel.