Horizon: Zero Dawn - Sorry PC mustard race, look away

[Azazel]

So this game has been pretty hyped up since it was revealed at E3, and I'm happy to say that for the most part it's lived up to (most of) the hype (so far).

I've only played a few hours of it so far but holy shit. This game is the reason for owning a PS4 Pro and a 4K TV, because it looks amazing. For a comparison of just how good this looks in 4K compared to 1080P:

And I can verify the video does it no justice.

Gameplay wise, hunting robo-dinosaurs is pretty fun. Again, only a few hours into so I don't know how it will be in the long run, but putting an arrow into the...eye lens thing of a charging robot and having it come to a crashing halt right in front of you is pretty neat. Looks to have some neat crafting and weapon customization too. If you enjoy open world games with lots of traveling, hunting for resources and looking for collectibles, I highly recommend it.

The story looks like it could be one of the weakest elements of the game, so far it hasn't hooked me at all, though I am somewhat curious about where all these fucking robots are coming from so I'm willing to give it a chance.

Anyone else buy it? What do you think so far?

 

[Anchuent Christory]

I'm enjoying it and it's even more impressive that it's coming from Guerrilla Games who were known for their shooters up until now. When you consider it's their first crack at entirely different genre, it's amazing how much they've gotten right.
If you're suffering from "open world fatigue" or the genre doesn't interest you, then you'll find nothing here though.

Overall, narrative and dialogue are pretty strong and it's actually a compelling world they've created.

Combat is arguably the games best feature. The little skirmishes with the small-fry are fun enough, but the bigger creatures put up one hell of a fight. The way the fight evolves and they change up their tactics to reflect what weapon systems of theirs you've disabled is really cool.

 

[Lackadaisy]

You had me at "robo-dinosaurs"

 

[Takayuki Yagami]

I've heard it's good, but I've already gone way overbudget with a switch and Zelda this month. Also, anything involving either of the Burch siblings makes me very wary.

 

[Anchuent Christory]

You had me at "robo-dinosaurs"

Most of the enemies are based around animals as opposed to dinosaurs specifically. Cattle, deer, big cats and such. Doesn't make them any less cool, the enemy design for this game is off the chart (imo)

I actually find myself craving some sort of Zoids style model kits of these things.

 

[Hui]

Are we just ignore the tumblr/ anti male of a story it has and not call it far cry clone? Yes? Ok.

 

[Anchuent Christory]

Are we just ignore the tumblr/ anti male of a story it has and not call it far cry clone? Yes? Ok.

The problem with this site is that Poe's law is in extreme effect here.

 

[Replicant Sasquatch]

Also, anything involving either of the Burch siblings makes me very wary.

Wait one of the Burch duo was involved with it?

That has me legitimately concerned. Maybe I'll have to go for For Honor after all.

 

[Hui]

The problem with this site is that Poe's law is in extreme effect here.

Maybe one day I will enjoy playing as a white girl with dreads taking the evil men down!

 

[Takayuki Yagami]

Wait one of the Burch duo was involved with it?

That has me legitimately concerned. Maybe I'll have to go for For Honor after all.

She voices the player character.

 

[Replicant Sasquatch]

She voices the player character.

You know, I thought something about Aloy rubbed me the wrong way.

I really am conflicted about this game. On one hand the setting and premise look really cool.

But I also hate "story" games. Dialogue wheels are the worst and I was massively disappointed when I found out this game has them.

 

[Tranhuviya]

Are we just ignore the tumblr/ anti male of a story it has and not call it yet another Ubisoft game? Yes? Ok.

FTFY

I am convinced that some executive at Ubisoft has a obsession with climbing towers, collecting random shit, and crafting. Because that's what the core gameplay is in every game they release nowadays.

 

[Hui]

Man fuck Ubisoft.

 

[Quijibo69]

But I also hate "story" games. Dialogue wheels are the worst and I was massively disappointed when I found out this game has them.

That why mass effect sucks.

 

[Replicant Sasquatch]

Ubisoft didn't make this game.

 

[Anchuent Christory]

You know, I thought something about Aloy rubbed me the wrong way.

I really am conflicted about this game. On one hand the setting and premise look really cool.

But I also hate "story" games. Dialogue wheels are the worst and I was massively disappointed when I found out this game has them.

The way it works in this game is that most of the dialogue options act as filler if you want to learn more about the world or the characters. The bottom left option is always the "exit" option to just advance the game.
Some have criticised the game for the dialogue options not having on effect on the story, but It's not supposed to be a choose your own adventure style game.

Put it this way, I can't be arsed with most of Ubisoft's latest offerings as I feel they are utterly soulless and devoid of fun, but this game is keeping me hooked. It's the first open world game since Red Dead Redemption where I've enjoyed exploring simply to see the world, some of the vistas and scenery are absolutely stunning.

Maybe one day I will enjoy playing as a white girl with dreads taking the evil men down!

Careful, your fedora is showing.

 

[Hui]

So you are gonna tell me all of this is bs then? I'll take your word and won't hold it against you or anything but you really have been tip toeing around the subject entirely. If it DOES play like it is fun I can get it later. But eh.

lolstaymad

II
V

 

[Anchuent Christory]

So you are gonna tell me all of this is bs then? I'll take your word and won't hold it against you or anything but you really have been tip toeing around the subject entirely. If it DOES play like it is fun I can get it later. But eh.

People are absolutely convinced that the game is pushing some sort of narrative. The only thing it does is not relegate female characters to roles like eye candy or background filler, that's it.

So far the only time Aloy's gender has been brought up in the game was a side mission for the hunters lodge, where it's run along traditional lines of it's member being of the Carja tribe, male and of nobel social standing.

At the end of the day, if you want to see a certain narrative in the game, you're going to see it purely because it puts female characters front and centre just as much as male ones.

 

[Hui]

I play games regardless of gender. I mean I'm playing Nier and Tales of Berseria right now. Everything just seems iffy. Small things here and there.

Spoiler

So even though everything went back to square one somehow everybody is multi ethnic because the scientists found it right? Genetic diversity why? The protagonist itself is suppose to be the pinnacle of humanity and its a white girl with red hair and dreadlocks? All these years to interbreed and everybody isn't just brown or something lol

 

[Anchuent Christory]

I play games regardless of gender. I mean I'm playing Nier and Tales of Berseria right now. Everything just seems iffy. Small things here and there.

Spoiler

So even though everything went back to square one somehow everybody is multi ethnic because the scientists found it right? Genetic diversity why? The protagonist itself is suppose to be the pinnacle of humanity and its a white girl with red hair and dreadlocks? lol

I'm not sure why any of that seems particularly bonkers to you. Especially in the greater context of things going on in the game. You could make that argument regardless of what the main character looked like. And what on earth does her having red hair and dreadlocks have to do with anything?

I you really want to obsess over her hair, most characters have their hair in some sort of tribal style, none of them are contemporary. and if you want to get super anal about it, braided hair is a lot easier to animate than flowing unbound locks. But still, none of that has anything to do with anything.

Like I said, if you're just going to take stuff out of context and pick things apart to fit a preconceived narrative, then you're going to do that regardless. It's a far cry from "SJW, anti man, take down all the males" that is just straight up factually incorrect.