Post by MzPanik on Sept 2, 2021 10:45:30 GMT -5
OH BOY OH BOY!
Let's talk about another beloved PlayStation exclusive title that I am just OBSESSED with! This one came three and a half years before Ghost of Tsushima, which I ranted about before, and was developed by Guerilla Games, the makers of the Killzone franchise. They decided to take a leap of faith, and it really paid off, especially now that we're looking forward to the sequel, Horizon Forbidden West, releasing (hopefully) next spring.
Horizon Zero Dawn takes place years into the future after an apocalyptic event that sent people back to the age of bows, arrows, and spears. You play as the character Aloy, who has been outcast by the Nora tribe since her birth. In the game you go on a journey of discovery and understanding, trying to find the answers to so many questions: Why was Aloy outcast on the day of her birth, who tried to kill her at the Proving, and what is causing all of these machines to go insane? There's so much going on in the game, and I absolutely loved it!
The combination of technology beyond our imagination and living in a primal state made for interesting gameplay in Horizon Zero Dawn. Your weapons can be imbued with elemental damage types that have different effects on different machines and on the people who are hunting for you. You can also lay down tripwire traps that can cause explosions when triggered, as well as electric shock, which can disable a machine. But where did these machines come from?
Back in the days before the apocalypse, humanity used machines to supplement their militaries. There weren't susceptible to gunshots and could easily get behind enemy lines and overpower enemy forces. Unfortunately, as we've seen before in films like iRobot, these machines took a nasty turn and tore down the world as people knew it. The game picks up hundreds of years down the line where people live in a primal state, divided into tribes that often war with each other, the Nora tribe being the most secluded of them all. The machines now roam the land freely, living in relative harmony with the humans. Relative.
Some of the machines have become effected by something known as The Corruption, which has driven them into madness. Normally these machines steer clear of the settlements, but they've been drawing ever closer, threatening the human populations living within. Whispers of a demon causing The Corruption spread across the land and reach Aloy's ears as she journeys across the land looking for answers. You'll never expect what happens at the end, which leads perfectly into the sequel.
This game constantly had me dropping my jaw in awe. Some of these machines are absolutely massive and really humble you. The Thunderjaw is an absolute menace to go up against, shooting lasers and rockets and dealing some seriously devastating blows. There's machines that burrow underground and come at you from below, throwing you into the air. But not all machines are dangerous, some are even docile. Climb atop a Tallneck and override the machine to get a clearer view of the surrounding areas. Rappel down from it's head and it'll let out a massive EMP blast, neutralizing any machines close by.
This game was so fun to play and wasn't overloaded with mindless fetch quests. The world is beautiful, and even on a PlayStation 4 Slim you can see for miles in any direction when atop a mountain on at the edge of a cliff. You can see the machines in the distance as they fly over or patrol their respective areas. You can even override and ride on the backs of Striders to traverse the landscape faster. Combat and movement mechanics are smooth and satisfying, making everything you do feel truly intentional and not as if things happen by mistake. And I am so excited to see where we get to go and explore in Horizon Forbidden West.
Here are some screenshots from the upcoming Horizon Forbidden West!