Horizon Zero Dawn is just that kind of game, it is what the 1871 anthropologist, Edward Taylor, would describe as the Hero's journey. A tale that involves a hero who goes on an adventure, and in a decisive crisis wins a victory, and then comes home changed or transformed. The perfect balance to a story, writers have used this impeccable synergy since tales were told, from J.R.R. Tolkien to George Lucas have mentioned the use of this formulate, as a fundamental in their story telling. The reason is, that it works, something that Hollywood and Rian Johnson, needs to be reminded of again. Sorry, I didn't mean to go there, think happy thoughts Mork.
The game instills an unshakeable sense of urgency in you, right from the beginning of the game, everything is cloaked in mystery, and this is a huge driving force in the game. The need to solve the mystery that lies in the heart of this game would at times would hinder you, as you go off on side quests, rushing through them to get back to the main story line.
Why things have gotten to this is also one of the big mysteries that slowly unfolds as you progress through the game. The humans in this world have been completely reduced to a tribal state, and each tribe has their own identity, social hierarchy and beliefs, based on their view of the nature and the world around them. There's seems to be no knowledge of the human existence before them, and refer to the technologically advanced predecessors as the "Old Ones." The developers really added an beautiful layer of lore in the game, as you would walk though the villages, you could listen to elders telling children tales of the gods, monsters and those that came before them.
"While her people bickered, she was the only one who took responsibility. The only one who could." - Aloy
The old world is very much present, but like the monuments we have from ancient civilizations, so too have our city skyscrapers become relics slowly eroding away with time in this world. Nature has intertwined itself with these structures from a forgotten time, is at times stunningly beautiful and horrific at the same time. The graphics of this are on a next level and I wish I could have played the game on a 4K TV.
She is raised by outcast named Rost, who teaches her to survive is this very harsh and dangerous world, fraught with danger around every turn. We follow her journey as she grows from a baby to teen, to a young warrior women, early on in the game. The playable prologue, which is basically your introduction the the play dynamics, follows Aloy on her first hunting expedition when she is still but a small child. She gets lost in a cave of the Old Ones, a forbidden place to enter, while there she she obtained a Focus, a small augmented reality device that gives her special perceptive abilities. This Focus gives her a almost super ability, which in this world, is very much needed. You have probably been wondering when I would get to it, what are the machines?
Where did they come from? This again is one of the driving mysteries among many that you uncover as you progress though the game, answers only the Old Ones can answer. For the most part, these majestic creatures peacefully coexist with humans, who occasionally hunt them for parts. However, a phenomenon known as the "Derangement" has caused machines to become very aggressive towards humans, and larger and deadlier machines have begun to appear. This is where Horizon’s combat is the most compelling feature, thanks to the variety of 26 different species of animal-like machines that roam throughout the world.
Each of these machine species require a very unique tactical approach strategy to defeat, and to me this was some of the most fun parts of the game. These beasts have several weak points that can be scanned using Aloy’s Focus, and hitting different points can have different results that change the way a fight plays out. These robotic beasts are authentically animal like, and where the developer AI thoroughly impressed me.
The game is publish by Sony Entertainment, so because of this, and all that Sony money, it is unfortunately a PlayStation 4 exclusive title, sorry. I would defiantly put Horizon on my personal top three games list of 2017, it's a riveting experience from start to finish. The story was the driving force that made the experience wonderful, the character Aloy's personality, got me caring about her in a more personal way. I really have to commend the the developers for putting together a really well written character, who's sarcastic and quirky interactions felt very human to me.
Overall a stunning game, that I would highly recommend to anyone looking to get lost in a great adventure, in a visually delicious scary world.
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not
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