When I first saw the promo for Horizon Zero Dawn, I was uncertain on how it was going to be and if it was worth the price. It looked fantastic, but I wondered if it was mostly hype and no substance. Even though I up in the air about buying, I would always be drawn to it every time I stopped into GameStop. Well, I finally gave in and purchased a copy and I am so glad I did! It is a title I recommend for so many reasons, and I'll share those with you here. I'll try not include spoilers so it won't take away from your enjoyment of it.
Horizon Zero Dawn is a third person action/adventure game set in open post apocalyptic world. You begin with the intro cut scene which introduces you to two of the main characters, Rost and Aloy. You then follow our lead character Aloy, as she grows to adulthood, and learns the skills she needs to survive in the wilds. As the story unfolds, you slowly begin to discover what happened to the previous civilization. You also embark on a quest to discover more about the existence of the machines that roam the land, as well Aloy's own past.
You may be thinking after reading that, 'wow that sure sounds boring'. Believe me, it's not! There are so many elements in this game that definitely get you hooked and keep you playing. Imagine if Uncharted and TombRaider had a baby, Horizon would be it! Aloy is such a great, strong female character, and there is so much for her to do outside of the main story. Side quests, hunting, clearing raider camps, crafting, exploring, etc.... the list just goes on and on. Also, I found the control layout to be very user-friendly, which made weapon selection and crafting on the go so easy.
The heart of the game though is the characters and the story. It's one of those games, that the more you play, the more you get hooked. The character development is that good. However, I can't go without mentioning the beautiful open world and music that brings it full circle. Anyone who has played Last of Us, knows what I mean without going into detail. However, that is a title I'd like to save for another post.
So if you are eyeing Horizon Zero Dawn, and are considering it, I highly recommend you grab this game. I love playing it and it ranks right up with my top favorite titles.
P.S. The Frozen Wilds DLC add on for Horizon will be released on Nov. 7 and is available for pre-order now.