Horizon Zero Dawn

 PlayStation 4
User Score
8.4

Generally favorable reviews- based on 12419 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 10,195 out of 12419
  2. Mixed: 1,140 out of 12419
  3. Negative: 1,084 out of 12419
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  1. venomlocke
    Mar 22, 2017
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Horizon Zero Dawn is the pinnacle for Sony's current gen-gaming. You play as Aloy an outlander seeking to explore the mystery behind the machines and the old ones.

    Pros
    1) Great graphics. It fully utilizes the basic playstation 4 and the pro.
    2) Great gameplay. You choose your approach of gameplay whether direct combat, stealth, or both.
    3) Variety of enemies. Each enemies have their own unique behavior.
    4) Decent story.
    5) Interesting story

    Cons
    1) Collectibles.
    2) No mini games?
    3) Music needs some improvement.
    4) The quests should have better impact aside from the characters showing up at the final battle.
    5) The main villain needs more presence and the final boss happens to be a rehashed enemy.    … Expand
  2. Nikosphere
    May 9, 2017
    9
    One of the most fun video games I've played in literally (yes, literally) decades.
    • Visually it is stunning. The environments are varied, beautifully detailed and deeply atmospheric.
    • The sound is spot on; your characters footfalls, the spitting rain, the distant birdcalls, the roar of machines, all of it accompanied by a sound track that knows how not to be distracting or annoying. •    One of the most fun video games I've played in literally (yes, literally) decades.
    • Visually it is stunning. The environments are varied, beautifully detailed and deeply atmospheric.
    • The sound is spot on; your characters footfalls, the spitting rain, the distant birdcalls, the roar of machines, all of it accompanied by a sound track that knows how not to be distracting or annoying.
    • Gameplay is top notch. New players will struggle with the difficulty of the larger enemies but level up and modify your equipment and you'll be (somewhat) comfortably taking on whatever this game can throw at you. And it throws a lot. Enemy variety is large and their AI near perfect.
    • The story is deep and interesting without being overly confusing. The characters are fully fleshed out and rarely fall into predicable stereotypes.
    • Voice acting is wonderful with one or two exceptions, I rarely skipped a character interaction (which is rare for me).

    Cons: I would have loved more rpg elements (stats, abilities, dialogue options with consequences) and a more interactive environment. I often found myself wanting to be rewarded for exploring the brilliant world by finding unexpected treasures, enemies or secrets. The human enemy AI needs work, they are not very smart or challenging.

    Overall, a near perfect game. I envy people playing it for the first time and greatly look forward to future DLC.    … Expand
  3. LetsGoBucs09
    Mar 6, 2017
    8
    This game is a lot of fun, but can get repetitive pretty quickly. I thoroughly enjoyed the first 7-10 hours I put into this game, but became bored. While you can upgrade your bow and there is a skill tree, it becomes monotonous over time. I probably at 15 hours have had my fill with this game. You will not find a game with better graphics on the PS4 at this time. I do have the PS4 Pro, itThis game is a lot of fun, but can get repetitive pretty quickly. I thoroughly enjoyed the first 7-10 hours I put into this game, but became bored. While you can upgrade your bow and there is a skill tree, it becomes monotonous over time. I probably at 15 hours have had my fill with this game. You will not find a game with better graphics on the PS4 at this time. I do have the PS4 Pro, it is stunning. This game deserves an 7.5-8, but is lacking that "hook" element that the great ones have.… Expand
  4. NerdEnt_Net
    Mar 4, 2017
    10
    Excerpt from Nerdent 'dot' Net
    Overall Horizon Zero Dawn is an amazing game that I enjoyed and appreciated playing and is a game I will continue to play and continue to enjoy. I recommend this game to anyone that likes exploring, creating they own adventure and trying things in new and different ways.
  5. josei1985
    May 28, 2017
    9
    Receta para Horizon Zero Dawn, un jugador

    Preparamos un motor gráfico que nos permitirá movernos por todo el mapa sin tiempos de carga. Unos gráficos que sacan todo el jugo de la PS4 sin ningún tirón, añadimos un mundo abierto sin bugs y un salpimentamos todo con un modo foto. Mezclamos aparte mecánicas de otras sagas como los cuellilargos al puro estilo Ubisoft, escalada a lo Tomb    Receta para Horizon Zero Dawn, un jugador

    Preparamos un motor gráfico que nos permitirá movernos por todo el mapa sin tiempos de carga. Unos gráficos que sacan todo el jugo de la PS4 sin ningún tirón, añadimos un mundo abierto sin bugs y un salpimentamos todo con un modo foto.

    Mezclamos aparte mecánicas de otras sagas como los cuellilargos al puro estilo Ubisoft, escalada a lo Tomb Raider, etc.

    Añadimos a la cazuela una cantidad aceptable de armas (arcos, trampas, aturdidoras,.. que nos permitirán enfocar como queramos el combate) y atuendos (para el sigilo, contra elementos, para el cuerpo a cuerpo,…) divididos en tres niveles; varias cucharadas de máquinas enemigas, con posibilidad de domar alguna de ellas y de enemigos humanos.

    Sacamos la misión principal, de primera calidad aunque tiene alguna manchita en ciertos puntos por los diálogos y la casi nula toma de decisiones. La rellenamos con un buen contenido secundario marca The Witcher y condimentamos con abundante farmeo a riesgo de parecer excesivo y una pizca de Focus, sucedáneo de la visión de Geralt de Rivia. Introducimos en la cazuela.

    Cocinar todo durante más de 60 horas. Dar vueltas de vez en cuando. Presentamos.

    Un plato delicioso de la cocina tradicional con algunos toques amargos en forma de combate cuerpo a cuerpo donde no podremos fijar objetivo y los siempre presentes coleccionables. Un guiso imprescindible para los amantes de la cocina que debería estar presente en todos los hogares.    … Expand
  6. Lordziito
    Mar 4, 2017
    10
    Claramente um dos melhores exclusivos do PlayStation 4! Guerrilha Games está de parabéns!

    Gráficos lindos! Comparáveis ao de Uncharted 4. Jogabilidade perfeita e história sensacional! Além das muitas horas e horas de missões secundárias e principais.
  7. Mediocrates10
    Jun 12, 2017
    9
    I don't know what else to say other than this game is utterly fantastic.I'm going to break this review up into a few sections: Appearance, Interactions, Combat, "Feel", and Story.

    APPEARANCE: From the get go, you're presented with a stunning graphics and an interesting setting that makes you ask yourself, "Hmm, I wonder what's going on here?". Although the facial animations can be a    I don't know what else to say other than this game is utterly fantastic.I'm going to break this review up into a few sections: Appearance, Interactions, Combat, "Feel", and Story.

    APPEARANCE:
    From the get go, you're presented with a stunning graphics and an interesting setting that makes you ask yourself, "Hmm, I wonder what's going on here?". Although the facial animations can be a bit off sometimes (one of the few reasons why I don't give this game a perfect 10), the full body animations are fluid and flawless. Guerrilla Games makes excellent use of lighting and shaders to create a stunning picture no matter where you turn, leaving you in awe at the beauty of this strange world. The machines themselves are done in a way that allows you to recognize their real life counterparts pretty quickly, yet still admire their uniqueness.

    INTERACTIONS:
    The voice acting is phenomenal, and more than makes up for the sometimes-wonky facial animations. You learn a little more about the world with each "little" side mission and errand you do, each of them consisting of multiple quests and incredibly deep dialogue. Horizon does a fantastic job at making quests more of an experience with the characters and the world around you rather than just a tedious task.

    COMBAT:
    Unlike most RPGs, playing as Aloy feels incredibly intuitive and fluid. You aren't bogged down by a sluggish character with minimal movement mechanics. The movement is designed so that you're free to evade, jump, slide and attack without having to worry constraints such as cooldowns and stamina. Crafting can be done on the fly and time is slowed slightly so that you can still craft ammunition without having to pause the game. Each time you encounter a new enemy, you're faced with a period of trial and error that makes you wonder "How on earth am I going to beat this thing!?" My only complaint about the combat system is that it becomes relatively easy to take down machines once you figure out how to effectively destroy them. The game counters this by throwing more of them at you, which makes for some very intense, frantic moments of evading, hiding, attacking and outsmarting the AI.

    FEEL:
    Awe. Playing Horizon: Zero Dawn fills you with a sense of awe. With dozens of hours into the game I still find myself saying "Holy ****, what is THAT? That's amazing! (and terrifying!)". Very few other games have made me want to explore for the sake of just exploring. The world is both incredibly large and incredibly dense, ensuring that you never have to travel more than a couple minutes before you encounter enemies you have to sneak by, a new location to explore, or NPCs to interact with. Even if you do find yourself in a large stretch of walking/riding, the beauty of the landscape is more than enough to keep you entertained and admiring the scenery.

    STORY:
    Horizon: Zero Dawn captivates its audience from the very get go with an atmosphere of mystery. Who is Aloy? Who is this man taking care of her? Why are they outcast? Who is this tribe? What are these machines and why are they here? What happened to the old world we're familiar with? This game does an incredible job of satisfying all of your burning questions about the characters and the world, rewarding you for exploration and curiosity. It's always exciting to find text logs, voice recordings and holograms that each explain bits and pieces of Horizon's backstory through individuals' experiences.

    The main story line itself is incredibly deep and complex, balancing faith with science and history with legend, with Aloy at the centre of uncovering the truth about not only herself, but more importantly the world.

    Accompanying the main story is a plethora of side quests that each have their own story to tell, making them feel like their own "mini story modes". I'm glad that they're not just an afterthought, but an integral part of making the game what it is.

    CONCLUSION:
    HORIZON ZERO DAWN HAS MADE ITSELF ONE OF MY FAVOURITE VIDEO GAMES OF ALL TIME, RIGHT UP THERE WITH THE LAST OF US. I FOUND MYSELF INSTANTLY FALLING IN LOVE WITH THE WORLD AND THE CHARACTERS, MAKING THIS GAME A TRUE STORY-FOCUSED EXPERIENCE WHILE STILL MAINTAINING THE ENGAGING ASPECTS OF EXPLORATION AND ACTION.    … Expand
  8. Iamagamer
    Oct 21, 2017
    9
    Horizon Zero Dawn, a game that admittedly didn't believe would live up to its hype and honestly, it's pretty boring game when I think about it. So why do I give it a 9? Because it's amazing to play. When you look at it broadly it is just another game with its unique twist to the open world and a good story but for 90 bucks hell no. But as I played the game I couldn't put it down. WhileHorizon Zero Dawn, a game that admittedly didn't believe would live up to its hype and honestly, it's pretty boring game when I think about it. So why do I give it a 9? Because it's amazing to play. When you look at it broadly it is just another game with its unique twist to the open world and a good story but for 90 bucks hell no. But as I played the game I couldn't put it down. While Aloy is a boring character I think of her as me. As I played the game it felt like a small reminder of Dark Souls. It WAS HARD I know some people say there is no challenge but this game involves alot of thinking and majority of the time you think of ways to get thinks to your advantage. With fast-paced combat and intense stealth. The music was there but not as frequent or maybe It blended so well with the background I didn't realise or maybe I spent more time shooting down huge robots. The graphics are amazing. It's so good I honestly spent a lot of times taking screenshots and it has its own photo mode. The game about thirty hours long but if you finish it in that time period I feel sorry for you. This game is best experienced by walking around and falling in love with practically everything. I loved this game loved it more than Zelda BOTW must play for ps4 fans.… Expand
  9. BeyondLogic
    Apr 21, 2017
    9
    I would go into detail on what makes this game amazing but in reality there is only a few words that need to be said. Robot dinosaurs. Post-post apocalyptic setting is a nice change of pace and the combat mechanics are phenomenal. The hidden audio and text logs paint a fantastic picture of what led to mankind's downfall and do a great job at fleshing out the history and lore. My onlyI would go into detail on what makes this game amazing but in reality there is only a few words that need to be said. Robot dinosaurs. Post-post apocalyptic setting is a nice change of pace and the combat mechanics are phenomenal. The hidden audio and text logs paint a fantastic picture of what led to mankind's downfall and do a great job at fleshing out the history and lore. My only complaints are a level cap that is too low and lack of side quests. The combat is so addicting that after just a week you can be max level. Basically my only complaint is that the game is too good. So go buy it. Do yourself a favor.… Expand
  10. Zero_dark91
    Mar 22, 2017
    9
    Un gameplay unico nel suo genere , curva di apprendimento buona e gestione delle armi maniacale. Graficamente pazzesco , nonostante giri su PS4 . A livello di trama davvero bellissimo , non è da dieci perchè le armi sono poche , da un open word cosi mi aspettavo armi leggendarie e armature divine, invece tutto cio si puo contare nel palmo della mano . Per me è un 9.5
  11. alphaelice
    Mar 24, 2017
    9
    Horizont Zero Down es un juego que rompe la barrera de jugabilidad y te engancha para conocer su historia,personajes y antagonistas. Es un juego partidario de la marca Sony y puede considerarse como un heroe de renombre en el Olimpo de los Videojuegos.Recomedado.
  12. furikake
    Mar 26, 2017
    9
    I don't understand people creating multiple accounts and writing the same thing to give a 0 rating. Are you getting paid to do that ?

    I have like 45 hours but haven't finished this game yet, but so far the game is great! - The battle gameplay is quite good, I hope it gets better like a little more balancing in weapons to make me want to try more combinations. So far, once you have    I don't understand people creating multiple accounts and writing the same thing to give a 0 rating. Are you getting paid to do that ?

    I have like 45 hours but haven't finished this game yet, but so far the game is great!

    - The battle gameplay is quite good, I hope it gets better like a little more balancing in weapons to make me want to try more combinations. So far, once you have every type of weapon, using the same 3 or 4 weapons 90% of the time is good enough.
    - The gameplay in general has it's flaws but it isn't bad. The grinding, limited inventory and crafting system is tedious. The climbing isn't very good when you compare it to other games. It is hard to tell when you can climb, or when your jump can make it.
    - The story is pretty generic. It would make a mediocre SciFi movie, but acceptable for a game.
    - SubQuests could be better, but still, they are 10 times better than what we had in FF XV.
    Although it has some mediocre animations here and there, It has one of the best graphics in consoles so far. It's almost unbelievable that Mass Effect is going to be released in the same year.    … Expand
  13. gregorius
    Mar 30, 2017
    9
    With an epic story, gorgeous open world and engaging protagonist. Horizon is probably one of the best open world released in this generation. The robo dinosaurs are challenging and smart forcing you to swap weapon elements, target it's weakness and experiment different ways to hunt this machines. One of the strong points of this game is the epic ending, this is one of the games that IWith an epic story, gorgeous open world and engaging protagonist. Horizon is probably one of the best open world released in this generation. The robo dinosaurs are challenging and smart forcing you to swap weapon elements, target it's weakness and experiment different ways to hunt this machines. One of the strong points of this game is the epic ending, this is one of the games that I don't want a sequel but then again it's business and we'll probably get one in the future.… Expand
  14. BSchwarz95
    Jul 9, 2018
    10
    Without a doubt, one of my absolute favorite gaming experiences of all time. I beat the game on normal difficulty, then went back and beat it on Hard in 6 hours, then beat it on Ultra Hard in 4 hours, and then started it on Story difficulty again to get 100% in the game and Frozen Wilds DLC. After putting in nearly 70 hours, I still think about this game everyday and wish that I didn't letWithout a doubt, one of my absolute favorite gaming experiences of all time. I beat the game on normal difficulty, then went back and beat it on Hard in 6 hours, then beat it on Ultra Hard in 4 hours, and then started it on Story difficulty again to get 100% in the game and Frozen Wilds DLC. After putting in nearly 70 hours, I still think about this game everyday and wish that I didn't let my friend borrow it so that I could still play it. Aloy is amazing, the world she explores is breathtaking, the gameplay is captivating, the exploration is endless, and the overall experience will have you hooked for weeks. If I had to describe the game with references... think of a badass female protagonist like Lara Croft, but in Red Dead Redemption's western landscape exploring ancient ruins like in Skyrim, but the ruins are futuristic like Halo and you have to unlock parts of the map by taking control of tall areas like Far Cry, using stealth like Assassin's Creed and climbing like Uncharted, with the help of technology that allows you to see what's not there like Arkham City's detective mode. Oh, and huge beasts like Monster Hunter but I haven't played that so I can't really comment. Anyways, there you have it, the perfect video game made up of only the best parts of all other amazing games. Horizon Zero Dawn is immaculate.… Expand
  15. Balbontin
    May 8, 2017
    9
    El juego es un espectáculo visual, desde el principio engancha. Es un juego para los amantes de las aventuras tipo assassins, tomb raider, etc Mucha acción combinada con una trama principal espectacular. Subes de nivel y puedes ir merando el personaje. El doblaje al Español es muy bueno. Como punto regulero tal vez las misiones secundarias son un poco repetitivas.

    Para los amantes de    El juego es un espectáculo visual, desde el principio engancha. Es un juego para los amantes de las aventuras tipo assassins, tomb raider, etc Mucha acción combinada con una trama principal espectacular. Subes de nivel y puedes ir merando el personaje. El doblaje al Español es muy bueno. Como punto regulero tal vez las misiones secundarias son un poco repetitivas.

    Para los amantes de los trofeos es un caramelito pues no es difícil sacar el platino    … Expand
  16. Kenshinkaeru
    May 12, 2017
    9
    Otimo Jogo , mas com um certo grau de facilidade e falta de impacto nas cenas dramaticas . Graficos maravilhosos , jogabilidade facil e divertida , concorrente ao goty facil , parabens Guerrilla games
  17. cappy2895
    Oct 26, 2017
    10
    What a game! Credit is due to the producers because not only is the story gripping it is original as well. From the fantastic soundtrack to the wonderful scenery and textures this game is a straight 10/10. The gameplay is unique, challenging and incredibly fun. This is well worth the money and I am pleased they did not try and rinse us. I am looking forward to the DLC and hope it adds toWhat a game! Credit is due to the producers because not only is the story gripping it is original as well. From the fantastic soundtrack to the wonderful scenery and textures this game is a straight 10/10. The gameplay is unique, challenging and incredibly fun. This is well worth the money and I am pleased they did not try and rinse us. I am looking forward to the DLC and hope it adds to this great game. Really hope they don't spoil it with a rushed sequel though… Expand
  18. Septimus132
    Dec 30, 2017
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. For me Horizon: Zero Dawn is The Witcher 3, Tomb Raider, Assassin's Creed, and Far Cry: Primal all roll into one game with a bit of Metal Gear Solid (excluding the cardboard box part) sprinkle into the mix and is one of the few game of 2017 that doesn't blow itself up to be bigger than it actually is. The story of HZD is set after the end of the world via Terminator scenario except these one "eat" organic as food (literally) instead of competing for survival, it's not all doom and gloom as the story, side quests, and characters add a bit of humor here and there as well as providing a bit of context as to what each location was once were.

    Graphic is as good as possible on the current generation of the Playstation console, there is an incentive to finish the game on the hardest of difficulty, craft and equip on the go or adapt to the changing circumstance, story and its conclusion wrap up pretty well (may want to do those side quests), a living world (actions and their consequences are visible as the NPCs will discuss events following the conclusion of story and side quests), lootboxes (there are no microtransaction involve), certain collectibles can be used as currency for loot as well as providing a bit extra to the overall storytelling, and lastly the machines, the bigger, meaner, and generally more dangerous machines carry with them a very big payday but taking them require a bit more finesse and if necessary improvisation.

    The game overall storytelling and experience is very enjoyable for me (is there a 9.75 option here?) but loading screen could be a bit faster (ignorable for some) and that is the last 0.25 for a 10. I would recommend this game as it is one of the few "gems" of 2017 that doesn't built itself around microtransaction.    … Expand
  19. CyberRobotnix
    Dec 20, 2017
    10
    It’s beautiful, emotional, full of surprises and nostalgia, and just flat-out enjoyable to play at every moment. While I have played open world titles before, Horizon Zero Dawn gave me a new sense of control over how my adventure played out, offering me a steady flow of chosen objectives and paths to them without overwhelming me with unnecessary information or bogging me down inIt’s beautiful, emotional, full of surprises and nostalgia, and just flat-out enjoyable to play at every moment. While I have played open world titles before, Horizon Zero Dawn gave me a new sense of control over how my adventure played out, offering me a steady flow of chosen objectives and paths to them without overwhelming me with unnecessary information or bogging me down in sidequests. Mechanically sound, aesthetically pleasing (often breathtaking), challenging but rewarding, Horizon Zero Dawn is a joyous journey you won’t want to put down, just so you can see what’s on the other side of each new hill.

    It is a stunning achievement in terms of gameplay, technical detail, and world building, making the overall experience just fantastic.

    This game is undoubtedly one of the best games on Playstation.    … Expand
  20. eruciform
    Mar 8, 2018
    9
    ** OVERALL 9/10 ** Gameplay 10/10 - Creativity 9/10 - Music 9/10 - Visuals 10/10 - Characters 7/10 - Plotline 9/10 - Emotional Engagement 9/10 - Replayability 10/10 - Difficulty */10

    This was a real hit out of the park for me. I haven't gone back to do the DLC yet, as I'm in the middle of some other games and other things, but I played the crap out of this for months straight - only    ** OVERALL 9/10 ** Gameplay 10/10 - Creativity 9/10 - Music 9/10 - Visuals 10/10 - Characters 7/10 - Plotline 9/10 - Emotional Engagement 9/10 - Replayability 10/10 - Difficulty */10

    This was a real hit out of the park for me. I haven't gone back to do the DLC yet, as I'm in the middle of some other games and other things, but I played the crap out of this for months straight - only Skyrim has compared to it.

    Gameplay 10/10

    The controls on this game are impeccable. You really have to be top-notch engaged in order to not die. And yet, while that can be frustrating from time to time, it really is a matter of practise and skill. It's not hard because it's unfair, it's hard because it's a challenge, and the controls do not fight you, they are just right.

    Creativity 9/10

    The peoples, locations, weapons, enemies, armor, background, and story are all really creative. They stand out as unique and exemplary in the genre.

    Music 9/10

    While also not quite a set of songs that are each specifically memorable, all the music, and sometimes jsut atmospheric background noise like babbling brooks, dripping caves, and blowing wind, are really engaging.

    Visuals 10/10

    The visuals on this are absolutely stunning. Unsurpassed. I've never seen such a beautiful game. I often ran around the countryside just to admire the undiscovered corners of it. And to make it better, the game gives you EXCELLENT camera control, including nearly infinite flexibility when taking screenshots.

    Also, no points taken off for sexualization. There's ZERO. No "female armor" problems, no sexed-up female characters. No tight skirts, no naked background dancers. None of the usual crappy tropes that need to die. This game was stunningly well informed and progressive. Female characters, not just the main one, are fully formed human beings. And all clothing is functional and exactly what you'd make in order to survive, period. Very, very realistic.

    Characters 7/10

    There aren't that many characters, but who they have are strong. Many are from a time long ago that you slowly learn about over the course of the game, and those feel well fleshed out as well. Not the strongest part of the game, but still well done.

    Plotline 9/10

    This was really unexpected for me the first time. It's clearly a post-apocalypse thriller, but what the apocalypse was and how it happened and what's going on now was very creatively put together and unique. I look forward to future sequels in this world.

    Emotional Engagement 9/10

    What happens to Aloy, and what happened to the world that slowly unpeels, are some heavy fare. They're well done and conveyed strongly.

    Replayability 10/10

    I started replaying IMMEDIATELY upon winning this game. Even when (at the time) there was no New Game+. I liked it that much. Playing on a harder level really changes the feel of the game, especially on Ultra Hard.

    Difficulty */10

    The game can be whatever you want it to be. On average, the game is harder than most. I've died more on this game than on any others for a long time. But there is a difficulty setting, and you can turn it down if you want.

    That being said, replaying on a harder mode, ESPECIALLY Ultra Hard, is a truly new experience. Almost everything is instantly deadly on UH mode, even with game-end stats and equipment. One reason is that on this mode, the enemy AI is also much stronger. Things act like packs and hunt you down, they are much harder to trap and surprise, they're much more aggressive, and they attack almost twice as fast, with half as much telescoping their actions, for twice or more damage, and your melee spear becomes almost uselessly low damage. Also, all ammo becomes 10-100x as expensive, so you really have to not be wasteful, or farm for things the hard way. It's a very different feel.    … Expand
  21. rrkwarmonger
    Apr 20, 2018
    9
    After almost giving up on open world games, Horizon Zero dawn was able to reignite my passion for gaming with its creative premises and a well realized world, the gameplay mechanics are pretty solid for a large scale open world game, with excellent range combat and really interesting enemy designs which are factored into combat, every enemy encounter is interesting as players are have aAfter almost giving up on open world games, Horizon Zero dawn was able to reignite my passion for gaming with its creative premises and a well realized world, the gameplay mechanics are pretty solid for a large scale open world game, with excellent range combat and really interesting enemy designs which are factored into combat, every enemy encounter is interesting as players are have a large arsenal tools and gadgets at their disposal with every weapon having a meaningful purpose during the encounters in fact players are free to engage in a manner that is suitable to their play style (Stealth, aggressive). Every mechanical enemy is engraved with numerous mechanical parts which can be exploited for weaknesses or critical hits as well as their parts can be used against them. The visuals are mindblowing with a lot detail that helps in for making this world feel more alive. Whether if it's a sunny day with every grass blade shining and reflecting light or a stormy one with rain pouring down as Aloy reacts to it, this game always manages to look visually stunning. The plot is interesting and original with plenty of side missions that will keep you busy through out your journey. The main strength of horizon zero dawn is how well it has managed to incorporate mechanics from different open world games without making them repetitive or overwhelming. The world is diverse with different terrains, sceneries and cultures. There are 5 different cultures in the game with each culture having it's own lore and architecture. Each culture has it's own unique city, village or settlement The only negative that I could come up with is the human AI which might be more dumber than a Ubisoft AI. However the human encounters wee pretty decent but managed to feel a little underwhelming compared the excellent machine AI and combat. Platinumed this game on my first playthrough. I would recommend this for every ps owner, and non ps4 owners should buy a ps4 for this game.… Expand
  22. warifor
    Aug 24, 2018
    9
    Horizion Zero Dawn ...I must thank the makers of this game for bringing the most beautiful and graetest game lay game ..i mean its amazing how you can control the character to an allmost real human movements..incredible game ...the future is horizion zero dawn
  23. cloudperfectly
    Mar 6, 2017
    8
    Honestly, its a good game, but not special. Great graphics, nice machines and exciting fighting. But other fields are not very interesting. We can find many shadow of other games. But for this company, its the first open-world game for them. Hope they can improve more in next production. Expecting Horizon: Zero Dawn II
  24. Skitzofreniq
    Feb 28, 2017
    10
    Gorgeous. Amazing. Awesome gameplay. Great story-telling. Great characters. Pretty much everything you need for an perfect game.

    Very emotional too. There are very few games that can get met all chocked up with the likes of TellTale's The Walking Dead Season 1 and Valient Hearts: The Great War. And those were at the end of the game and after two hours in it already hit me in the feels    Gorgeous. Amazing. Awesome gameplay. Great story-telling. Great characters. Pretty much everything you need for an perfect game.

    Very emotional too. There are very few games that can get met all chocked up with the likes of TellTale's The Walking Dead Season 1 and Valient Hearts: The Great War. And those were at the end of the game and after two hours in it already hit me in the feels once or twice.

    Combat is great imo. You can upgrade skills and weapons. A lot of variety on how to attack enemies.

    Overall: a must buy!    … Expand
  25. PeterPeter88
    Mar 1, 2017
    10
    The best game I've played in the last 5 years. Great atmosphere, atmospheric music / soundtrack absolutely wonderful art design. Especially the mechanical animals look absolutely great. Awesome Main & Side Quests. Here you realize that some guys from The Witcher 3 were at work. There are in fact some gameplay elements that you have already seen so possibly elsewhere, but still manages toThe best game I've played in the last 5 years. Great atmosphere, atmospheric music / soundtrack absolutely wonderful art design. Especially the mechanical animals look absolutely great. Awesome Main & Side Quests. Here you realize that some guys from The Witcher 3 were at work. There are in fact some gameplay elements that you have already seen so possibly elsewhere, but still manages to put his own stamp on and make it way better than other Open World Games. Nowadays, it's hard to create something that has never been there. Horizon manages to breathe new life into the genre with the unused setting and the robo-Animals. It´´s been a while since i had so much fun with a game. Quite strong buy recommendation 10/10 Do not be sad XBox / PC fanboys

    Das Beste Spiel, dass ich in den letzten 5 Jahren gespielt habe. Tolle Atmosphäre, stimmungsvolle Musik/Soundtrack, absolut hammermäßiges Art-Design. Gerade die mechanischen Tiere sehen absolut großartig aus. Tolle Main & Sidequests. Hier merkt man, dass einige Jungs von The Witcher 3 am Werk waren.
    Es gibt in der Tat einige Gameplayelemente, die man so evtl. schon woanders gesehen hat, aber schafft es trotzdem seinen eigenen Stempel aufzudrücken und vieles dabei besser zu machen. In der heutigen Zeit, ist es schwer noch irgendwas im Bereich Open World zu schaffen, was noch nie da gewesen ist. Horizon schafft es mit den unverbrauchten Setting und den Robo-Tierchen frischen Wind in das Genre zu bringen.
    Lange nicht mehr so viel Spaß mit einem Spiel gehabt. Ganz klare Kaufempfehlung 10/10

    Nicht traurig sein XBox/PC Fanboys.    … Expand
  26. InsidiaGaming
    Mar 14, 2017
    6
    It's a stunning and graphically stunning game with a nice backstory with a female protagonist which should keep some people happy.

    Unfortunatly if you've played games like Witcher 3 and other large open worlds (even concepts from Far Cry) you've played even horizon. The female lead also speaks like a normal 18 year old girl from today, not something I was expecting considering it's    It's a stunning and graphically stunning game with a nice backstory with a female protagonist which should keep some people happy.

    Unfortunatly if you've played games like Witcher 3 and other large open worlds (even concepts from Far Cry) you've played even horizon. The female lead also speaks like a normal 18 year old girl from today, not something I was expecting considering it's based hundreds of years in the future and humans are basically back in primative tribes. But yeah she speaks like a normal teenage American girl.

    For such a big budget why recycle NPC models? I'm not saying EVERY NPC has to look differnt but come on, at least make an effort surley they can do better than just altering skin tone and face painting?

    Other gripes include dropping you in the middle of a tough battle within any warning and without letting you prepare for it before hand first. I also dont' like picking up level 25 quests near the start of the game when I'm only around level 4.

    Quite a gripping story, but very few charactors actually leave a lasting impression. Also the mount handling is arkward, I'd probably have prefered not using mounts at all in this case.

    Like I said it's a stunning visual game but it's by no means a masterpiece.    … Expand
  27. Antioch
    Mar 2, 2017
    9
    Horizon is a beautiful game, one of the best looking console games currently available on a console, especially on the ps4 pro on a 4k hdr screen. But I'm not only talking about graphics here, the game really is beautiful in terms of the gameworld design aswell.
    And the best part is it matches that with fantastic combat gameplay and controls. This is the smoothest 30fps fast action title    Horizon is a beautiful game, one of the best looking console games currently available on a console, especially on the ps4 pro on a 4k hdr screen. But I'm not only talking about graphics here, the game really is beautiful in terms of the gameworld design aswell.
    And the best part is it matches that with fantastic combat gameplay and controls. This is the smoothest 30fps fast action title I have ever played. It by no means compare to 60fps or more but if a game is going to run at 30, this is the way to do it.
    It is an open world game that by no means innovates anything and it borrows heavily from other games, but what it does borrow it executes extremely well. There was no mechanic I felt was a worse or a **** version of another games' same mechanic.
    The story is also good and I found myself really wanting to get answers and press on, not to mention there are alot of interesting lenghty side missions.
    Sure there are a few quests called "Errands" that are more typical "Gather 5x of this" type quests but they are relatively few and you can easily skip them without loosing out, or simply not dedicate time on them and just get them on the way when doing side or main missions.
    This isn't what I would call a proper rpg, it is more of an action adventure game with rpg elements. The skills are fairly basic % or number increases and only a few add extra moves. You do have dialogue options but they don't seem to have really long term effects.
    The pudding is in the combat. It is fast an fun and I like that you are not OP even if your level is higher than the enemies. Some enemies require you to think ahead and lay traps or thin out the herd and not just charge in. You have many tools to achive these tasks at your disposal. It really fits the character.
    I also like that the descriptions in the inventory clearly states what the resource/items are for, so you know what stuff you can sell and not wonder if you need it later to trade or craft something with.
    The game hasn't bugged or crashed for me even once and I must say, I'm surprised how well it is optimised and how well it runs beeing open world games usually have some quirks or bugs (looking at you all Bethesda open world games).
    The Decima engine seems very promising indeed.
    My main complains would be the lipsyncing and facial animations are far behind the best games of today that has dialogue ingame cutscenes. Also although not bad by any means, you can tell it's not the best voice actors in the business for some characters.
    I do think however this is a very good game, and a lenghty one at that. The main story alone will net you 25-30h of FUN gameplay and interesting story on normal. And if you are a competionist we're probably talking 80-100h.
    So it's a pretty hefty bang for your buck for a singleplayer experience. I highly recomend this game.    … Expand
  28. Acguydance
    Jun 23, 2018
    8
    While there are a few "0" which given by people who either scored "Zelda: BoTW" a "10" or a "0" to every title (Which I have no idea why they didn't realize that they are slowly killing the game industry by doing so), I personally would give this an 8.

    [Outline] The game is a bout a teenage girl raised by an outcast who is eager to know who she is, ending up saving the world (as    While there are a few "0" which given by people who either scored "Zelda: BoTW" a "10" or a "0" to every title (Which I have no idea why they didn't realize that they are slowly killing the game industry by doing so), I personally would give this an 8.

    [Outline]
    The game is a bout a teenage girl raised by an outcast who is eager to know who she is, ending up saving the world (as usual). Simple plot. As usual open-world games, there are tons of quests available and places to explore. But when it comes to the mid-range of the game, it seems like these side quests gone down in numbers so your chose would be to either rush till the end of the main story(ies) or do more exploration.

    [Combat System]
    The combat and skill system is great. Every single move is quick and flawless. (The heavy attack might need some time to get use to tho). By visiting ruins and completing the related quests, you will be able to over-ride more types of machines which are not "corrupted." However when you have learned a certain skill, 1 on 1 combat would sometimes become boring because the heavy attack -> knock down -> crit hit combo is too handy for small ~ medium foes.

    The game isn't perfect in many ways, but its really fun to play with great graphics and sound effects. Would suggest to give it a try if you are a hard core action game fan.    … Expand
  29. Medic1089
    Mar 2, 2017
    9
    Horizon Zero Dawn is probably the most ambitious title I have seen in awhile. It brings so many new ideas and concepts to the open world genre and, in fact the genre needed it. Where to start with this? I got the collector's edition of the game on launch and have gotten absolutely lost in this game world. the graphics are stunning, the music is absolutely fitting and the characters have aHorizon Zero Dawn is probably the most ambitious title I have seen in awhile. It brings so many new ideas and concepts to the open world genre and, in fact the genre needed it. Where to start with this? I got the collector's edition of the game on launch and have gotten absolutely lost in this game world. the graphics are stunning, the music is absolutely fitting and the characters have a real sense of emotion and purpose (minus a few of the side quest npc's). Aloy is a great protagonist and seeing how she handles everything around her is awesome! The emotion can be felt within the characters pertaining to the tribe, the outcasts, and her guardian Rost.

    The ranged combat is fast and fluid and extremely rewarding when you hit that critical spot from miles away only to watch as a grazer explodes and causes a nuclear chain reaction amongst the herd. The melee combat on the other hand is a bit slower, and feels a little too "heavy". there is no "real lock-on" system in place so you will have to constantly turn the camera to the enemy your facing if you don't slice it down with one hit. the melee combat feels almost like the witcher 3 without the targeting system. overall the combat is extremely engaging and really puts you in the action.

    Communicating with NPC's. For those who enjoy the dialogue system that was found in games like Dragon Age 2, and inquisition or the Mass Effect series. You will no doubt enjoy this one as it offers up a similar form of dialogue being as you can choose between being Smart, Aggressive/Abrasive, or Love/sympathetic. it plays out really well in this title when handling decisions or scenarios.

    This is one title that you do not want to miss. This is what this generation of rather bland and generic new IP/games needed in a desperate way.

    I just want to make a note here at the bottom to all of the folks calling this game "Feminist Propaganda" and the most of the user reviews are 'Paid".

    1. feminism, this game is in no way shape or form eluding to the fact that women are inherently stronger or better than men. this story is simply centered around a young girl as the protagonist thrown into a world of turmoil, mystery, and confusion. If this game is "Feminist" because it has a female lead role overcoming overwhelming odds than so is Tomb Raider.

    2. Paid reviews. in my honest opinion the fact that anyone can sit here and state that sony is paying users to review this game is dumbfounding. do I think that everyone has been genuinely honest in rating the game? no. there will always be 'fanboys" who will white knight the game to get it to higher scores. But do I also think that there are people out there who come to write reviews of games that have never played it and rate it poorly because its a flagship exclusive? yes. that is the problem with todays gaming "journalism" and Reviews. there is more bias or personal feelings in the way of rating the game on it's own.

    Overall: The game is easily a 9/10. It's a game that you will get lost in and absolutely sink some time into. the narrative so far for me has been just as rich as games like Mass Effect, Dragon Age, or even the Tomb Raider series.    … Expand
  30. kemp352
    Mar 6, 2017
    8
    In the current gaming climate that is saturated with open world games it's easy to why Horizon Zero Dawn could be forgotten. Fear not as this most certainly isn't the case. Flaunting awe inspiring visuals & fluid gameplay this beautifully crafted marvel is a must have.
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Awards & Rankings

4
#4 Best PS4 Game of 2017
1
#1 Most Discussed PS4 Game of 2017
1
#1 Most Shared PS4 Game of 2017

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
89

Generally favorable reviews - based on 115 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 110 out of 115
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 115
  3. Negative: 0 out of 115
  1. Quarter to Three
    May 22, 2017
    60
    The unfortunate fact of Horizon is that most of what it does well, other games have done better, and they did it with a compelling who and where. This is the game you play after you’ve finished The Witcher 3, Assassin’s Creed: Syndicate, and Far Cry: Primal. It is the greatest hits compilation of open-world games. Yeah, sure, you might want to own it, but the real connoisseur has the original albums.
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  2. App Trigger
    Apr 21, 2017
    95
    Horizon Zero Dawn has an unforgettable protagonist, world, story, visuals, soundtrack and gameplay. Due to minor issues with inventory management and quest selection, I cannot call it perfect but I can say it is absolutely worth your time.
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  3. Riot Pixels
    Apr 10, 2017
    75
    There is enough spectacular action to keep you occupied for a couple of weeks, but Horizon is not the hot new killer app for PS4.
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