My Game of the Year (2017) – Horizon Zero Dawn #2

Watching this game for the first time at E3 my jaw dropped at the stunning visuals, the world its trying to create and, most important are the amazingly designed mechanize dinosaurs. When I heard that the developers of Killzone were making this game, it made me a little warry. Hearing that this is an open world 3^rd person RPG – these were not the type of games Guerrilla Games developed. 

Guerrilla was always known for their tight first-person shooting, and for them to make something out of their comfort zone could be something special or something that had promise but flopped. It’s great to say that Horizon Zero Dawn was an amazing accomplishment for Guerilla Games this year and year to come.

Horizon’s Open World is Lush and Lively

The world in Horizon is so interesting and full of mysteries it keeps you wondering for most of the game. As the game goes on you learn more about Aloy’s (Main character) past and how she is tied within the world.

The cities and settlements in the world of Horizon are well-realized and felt lived in. The city of Meridian is the biggest city in the game. The city has rules, a king, and citizens that are just as afraid of the machines then other smaller settlements. Though you won’t see Meridian until the latter end of the game, it is a sight to see.

The world has so much mechanical wildlife, as well as, regular wildlife that is scattered throughout the world. The mechanical wildlife was placed in the world where it would make ecological sense —for example Grazer’s are usually in an open field with many other Grazers, much like gazelles.

You can find most of the machines just from looking at the environment. In swampy areas you are sure to find snapmaw – a crocodile-like machine and other smaller machines like Grazer or Lancehorn trying to drink water. Just watching these machines is so fascinating, much like watching an animal documentary. The AI built into the machines is incredible. They way they behave and move feel is believable.

I know that Horizon is about hunting these machines, but I can watch them all day and just observe. 

The Combat System is Fun and Challenging

Playing through the first few hours I quickly got a hang of the combat. Using the bow and arrow is smooth and main weapon – shooting an arrow into the eye of a Watcher is impactful and satisfying, especially when every pinpoint hit provides a satisfying audio cue. Each machine has weak points that are indicted through visuals – there will be glowing parts that can be shot off.

The parts that come off machines can be used for upgrades, crafting, and modifiers. This gives incentive to always be hunting, because there are some items that can’t be bought and must be created. Crafting is a huge part of this game as you use it for arrows, health, bombs, and traps. Using these items gives you the upper hand in combat.

Bows and arrows have curtain traits that will give an advantage in combat. Curtain bows can do more damage, or it can shoot multiple arrows at once. Arrows are just as important as the bow. As you progress through the games you’ll be able to craft more different arrows. For example; Fire arrows can be used to set machines on fire, or Precision arrows that can do high damage upon impact. There are many more types of arrows that could fit your playstyle – the more you’re accustom to the machine and the arrows, the more the combat will come naturally.

Hunting these machines are no easy task. Explaining the systems are any easy way to understand my thinking when engaged with a machine. This mechanical wildlife can be vicious, some don’t mind your presents – but once it feels endangered any machine will engage you at full force. The bigger the machine the more difficult it is to hunt and, rightfully so. All their abilities and the way they charge at you with no repercussion for their own can put you in a dangerous situation. These abilities are different with each machine.

A Trampler’s abilities is around explosions and ramming the enemy. Their Charge ability will thrust themselves forward with a fire element that will do damage over time for 10 seconds. This is just one of their abilities, to have a leg up on them you need to know what that machine is and its abilities, the bow and arrows your using, and the crafting materials.

Amazingly Designed Robot Wildlife

The first thing that grabbed players to Horizon was the beautiful, gigantic robotic animals. These machines look amazing, and their real-life counterparts are similar enough to make me believe this could be made in the real world. Guerrilla Games did an awesome making them look similar, but they also made their behavior believable. The way the Glinthawks fly high and then swoop down to attack was a scary realization of how accurate these machines are to our real-world animals.

The open world nature of Horizon and its history lends itself to fill things in the world. Guerrilla filled it in with many types machines, each associated with a curtain class; Terra-formers are designed to manipulating the earth to help growth of plants, Purifiers have similar design with Terra-formers, but has a duty detoxifying the atmosphere and marine biosphere. Recyclers are the my most favorite class – as recyclers they are tasked with breaking and bringing back parts to the Cauldron (Where Machines are created). These are just a few class types with many others having a job that will contribute to better the world.

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Horizon Zero Dawn’s amazingly crafted open world, awesome machine designs, and the satisfying combat system made Horizon #2 on my list. This game was released early in the year and there were so many great games that came after it I didn’t know if it would crack my top 5.

Going back to it with the Frozen Wild DLC a couple of weeks ago gave me the time to give Horizon a second thought, and I’m glad I did. The difficulty of the combat system was tough to get back too, but after some time it’ll come back. The new Machines reminded me of all the battles I had with the Lancehorns, Snapmaw, Sawtooth, and Thunderjaw.

Horizon will be my reminder that when a developer has something to show, even if they don’t have the pedigree – never count them out because a passion project can be better then just a dream.