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Horizon Zero Dawn Spoiler-free Impressions (for real this time)

M

M.D

Member
MiamiWesker said:
So I am like 7 hours in and just finished the opening area and story. Basically now is when the real game begins, you are let out into the open world and so many activities and point of interest open up, it's so exciting.

So the opening area doesn't have much to do, it is basically a tutorial area with a few enemy types, and only a few side quests. You can spend time just messing around as I did and do everything but it's not a good approximation of what lies ahead.

Stuff happens that gets you to the open world and it was pretty exciting. The story is no joke, this is a story heavy game with lots of characters and some dialogue choices to make, can't tell you if they change much but it's there. The main missions tied to taht story were exciting and gave me some boss battle like moments with all new enemy types. I learned to override beasts so I got a brand new skill and then was let out into the world.

There were vantage points, areas to clear of enemies and my favorite little timed challenges to do. That's just what I found near me, I have yet to really explore as I had to go to sleep. I look at the completion page and there is so much to find and do, this game will keep me occupied for a long time.

So far I am enjoying very hard mode. I die if I am careless but most of the time I get by fine. I have had some close calls that deplete my health so I do have to gather supplies to restock. I do think dodge is a bit of a super move, I have gotten by with dodging a bunch and laying traps. Dodge, trap, dodge, go in for the stun kill, repeat. Again these are still easier enemies so I bet for the tough ones it won't work but dodge is very effective and has a nice invincibility window.

So any questions?
Click to expand...

From a scale of 10 to 10, how awesome is it?
 
A

Ahasverus

Member
MiamiWesker said:
So I am like 7 hours in and just finished the opening area and story. Basically now is when the real game begins, you are let out into the open world and so many activities and point of interest open up, it's so exciting.
So any questions?
Click to expand...
You're liking it right? :p

Is the intro mediocre and then the game gets good, or is it just "good" and the game becomes great=
 
T

The Lamp

Member
MiamiWesker said:
So I am like 7 hours in and just finished the opening area and story. Basically now is when the real game begins, you are let out into the open world and so many activities and point of interest open up, it's so exciting.

So the opening area doesn't have much to do, it is basically a tutorial area with a few enemy types, and only a few side quests. You can spend time just messing around as I did and do everything but it's not a good approximation of what lies ahead.

Stuff happens that gets you to the open world and it was pretty exciting. The story is no joke, this is a story heavy game with lots of characters and some dialogue choices to make, can't tell you if they change much but it's there. The main missions tied to taht story were exciting and gave me some boss battle like moments with all new enemy types. I learned to override beasts so I got a brand new skill and then was let out into the world.

There were vantage points, areas to clear of enemies and my favorite little timed challenges to do. That's just what I found near me, I have yet to really explore as I had to go to sleep. I look at the completion page and there is so much to find and do, this game will keep me occupied for a long time.

So far I am enjoying very hard mode. I die if I am careless but most of the time I get by fine. I have had some close calls that deplete my health so I do have to gather supplies to restock. I do think dodge is a bit of a super move, I have gotten by with dodging a bunch and laying traps. Dodge, trap, dodge, go in for the stun kill, repeat. Again these are still easier enemies so I bet for the tough ones it won't work but dodge is very effective and has a nice invincibility window.

So any questions?
Click to expand...

Yep I agree with most of this except I'm on normal difficulty and I like it.
 
M

More_Badass

Member
Ahasverus said:
You're liking it right? :p

Is the intro mediocre and then the game gets good, or is it just "good" and the game becomes great=
Click to expand...
Not playing, but from what I gather, the opening seems more linear and guided. Kind of like Gravity Rush 2's intro

Personally I like the sound of that. Most open world games just throw you into the world; I like one with a more story-driven focus that takes its time to set things up
 
T

The Lamp

Member
DriftingSpirit said:
I can already see it.

"Man, this game is slowwwww. When does it going?!"
"Uh, I'm not sure what the big deal about this game is. What I've played so far is just so linear and boring."
"I think people just let the hype get to them because this opening area just drags and drags. Where is this supposed "good" stuff?"
Click to expand...

The beginning area being not as open completely makes sense with the plot though, so I don't mind. Plus with such a detailed HUD and system of things to loot and craft, I appreciate the beginning being simple so you can learn what the games about before they unleash you.

I think the opening is good. It's entertaining enough because it doesn't last too long and you're learning the mechanics. There's an urgency to progress that the game facilitates.

After that though is GREAT
 
G

Glassboy

Member
The Lamp said:
Yep I agree with most of this except I'm on normal difficulty and I like it.
Click to expand...
Yeah I'm on hard and difficulty has been enjoyable. I have a had a couple close calls in battle but have not died from combat yet. My only deaths were a couple missed jumps. Also, I hit 6 hrs and the game opened up. I was a little worried it was going to be linear the whole way through, but that definitely changes. I'm at work right now, but I just want to play more of this damn game.
 
M

More_Badass

Member
The Lamp said:
The beginning area being not as open completely makes sense with the plot though, so I don't mind. Plus with such a detailed HUD and system of things to loot and craft, I appreciate the beginning being simple so you can learn what the games about before they unleash you.
Click to expand...
Let me ask, would you care as much about the story or Aloy or her journey if the game didn't use the intro to ease you into the world and narrative?

Like if the game just dropped you into the world and told you to go to the mission here, would it be as effective?
 
W

WordsintheWater

Member
Why are we set on 50 hour 100 percent completion time when we absolutely don't know what the last 26 percent consists of? Maybe that last 26 percent takes 40 hrs on its own, maybe it takes 10 hrs. Whatever it is we have no clue what the final time will be.
 
S

SlasherJPC

Banned
More_Badass said:
Let me ask, would you care as much about the story or Aloy or her journey if the game didn't use the intro to ease you into the world and narrative?

Like if the game just dropped you into the world and told you to go to the mission here, would it be as effective?
Click to expand...

I'm not to the more open area yet but I'd say no. These early moments are laying the foundation of her character and plight. It's doing a great job of me gaining sympathy for her and wondering just as much as she is on why things are the way they are. Just dropping you into the world and saying go would kill that aspect and build up.
 
T

The Lamp

Member
vivekTO said:
This is the last machine we don't know of till now, i thought someone would have already posted. Sorry for the spoilers.

So there is no Elephanta Machine



Forget about this , so did you finally reached the cauldron??
Click to expand...

Yes I just completed my first cauldron. It was very introductory but still great and worth visiting. And the reward for completing it was so great that I can't believe it was an optional quest instead of main quest.
 
Gudji

Gudji

Member
The Lamp said:
Yes I just completed my first cauldron. It was very introductory but still great and worth visiting. And the reward for completing it was so great that I can't believe it was an optional quest instead of main quest.
Click to expand...

Did you do any puzzles? One of the previews mentioned something about that.
 
T

The Lamp

Member
More_Badass said:
Let me ask, would you care as much about the story or Aloy or her journey if the game didn't use the intro to ease you into the world and narrative?

Like if the game just dropped you into the world and told you to go to the mission here, would it be as effective?
Click to expand...

No I would not have cared as much at all. I think the opening area is crucial. I can explain in slightly/somewhat beginning spoiler plot details: the opening area is restricted, small, and has only a few things to do explicitly because
Aloy has always been an outcast. She's not allowed to leave the Embrace and nobody wants to trade with her because the law of the Nora don't let braves talk or trade with outcasts
. The game takes this time to familiarize yourself with what's going on, who Aloy is, and why you even care about her.

I think the intro is pivotal in making the rest of the game's tasks feel meaningful or make me care about Aloy (she is a well-written female character).
 
B

Bunga

Member
Skeeter49 said:
If you only watched the Pro reveal Horizon footage, nothing else besides that, and frequently visit threads that compare Horizon to Ubisoft games, I could see how you can come to that conclusion.
Click to expand...

Just playin' guys haha, sorry. I haven't kept up to date with all the trailers etc. but even then, it looks a lot different than just a Far Cry reskin.

All these impressions sound great. Looking forward to playing it at some point.
 
I

ironcreed

Banned
g0a4WIJ.gif


l3qlp7q.gif
 
G

gundamkyoukai

Member
SlasherJPC said:
This is GG Mangnum opus. Its reeks of quality out of every aspect. I think anyone playing now would agree.
Click to expand...

So happy that Sony gave GG a huge budget to go crazy with .
They were doing KZ for way too long .

IvorB said:
No lock on? Jeez I think that little nugget pretty much killed any interest I might have had.
Click to expand...

The game is basically a TPS lock on would destroy the gameplay .
It would make aiming at certain body parts way to easy .
Not to mention timing and movement would be less of a important factor .
 
V

vivekTO

Member
The Lamp said:
Yes I just completed my first cauldron. It was very introductory but still great and worth visiting. And the reward for completing it was so great that I can't believe it was an optional quest instead of main quest.
Click to expand...

So.... i mean.. you should be saying like , "quote this post for vide" or you will do that later :p
also how much did that contribute in the % , same as side quest?

This is for both Miami and Lamp,
Do the collectibles and other activity, apart from quests and side quest, contribute to the actual percentage. Thanks
 
V

VanWinkle

Member
vivekTO said:
Its not 25 hrs for Main campaign , its 34 hours and that counts to 74% of total completion without side quest. I think this is why you are disappointed or i am getting the tweet wrong.
Click to expand...

Wait, why do you say he didn't do any side stuff? One of the guys here said side content does contribute to the percentage.
 
V

vivekTO

Member
VanWinkle said:
Wait, why do you say he didn't do any side stuff? One of the guys here said side content does contribute to the percentage.
Click to expand...

Nah , i am not saying that Side quests did not contributes towards overall %, i was specifically talking about that tweet , in which the reviewer said this "completed main campaign" .
so i was suggesting that even if its(75%) main campaign and some of the side quest , there will be more to do in the world which will increase the playtime like collectibles and hunters challenge.

These % talks are now confusing me too.
 
G

gundamkyoukai

Member
More_Badass said:
They've been working on this for like six years, since Killzone 3. What was the last AAA new IP that was given so much time to gestate?
Click to expand...

Truth is i can't think of any that had that much time to get done .
Think TLOU was five years and cycberpunk 2077 will most likely end up taking that long .
 
S

Skeeter49

Member
More_Badass said:
They've been working on this for like six years, since Killzone 3. What was the last AAA new IP that was given so much time to gestate?
Click to expand...
Didn't Watch Dogs have 5 years?
Not sure if Nioh would count.
TLOU is probably up there as well.

I think Dreams takes the award though.
 
Rien

Rien

Jelly Belly
Tigress said:
I consider 50 hours for everything in an rpg short (and yes I realize it is an action rpg. So is witcher and fallout and both last much longer than 50 hours). 20 hours would be ridiculous and I'd wait for the game to go cheaper.

If I'm ready to be done with a game in 50 hours it was very mediocre at best. If this game only lasts me 50 hours and I like it it will feel like I barely played it and leave me wishing there was more. And I honestly prefer to be tired of a game before I get to that point. I hate the feeling of wishing there was more.
Click to expand...

Fair enough.. Thanx for the reply :)

To each their own

schwabdizzle said:
All I am wondering is how is the performance/visuals on the reg PS4?
Click to expand...

I hear nothing but good! Both reg and pro
 
T

texhnolyze

Banned
Kill3r7 said:
You say this as though it is a bad thing. Far Cry is one of the better AAA franchises out there.
Click to expand...

FATALITY said:
Yeah
Far cry 4 is one best games out there.
Click to expand...

And I wonder why some people aro so defensive everytime it's mentioned.

There's even an impression from someone here (Glassboy) ealier who basically said so. That Horizon reminds him of Far Cry 4 and that the environment looks like FC4 on steroids.
 
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