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PS4 NEW RELEASE! | 'Horizon: Zero Dawn' Review

'Horizon: Zero Dawn' is the PlayStation 4 exclusive action role playing game developed by the creators of the Amsterdam based 'Killzone' franchise, Guerrilla Games.


The game follows protagonist Aloy - a skilled hunter, as she explores a vibrant and lush world inhabited by mysterious mechanised creatures. Having been quite removed from society for her whole life, Aloy sets out to investigate the reasons for her being sheltered.


She makes use of melee weapons - her spear, stealth tactics, as well as ranged weapons such as a bow and arrow, to take down these disastrously mechanical creatures that can be looted for resources. The game makes very good use of an open world environment that includes a day-to-night cycle, along with a weather system similar to that of 'Skyrim', or the upcoming Nintendo game 'Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.'


According to the game's director Mathijis de Jonge, 'Horizon: Zero Dawn' was one of the riskier ideas to be pitched, making this the game developers’ first attempt at a role-playing game. And what a game it is.


The game began back in 2011 following the release of Guerrilla Games' 'Killzone 3' when a series of forty game concepts were pitched, and amongst these forty was 'Horizon: Zero Dawn.'


The character of Aloy and the significant elements of the story remained since the beginnings of development, but it wasn't until after 2013's 'Killzone: Shadow Fall' that 'Horizon: Zero Dawn' was taken seriously - cancelling all other projects to ensure the development of the game.


Decima - the game's engine was engineered for 2013's 'Killzone Shadow Fall' and used for 'Horizon,' despite its difficulties in altering the engine for the new game.


'Horizon: Zero Dawn' really explores the concept of the human species, not being at the top of the food chain and the juxtaposition of danger and beauty in a truly breathtaking environment.


The developers sought out anthropologists for assistance and researched the formation of tribal cultures along with the decay of building materials over a millennium. And although the first portion of the game seems a little overtly long, it is much appreciated, instead of the typical tutorials that occur at the beginning of many games.


It introduces the player to the world in a truly immersive way without distancing them too much as they try to learn the controls. The controls are easily manoeuvrable, no matter the experience or age of the player, and makes fully use of every single button on the controller.


There's a truly immersive depth in many areas of this game, including its backstory and design: like what can be seen from a variety of resources, whether it be in films, television shows, novels, comics, and video games, a lot of the time, post-apocalyptic settings feature not a very happy place in dark and desolate wastes that have come about after some event of distraction has torn our known society to shreds.


In the case of 'Horizon: Zero Dawn,' the technologically-run society has been stripped back to a prehistoric world much like in certain areas of 'Far Cry Primal.' It also similarly takes the feel and look of 'The Last of Us' by developers Naughty Dog but without the serious and dark undertones.


Ashly Burch - the voice actress for Aloy (also known as Tiny Tina in 'Borderlands 2’, and the popular YouTube series 'Hey Ash, Watcha Playin’?’)' truly captures the heart and the soul of Aloy, and makes the player want to support Aloy throughout the game.


The game doesn't really start until you start travelling beyond the Sacred Land of the Nora into the massive world, and definitely one of the better-looking games on the PlayStation system. Although it may be nice to have the PlayStation 4 Pro for a better quality of visual experience (and would no doubt leave players in absolute awe of what the developers have created), having a regular PlayStation 4 still leaves gamers dumbfounded at expanse of the world, despite the intimate experience it offers at the same time.


Stealth, unfortunately for some, plays a huge part in 'Horizon: Zero Dawn', but when given small assistances like the focus that Aloy finds in her younger years, it certainly helps to know the strengths and weaknesses of your enemies as well as being able to track their path.


There's also the ability to override and take control of the machines, but towards the beginning, it’s quite limited to which ones players can take control of.


Along with stealth, crafting also has a heavy importance as you must scavenge across the map to craft new ammunition, health potions, outfits, resources, and upgraded weapons to name a few.


And sometimes, for health as well, this has to be done simultaneously while being attacked, which can be difficult enough in itself. Similar to that of the most recent 'Tomb Raider' reboot, campfires across the map can act as a save station where players can quick save or save manually and eventually, deeper into the game, fast travel will become available, which is an important factor considering the breadth of the game.


Watching countless play-throughs on YouTube simply isn’t enough to satisfy the respectable gamer. 'Horizon: Zero Dawn' is a game that must be experienced first-hand.


'Horizon: Zero Dawn' is available now online and in all good gaming stores!


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