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Horizon Zero Dawn is an open-world action role-playing video game developed by Guerrilla Games and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation 4 in 2017. It was officially revealed at E3 2015 during Sony's press conference and is the first intellectual property created by Guerrilla Games since Killzone in 2004, as well as the developer's first foray into the role-playing genre. The game was subsequently released on Microsoft Windows in 2020. It is the first game in the Horizon series, which is later followed up by an expansion The Frozen Wilds and a sequel Horizon Forbidden West.

Synopsis[]

Horizon Zero Dawn takes place in the 31st century, in a post-apocalyptic world where colossal machines dominate the land.[3][4] Human civilization has regressed to tribal societies of hunters and gatherers who survive in immense forests, imposing mountain ranges, and the atmospheric ruins of their ancestors – all while the machines become increasingly powerful. The player controls Aloy, a huntress who uses her speed, cunning, and agility to stay alive and protect herself and others against the force, size, and power of the machines.

The game features sci-fi and mythical elements.[5]

Gameplay[]

Features[]

  • Horizon Zero Dawn features quest elements which include the main story quests, as well as a number of side quests and activities.
  • A level system which increases Aloy's health and provides token-based unlocks with a skill tree. In the base game there are three trees: Prowler, Brave, and Forager: respectively these primarily boost stealth and evasion, direct combat, and various skills related to resources. Horizon Zero Dawn: The Frozen Wilds adds a fourth, Traveller, which focuses on ridable creatures and includes more resource-based skills.
  • Aloy has multiple weapons at her disposal, including bows with various arrow types, a melee spear, tripwire and rope launchers, slings which fire elemental or explosive bombs, a powerful gun-like weapon that fires compressed air, and a shotgun-like close-combat weapon.
  • Machine enemies feature a location-based damage system with many destructible components. Damaging components on certain enemies can deal extra damage, inflict status effects, or deny them the use of certain attacks. Some opponents have weapon systems which can be shot off and then used against them, with a limited ammo supply.
  • Stealth is also a central element, mostly based around line-of-sight cover with patches of red-topped tall grass acting as hiding spots when Aloy crouches in them. Certain enemies have scanners which can detect Aloy regardless of line of sight if they are not destroyed.
  • A "robotic ecosystem" where each machine type has its own unique behaviors and purpose.
  • Aloy quickly gains the ability to override hostile machines with old-world technology. This allows her to ride certain quadrupedal machines such as the Broadhead and Strider, while others will assist in combat. Upgrades can allow longer control of non-ridable machines and allow repairs to overridden machines.
  • Aloy has an old-world device called a Focus which provides an augmented reality display when activated. It marks out points of interest and is used in a number of "detective" side quests, and can highlight enemy patrol routes. Using it in combat allows easier location of enemies, and allows the player to identify their relative level, type, and for machine enemies highlights components and displays any elemental strengths and weaknesses.
  • Health does not regenerate normally (except when Aloy has extremely low health and is not currently under attack, in which case it will regenerate a small amount). Instead Aloy has a "medicine pouch" which must be filled using local plants, and which provides a rapid healing effect when triggered. Alternatively, health potions can be crafted and used from the quick inventory.
  • Aloy can swim, but may encounter hostile Snapmaws in certain waters.
  • A trade-based economy with Metal Shards as the primary currency. Certain purchases may require additional materials, and materials can be sold.
  • The hunting of machines and harvesting of their parts is essential as it provides important resources and components for crafting and trading.
  • Aloy can also gather natural resources such as medicinal herbs to heal and roots to concoct protective potions.
  • Weapons and outfits are customizable and have slots for modifications.
  • Most outfits offer some form of protection against specific types of attack. In addition, NPC dialog will vary depending on the race the outfit is associated with, though quest dialog will not.

Setting[]

The open world of Horizon Zero Dawn is dense, varied, and full of opportunities for exploration, as well as transitionally dynamic and seamless, due to day-night and weather system cycles, and a lack of loading screens. Guerrilla Games has stated that they are focusing on world density in particular, rather than size. Of the three known biomes—alpine, desert, and tundra—all are said to be explorable.

Horizon zero dawn full map

Zero Dawn - Full Map


Special Editions[]

Digital Deluxe Edition[]

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Digital Deluxe Edition

Contents[]

Bonuses[]

  • Banuk Traveler Pack
  • Carja Trader Pack
  • Nora Keeper Pack

Collector's Edition[]

Collector

Collector's Edition

Contents[]

  • 9'' Aloy statue
  • Steelbook case including Horizon Zero Dawn PS4 game
  • The Art of Horizon Zero Dawn digital art book
  • Exclusive PS4 theme
  • 2 Outfits: Carja Storm Ranger outfit and Banuk Trailblazer outfit
  • 2 Bows: Carja Mighty Bow and Banuk Culling Bow

Bonuses[]

  • Banuk Traveler Pack
  • Carja Trader Pack
  • Nora Keeper Pack
  • Nora Machine Trapper Pack

Complete Edition[]

Horizon Zero Dawn Complete Edition cover

Complete Edition

Contents[]

  • Horizon Zero Dawn PS4 game
  • The Frozen Wilds Expansion
  • The Art of Horizon Zero Dawn digital art book
  • PS4 Dynamic Theme
  • 2 Outfits: Carja Storm Ranger outfit and Banuk Trailblazer outfit
  • 2 Bows: Carja Mighty Bow and Banuk Culling Bow

Bonuses[]

  • Banuk Traveler Pack
  • Carja Trader Pack
  • Nora Keeper Pack

Development[]

Horizon Zero Dawn was conceived in 2010.[6] Development began in 2011, after the release of Killzone 3.[7] Guerrilla Games announced that they were creating a new intellectual property, with 40 concept ideas created for the game. Among them was Horizon Zero Dawn, one to which the director Mathijs de Jonge called the "most risky."[8] The original concept has been described as "a pretty fresh mix of ingredients; the BBC nature documentary kind of feel, and then the sci-fi elements with the robots." Likewise, Guerilla sought a new main character, different from the male protagonists of the Killzone series.[9] When the concept was chosen, a team of 10-20 people started building prototypes for the game, with many of the prototypes' elements being included in the game. Roughly 20 unique stories were written, all exploring various concepts and character ideas. The story was written by John Gonzalez, the head writer of Fallout: New Vegas. Since the beginning of development, the various elements of the story remained intact.[8] Aloy was in the original pitch, and regarded as one of the game's three 'pillars,' the others being "gorgeous nature" and the machines.[5]

Early on, the game's combat bore a resemblance to the Killzone series. In fact, the M82 rifle was present in early builds of the game, being fired at robot dinosaurs. In the words of Hermen Hulst, this started to feel weird "very quickly," and the direction was changed in terms of combat.[10]

Guerrilla Games invested more of its staff into the development of Horizon Zero Dawn following the completion and release of Killzone: Shadow Fall.[11] More staff were hired, as the studio's experience mostly lay in FPS games.[5]

The game delves into the juxtaposition of the beauty and dangers of its world. More precisely, it considers the scenario of humanity's fall from grace and regression into hunter-gatherers, where the species is no longer "at the top of the life list."[8] Emphasis was given to a quest system; various acquirable items are spread throughout the world, used for crafting resources and replenishing health.[8] Horizon Zero Dawn is also completely devoid of tutorials, an implementation purposed for fostering trial and error solutions to the game's various obstacles.[12]

Horizon Zero Dawn was created with the engine used in Killzone: Shadow Fall; Guerrilla Games, however, felt that the purposing the engine for Horizon Zero Dawn was a technical challenge, with regard to loading and distances times.[8] The team also sought a simplistic user interface, avoiding overly-complex menus for features such as crafting. With Horizon Zero Dawn being Guerrilla Game's first venture into the role-playing genre, the developer sought assistance with design, art, and other technical fields to discover how elements of said genre work.[8][13]

Conceptual art of hunters and machines, as well as the name of the game code, surfaced on September 14, 2014.[14] Horizon Zero Dawn was officially unveiled during the press conference Sony at E3 2015, with a worldwide release, exclusively for PlayStation 4, being expected in 2016.[15] The game's release was then pushed back to 2017. Guerilla used the extra time for playtesting.[9]

Multiplayer was planned for the game, but was ultimately scrapped so the development team could focus on other areas of the title.[16]

Reception[]

The reveal of Horizon Zero Dawn during E3 2015 received critical acclaim from the critics and received several awards, including "Best Original Game" awarded by the panel of judges Game Critics Awards (2015 and 2016).[17] The game received "generally favorable" reviews from critics, according to review aggregator Metacritic, scoring 89/100.[18] Most critics praised the visual aesthetics and the depth of the story, while Slant users voted it the best action RPG for PS4 and agreed the game has an intriguing world and offers exciting hunting gameplay.[19]

The Microsoft Windows version, which released on August 7, 2020, received similarly high praise, though issues with the port were apparent and a common thread throughout reviews, including the player reception on Steam.

Its popularity led to various crossovers with elements of Horizon Zero Dawn appearing in other video games.

Gallery[]

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Videos[]

References[]

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