Horizon: Zero Dawn Review Roundup

[Parker]

PlayStation Lifestyle -  Horizon Zero Dawn is an early contender for game of the year. Guerrilla Games has outdone themselves, in astounding fashion. This is a glorious game, the result of a team of masterful artisans who not only had a story that they wished to tell, but a world that was living inside of them which they wanted to share with us all. Now, we get to play inside their creation, and it is a breathtaking experience to behold. A massive, open world filled with equally massive, terrifying robots, juxtaposed against the beauty of the Earth, nature fighting back the darkness as it tends to do. Horizon Zero Dawn is the kind of game you play to get lost in, and can be enjoyed by players of all types. This could be the beginning of a stellar franchise, and there is something for everyone here. If you own a PS4, you owe it to yourself to give Horizon Zero Dawn a go. 10/10

 

cogconnected -  Horizon Zero Dawn is a sweeping epic, magically dancing across the lines between sci-fi and fantasy, masterfully intertwining two genres that traditionally have held their own space in gaming. It is Guerrilla Games' crowning achievement in video game development. Words cannot do justice for what you need to see for yourself. 10/10

 

cheatcodecentral -  Heading out into the world of Horizon Zero Dawn to take down these massive machines is an exhilarating feeling, which combines well with a story that gradually unfurls and engages its audience. 9.8/10

 

XGN -  Guerilla Games has set the bar while it ventures into a new genre. The game looks phenomenal, and it offers variety, tens of hours of fun and an accessible system. It challenges you in every fight to play intelligently. This may be the best game of 2017. 9.7/10

 

Polygon -  Horizon Zero Dawn thrums with the energy of a creative team finally allowed to explore something new. It builds on elements of open-world and loot-and-craft gameplay that we've seen before, but it does so within a context, a setting and a style that feel fresh. Horizon Zero Dawn discovers a stronger sense of its own personality in one game than Killzone ever managed across half a dozen. Guerrilla Games has long been developing some of the most buzzed-about games in the industry; with Horizon, it feels like it has finally found its own voice, one worthy of all that buzz. 9.5/10

 

PlayStation Universe -  Horizon Zero Dawn reinvigorates open-world RPGs with an excellent story, creative science fiction, and demanding gameplay. Aloy’s debut is one of PS4’s greatest games. 9.5/10

 

The Jimquisition -  Horizon: Zero Dawn is just brilliant. I speak as a critic who has played more "open sandbox" games than any one human should and has grown so very weary of them. I should have gotten sick of this thing in an hour, but I've been glued to it for days and days and I don't want it to end. I love existing in this world - a world of desperate survival but of growing culture and a sense of hope. A world of giant metal animals that promise some breathtaking fights 9.5/10

 

God is a Geek -  It’s been a long time since a game has been put together this well. The combat is awesome, the visuals are stunning, and Aloy is 100% badass. 9.5/10

 

IGN -  Across a vast and beautiful open world, Horizon: Zero Dawn juggles many moving parts with polish and finesse. Its main activity - combat - is extremely satisfying thanks to the varied design and behaviors of machine-creatures that roam its lands, each of which needs to be taken down with careful consideration. Though side questing could have been more imaginative, its missions are compelling thanks to a central mystery that led me down a deep rabbit hole to a genuinely surprising - and moving - conclusion. 9.3/10

 

Everyeye.it -  Guerrilla Games did it. Horizon: Zero Dawn is one of the best Open-World games of this generation. It's a wonderful action-RPG set in a vast and unforgettable universe, with a solid (but conventional) plot and - most of all - challenging gameplay . 9.2/10

 

Forbes -  No, Horizon probably isn’t as monumental of an experience as playing Uncharted or God of War for the first time, but it’s well-made, engaging and probably worth your time. 9.10

 

Push Square - Debuts don't get much stronger than Horizon: Zero Dawn. Guerrilla Games' latest borrows liberally from a variety of different sources, and yet it leverages these fundamentals to forge an experience that's daringly unique. The main quest tires a little towards the end, and the writing never hits the same highs as The Witcher 3 – but the tactical action stands leagues ahead of what we've come to expect from the genre, and the presentation is quite simply unmatched. 9/10

 

We Got This Covered -  Horizon Zero Dawn is a stunningly gorgeous game, an awesome open world action-RPG that overcomes the gameplay conventions of the genre by giving you so many options on how to tackle combat. It does stumble a bit trying to tell a cohesive story, but I was too caught up in exploring all the little details of the world to let that bother me. 9/10

 

gameblog.fr -  Few new licenses have been successful in setting the bar so high. Thanks to its varied, dazzling landscapes, its controlled rhythm, and sharp gameplay, Aloy's quest redefines what immersion in an open world means, if it does not revolutionize the genre. 9/10

 

GameSpot -  Guerilla Games has delivered one of the best open-world games of this generation. 9/10

 

Eurogamer Italy -  Horizon Zero Dawn is an amazing game and a gorgeous experience, crafted with elements and ideas from many other games. Despite its lack OF originality, this product from Guerrilla Games is a great piece of work. 9/10

 

More reviews can be found at Metacritic where the game currently sits at 89 with 26 critic reviews in. 

 

The Kinda Funny review...

 

 

 

So, this game seems pretty goddamn awesome. Looks like Sony and Guerrilla Games have a hit on their hands.

 

 

Parker

 

 

 

[totallycrushed]

Must be good if Jim Sterling and Eurogamer gives it a damn good review. I might actually save up money and buy this ASAP.

[BlazingCat83]

Sounds good, but I do take reviews with some salt since many are paid for them. Still getting it day 1.

[Satoshi Ookami]

Funny reviews talk about gameplay elements when the game seems to be more cutscenes than gameplay from what I've seen on the stream =D

[Xel]

Man 2017 is shaping up to be a good year for video games. I hope Nier Automata is successful critically as well.

[Parker]

1 minute ago, Torracat83 said:

Sounds good, but I do take reviews with some salt since many are paid for them. Still getting it day 1.

 

This is something that has been repeated over and over yet there is no evidence (aside from one specific instance) for it. Can you give 5 proven examples of a reviewer getting paid by a publisher or developer for a good review? 

 

Don't get me wrong, it is fine to be skeptical of reviews since not everyone has the same taste but I don't think people are getting paid off for good reviews. If they did, Sony spent a lot of money because a whole lot of reviewers are giving this game great reviews. 

 

 

Parker

[BlazingCat83]

7 minutes ago, Parker said:

 

This is something that has been repeated over and over yet there is no evidence (aside from one specific instance) for it. Can you give 5 proven examples of a reviewer getting paid by a publisher or developer for a good review? 

 

Don't get me wrong, it is fine to be skeptical of reviews since not everyone has the same taste but I don't think people are getting paid off for good reviews. If they did, Sony spent a lot of money because a whole lot of reviewers are giving this game great reviews. 

 

 

Parker

I guess I'm just cynical. Fair enough. Still, I preordered the collector's edition and can't wait to get it. I think it'll be awesome, but a small part of me worries it might disappoint.

 

And hey, Sony's leading in console sales, so they could afford it. Only kidding, of course.

[DrakeHellsing]

I wont be able to get the game Day 1 myself, maybe a few days afterwards though... because of payday and release of the game is different (it's out on the 1st of March for us, which is a Wednesday, and I get paid Thursday).  But I do want to try and get the game for the weekend anyway.  I mean, it's good to hear that it is getting good reviews anyway

[chickenbaltipie]

WOW - stunning scores so far...

 

Tried to stay on media blackout for this game, the embargo helped but now this is going to be everywhere. 

 

Very excited

[StrickenBiged]

Reviews are very encouraging. Looks like its going to be a great game.

 

However, I'm still in two minds as to whether I should cancel my pre-order. I'm concerned that this game might be much better on PS4 Pro, and I am wondering whether I should wait for Digital Foundry to weigh in with one of their comparison videos. 

 

However, given the embargo appears to have lifted, that video might still appear shortly and ahead of release. I guess I'll keep the pre-order for now...

[totallycrushed]

37 minutes ago, Parker said:

 

This is something that has been repeated over and over yet there is no evidence (aside from one specific instance) for it. Can you give 5 proven examples of a reviewer getting paid by a publisher or developer for a good review? 

 

Don't get me wrong, it is fine to be skeptical of reviews since not everyone has the same taste but I don't think people are getting paid off for good reviews. If they did, Sony spent a lot of money because a whole lot of reviewers are giving this game great reviews. 

 

 

Parker

DRIV3Rgate

 

Microsoft with XBLIG to Videogamedunkey

 

GameSpot with Kane & Lynch: Dead Men

 

Larry Bundy Jr. is good with these.

[Bumperklever]

Well I just found my favorite reviewer on meta critic "digital downloaded"

 

Giving games like my name is mayo a score of 100 for its artistic "anti-art" and giving mafia 3 a score of 90 pure for the artistic meaning of racism at that time.

 

while giving horizon zero dawn a score of 70, because the gameplay and story isn't so good. Litterally saying they need to find new writers and gameplay designers, while also saying that it is a technical high. Damn.

 

Maybe its a big Off topic but this is terrible, maybe its because of attention to there site?

 

http://www.metacritic.com/publication/digitally-downloaded?filter=games

 

 

[Lars]

I'm getting more excited every day it comes closer.

But a review says nothing though, it all depends on someones own expectations and how close it will get to it.

Although i must say, with these high scores, it is safe to say that the game will be good. I hope i will like it.

If i do this will become my 100th platinum. 

But like i said, a review doesn't say everything, for example a game like Dead Island: Riptide got a 62 on metacritic, which isn't that high. To this day though, it is still one of my favorite games to play because it is so simple to pick up.

A review can be a lead to what you can expect from a game, but in the end, it is all about own opinion

[LunchCannon54]

Well I'm not shocked at these scores, but from what I've seen it's a glitchy, poorly programmed and poorly acted mess, so I wouldn't listen to them at all. Waiting for the same backflip No Man's Sky and Watch Dogs suffered with the reviewers proclaiming OH BUT WE WERE ALWAYS ON YOUR SIDE, CONSUMERS. Absolute snakes, the lot of them. 

Edited February 20, 2017 by LunchCannon54

[Remilia Scarlet]

Could Horizon end up another The Last of Us?

[ArmoredSnowman]

1 hour ago, Parker said:

 

Forbes -  No, Horizon probably isn’t as monumental of an experience as playing Uncharted or God of War for the first time, but it’s well-made, engaging and probably worth your time. 9.10

"probably". It's humorous how the reviewer chose to insult the game while still giving it a good rating. 

[RedRozeReaper]

Well, that is promising.

Still don't know if I want to get it or not...

[LunchCannon54]

1 minute ago, ArmoredSquirreXD said:

"probably". It's humorous how the reviewer chose to insult the game while still giving it a good rating. 

It's like those Newgrounds reviews.

This game is fucking shit 10/10.

Not even trying to hide the lack of integrity. 

[Natsuu24]

Well, that is amazing! Waiting for my Limited Edition  

 

1 hour ago, Torracat83 said:

Sounds good, but I do take reviews with some salt since many are paid for them. Still getting it day 1.

I remember Rockstar Games paid to 1 guy to talk only bad things about GTA V and give a very negative review

[Eraezr]

1 hour ago, totallycrushed said:

DRIV3Rgate

 

Microsoft with XBLIG to Videogamedunkey

 

GameSpot with Kane & Lynch: Dead Men

 

Larry Bundy Jr. is good with these.

 

To be fair, the dunkey one doesn't count because he was transparent that MS sponsored that video, and he still poked fun at the game's flaws which led to a bitter fallout between him and the company.

[totallycrushed]

14 minutes ago, Eraezr said:

To be fair, the dunkey one doesn't count because he was transparent that MS sponsored that video, and he still poked fun at the game's flaws which led to a bitter fallout between him and the company.

 

Actually he doesn't mention a sponsorship deal on the video. Too bad it's deleted and there's no archive on the description but a mirror of the video itself still exists.

But at the same time the way he says MS came to him offering a sponsorship and just saying "make a video about the game". If this is true and there were no fine print about what kind of video it should've been, Dunkey did nothing wrong making fun of the game. It really comes down to details that the public don't have about their agreement.

 

EDIT: oh no I replied to a "to be fair" with "actually". I have become internet, I must revalue my life.

Edited February 20, 2017 by totallycrushed

[LunchCannon54]

16 minutes ago, Eraezr said:

 

To be fair, the dunkey one doesn't count because he was transparent that MS sponsored that video, and he still poked fun at the game's flaws which led to a bitter fallout between him and the company.

How does it not count? The argument was that publishers pay for good reviews and publicity and they did (or at least tried to). 

[QuentinCle95]

40 minutes ago, ArmoredSquirreXD said:

"probably". It's humorous how the reviewer chose to insult the game while still giving it a good rating. 

I don't see it as an insult to the game. Rather, they're saying, whether something is worth your time or not is your own subjective opinion, and you will probably think that it is. 

[StrickenBiged]

2 hours ago, totallycrushed said:

Must be good if Jim Sterling and Eurogamer gives it a damn good review. I might actually save up money and buy this ASAP.

 

Eurogamer Italy maybe. 

 

Eurogamer UK didn't like it enough to even give it a recommended. (They don't do numbers.) They're often quite harsh though. Their complaint seems to be "it doesn't do anything new, but does what it does well".

[Oobedoob S Benubi]

Didn't notice this thread. I'll share it here as well then but I saw this picture today, which was enough to give me chills:

 

I don't know if I'm going to keep up on my pre-order and I'm kind of sad about that. I really want this game but it's a huge one and two days later I'm getting Zelda... I have a problem with finishing big open world games so there's that to think about. I might just get HZD come early April or late March, but I don't know if getting it day one is the right thing for me to do at this point.