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It’s the future, civilisation as we know it has ended and the machine uprising has taken over. It’s a tested formula and one we’re all familiar with. Except things aren’t quite that simple here.
Instead, Horizon Zero Dawn turns this post-apocalyptic world on its head, sending it back to the Stone Age.
Although the PS4 exclusive open world RPG has you fighting for your life against machines, your mechanical foe take on the form of beasts and dinosaur-inspired creatures rather than your stereotypical humanoid robot.
It’s an exciting concept and one that, combined with a vast, flowing world that brings Jurassic Park and Avatar to mind, makes a game that’s packed with addictive action.
You play Aloy, a flame-haired tribal outcast, with the orphaned warrior looking to discover her maternal roots. The machines block your every move though, and are just one of the hurdles that stand between you and your ultimate goal, finding the cause of the human downfall.
It’s a bit of a slow burn to start thanks to some necessary scene setting that brings this prehistoric yet post-apocalyptic world into context. The narrative is engaging and surprisingly emotive though, despite a few too many cut scenes that get bogged down by repetitive talk of the All-Mother.
Like any RPG, away from the primary story, the action is tapered by a need to gather resources, and a number of side missions and quests that get you exploring the massive, open world. When you come into contact with the machines, however, Horizon sets itself apart with some unrivalled action.
Whether facing off against a mechanical stag or a robot T-Rex (dubbed a Thunderjaw), your bow and arrow, slingshot and tripwire weaponry feel particularly underpowered. Instead of making the game feel farcically lopsided though, it gives the action a more intense, pulse-quickening edge.
With your arsenal so mismatched against the power of the machines, tactics are needed. Being such an underdog makes every victory feel like an achievement, and you’ll soon find yourself pulling carefully choreographed attacks, with shots and defensive dives transforming into an aggressive ballet of sorts.
There’s more than a touch of Lara Croft about the intrepid heroine, and the general gameplay will feel familiar to fans of the Uncharted and Assassin’s Creed franchises, but none of that is a bad thing.
Aloy is a future gaming icon, and Horizon ultimately strikes a hard to master balance of intrigue, excitement and sheer awe.
Ultimately, it’s this world that makes the game a must buy. The storyline is deep and engaging, but once you’re done, you’ll still want to spend endless hours exploring the far reaches of what’s arguably one of the most visually impressive games of all time.
Follow Luke Johnson on Twitter: @johnsonjourno
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