Just picked up HORIZON Zero Dawn and... Wow. Just wow.
I know I am VERY late to the game on this one, but so far this game has eaten up 20+ hours in 3 days. For anyone who doesn't know, it's an open world action adventure (?) game set in the 31st century. Robotic animals roam the world, and you play an 18 year old girl that hunts them, utilizing bows, spears, slings, ans traps. It has a very primitive feel to it, so you can only assume this is either an alternate universe or a post apocalyptic earth.
While I've already had most of the plot spoiled for me, I'm enjoying all the little bits of lore I'm finding. I csnt wait to see how the plot plays out (as I said, it was spoiled, but only broad strokes, like knowing Vader is Luke's dad.) It's HARD sci-fi in a VIDEO GAME, not something shallow that's been done to death or that's too predictable.
I am severely overleveled, but combat is still fresh and challenging (playing on hard for my first play through.). There are so many different ways to approach situations, I can always change things around and try a different Tactic. I've had so much fun just going around farming and questing that I've ignored the main story for the most part.
The way the game handles its lore is phenomenal. I can't go into details without spoilers (just go read the wiki if you want to I suppose) but I'll save everything happens for a reason,and beautifully so.
Its not without its cons, however. As great as the combat is, a lot of the more difficult parts (so far) can be avoided by going out of bounds where enemies can't reach you (say a cliff or up a rock face, which if you can't climb, some careful jumping will take care of for you.)
It feels like some other games. I'm a big fan of open world, so its in the same family of MGSV, Farcry, and Shadow of Mordor, down to the map markers, collectibles, and inventory wheel. But hey, if it ain't broke don't fix it.
I picked up a PS4 (friend had two so just let me the spare) just to play this game and... honestly... I just can't really get into it.
I made it out of the starting area pretty quick, reasonably enjoying the gameplay. Unlocked the first town\fort not long after, and then entered into some underground place where machines were being made and then it just lost me. I could not figure out how to survive the last battle.
I find the combat difficult and tedious, either I spend 20mins setting up traps poorly, or it devolves into trying to smack the crap out of anything near me which of course ends up with me being beat-down fairly swiftly.
I've collected some old-world artefacts and read the logs and such and it just isn't gratifying for me :(
I've been told to preserver as it is a great game but I'm just finding it hard and unrewarding.
Yes, that mob was the first thing I ran into that made me go 'what the hell am I suppose to do about that?'
If you haven't sold it yet, I used a LOT of traps, trip wires, and freeze bombs to weaken it while rolling out of its way. It was challenging, but after a few minutes I took it down. Don't even bother going after the tank on its back, I had to unlock the shadow bow and it's arrow derivative before that even became practical, and even then it takes a while.
Also helpful, upgrade every ammo pouch you can and buy every weapon upgrade. It takes a LOT of hunting (animals and machines), but it's been worth it. Your armor too, depending on your playstyle. I use stealth for the most part so I have the Nora medium shadow armor.
Yes! HZD is one of my all-time favorite games, and if you ask me Guerrilla got robbed of a game award for this one. I need to slap an SSD in my PS4 so I can play the expansion - the snow physics in it are insane. I've never played any of the other games you compared it to, but I definitely enjoyed its brutality. Some situations were much harder to get out of than others at times, but overall I love the combat.
Can't wait to see what they bring to the table for HZD2
I ran into a thunderjaw exploring last night and nearly crapped my pants as I ran away. I've explored all of the Nora tribal lands and up to the one settlement far north (jakuta? I forget their name.)
I've just made it into the carja lands (had to finish gathering the first set of collectibles of course) and I only have a few machines left to discover, no idea how far I am in the story but the quest is lvl 12 and I'm lvl 23 haha.
I don't have a Ps4 pro, but I do have a hybrid drive; I also haven't picked up the dlc yet (wanted to finish the game,) do you think I'll have any frame rate issues or anything?
It's funny you mention Thunderjaws, I helped the gf out with beating one of those things recently. The trick is to use piercing arrows to take out its guns, then pick up its guns and use them against it. Or you can spam his back tank. There's one in one of the underground labs/bases - for the life of me I can't remember their actual name - and you're in a tight space to beat it. Be sure to use the in-game journal to read about enemies' weaknesses and strengths.
I have an OG PS4 and I'm surprised HZD runs as well as it does on it compared to some games like FFXV or Destiny. I play on my PC primarily now so I haven't even bought the xpac, but I'll notice frame drops every now and then in HZD. The hybrid drive should help, however I don't feel comfortable saying there's no way you wouldn't run into potential frame rate issues on a console.
I fought my first thunderjaw yesterday from a distance, didn't notice the guns until after the fact (I just set up traps and trip wires and hide haha). Just got to the main city (Meridian), upgraded most of my weapons, bought some new ones, and I'm working through my ammo bags now. Cleared out my second bunker thing (cauldron?) and had to fight a ravager and firebellow thing... That sucked. But again, trip wires and traps haha.
Firebellow! That's the one. My bad that's what I was thinking of. Thunderjaws are awfully similar in take-down methods though, don't be afraid to scan it mid-battle and highlight his weak points to focus on. I think Meridian has the bow I enjoy the most, but I want to say there's another camp (North-Northeast?) with a similar setup. Honestly I never used the traps in that game, but I used the trip wires from time to time. I cleared out a bunch of the cauldrons as soon as I could to be able to control the bigger ones, then you just pit them against each other and loot afterwards :)
I'm a huge fan of the bows so I walked around with 2-3 bows and a tripcaster. Always buff piercing and fire when you can, it'll help you out later (definitely piercing).
sigh maybe if there's ever a PC port. I've never been able to justify the expense and clutter of buying a PS4 when I can already keep myself entertained with the device I have.
I feel ya, I barely use my Ps4 anymore and I was hoping for a port, but I stopped holding my breath and picked it up on sale. I will say though, as nice as my gaming chair is for my pc, nothing beats sitting in a recliner in front of a 60 inch TV with a controller haha