Horizon Zero Dawn: A must-play work of art | Spoiler free review

Amazing graphics, awesome music, fun gameplay, great storyline, fantastic acting, spot-on character development - Horizon: Zero Dawn has it all.

Gripping story

From the moment the game starts, you know this is going to be a different gaming experience. We meet the main character as a baby, before she's even named, and you first play as Aloy as a child, your clunky movements as you learn the controls matching what we might expect of a child still learning.

In the early game, the story hinges on Aloy finding a place in her tribe. It feels important and immediate, and you want her to succeed. And then we're thrown into a much larger plot that is mind-blowing in its scope. I won't say more than that because this is a story you need to experience for yourself!

Epic setting

Tribal, wild, built on the ruins of an advanced civilization, with robotic creatures roaming the land,  this is an entirely unique world, unlike any I've ever seen before, in games, movies, television, or books (if you happen to know of a similar setting, please let me know in the comments!). 

This place is post-post-apocalyptic. You'll explore the ruins of a world far more advanced than our own, using a mishmash of high-tech and primal weaponry and items, while fighting crazy robot-dinosaur-animals. What's not to love?!

Life-like characters

All of the characters feel real and fleshed out, even the people you meet on side missions. This feels like a breathing world, where events are happening whether you participate in them or not. 

The characters are well-designed, with unique outfits and mannerisms, and the writing and voice acting bring them to life.

Challenging, fun gameplay

Varied weapons lend themselves to many different play styles, and it will take some experimentation to find your fit. In the end, every person who picks up the game will be able to find a play style that suits them. Do you sneak and strike from the shadows? Charge in? Set traps? Snipe from afar? A combination of all? It's up to you.

I played through on Normal, and more than once found myself thinking a quest couldn't be completed because it was just too hard -- until I tried again with a different strategy. Sometimes it took two or three tries, palms sweating and heart pounding, but I always got through, often feeling rewarded for the challenge.

Hypnotic music

As you're exploring, you get to listen to some of the best music I've heard in a game. Drum-driven and tribal with a touch of electronic, it suits the setting to a T. Never once did I get bored or annoyed with the auditory landscape the game presents.

The soundtrack has 80 songs and four hours of music. This is just one example of the artistic mastery that went into the game, and why it creates such an immersive experience.

Beautiful graphics

The graphics are stunning. You'll definitely find yourself pausing to take in the setting sun, or admiring the landscape from high vistas. 

Even people who aren't playing the game might have something to say -- more than once, my husband commented from the sidelines about how great the game looks.

Very few downsides

My least favourite part about Horizon was the platforming. The platforming is clunky and buggy. It can be hard to see the path you're supposed to take, and tricky to get the controls to do what you intended. 

When you do get it right, it's too easy -- the game does it all for you if you're pushing forward in the right direction. Maybe it's unfair to compare it to masters of platforming like Tomb Raider, but that's what I was expecting.

What did you think?

Did you play Horizon Zero Dawn? What were your impressions?