"Horizon Zero Dawn: a game you won't soon forget!

I feel like I spent last weekend in a trance-like state. After receiving my test sample in an incredibly short space of time, I immersed myself body and soul in the never-before-seen world of "Horizon Zero Dawn". And what a journey it was! This post-apocalyptic universe, populated by mechanical dinosaurs and enemy tribes that Aloy, the hunter with a big heart, must fight, held me spellbound like no other game has done for a long time.

Yet "Horizon Zero Dawn" (exclusively on PS4) is a classic open-world game. Influences from "Far Cry", "Tomb Raider" and, to a certain extent, "The Witcher" can clearly be felt. "Horizon Zero Dawn takes the best ingredients of the genre's benchmarks and combines them to serve up a veritable feast. Here, in a nutshell, are the reasons why this game should, for many, be the game of the year.

A never-before-seen world and a breathtaking story

"Horizon Zero Dawn" takes place in the distant future. An obscure event has reduced the world to ashes. A great deal of time has passed and new tribes have appeared. Humans have lost their status as super predators to a species of robotic dinosaurs. At the heart of this world is Aloy. An outcast living on the lands of the Nora tribe. This peerless hunter will find herself entangled in a turbulent story, where murder, tribal conflict and the mystery of mythical creatures dominate.

The exceptionally good dialogue (performed in English by Ashly Burch as Aloy) means that you learn more and more about this world and its inhabitants. The potential of the storyline is extraordinary and fully exploited by the developers at Guerilla Games. You'll regularly be asked to choose your own answers - just like in "Mass Effect". This has no real influence on the game, but it does make you feel more involved than passively listening.

The game sets its scene in a vast world, rich in diversity. There's no room for boredom in this ever-changing environment, which shifts from snow-capped peaks to dense jungle or an orange-hued canyon. Your journeys will be peppered with ruins buried beneath the vegetation, the remains of civilisations long extinct.

There's so much to do, too much to do

But finally, what do you do all day long? As previously mentioned, "Horizon Zero Dawn" offers you a huge open playground. It's up to you, where you want to go. There are no loading times between the different regions. The further away you are from the starting zone, the higher the level of your opponents. You've been warned! Fortunately, you can also pass levels by accumulating skill points. In addition to the main quest, there are countless other things to do that will distract you from your initial objective. I've taken on hunters' challenges, followed the trail of a missing husband or unravelled the mystery of a village massacre. Most of the time, it ends up in a fight with some fantastic and clever robot dinos, which you pierce with your arrows. So you have a bow as your main weapon, but I'll come back to that later.

The side quests aren't quite as challenging as in the benchmark game "The Witcher 3", but they're definitely more entertaining than the classic gathering quests in other games of this type.

The focus, a small device clipped to Aloy's skull, will be a great help. It looks like a Bluetooth headset. It allows you to scan your surroundings and detects interesting opponents and objects/targets. Thanks to the focus, you can also spot your opponents' weak points.

You're no doubt familiar with those towers, which you have to climb in most Ubisoft games. They're there to reveal your surroundings. "Horizon Zero Dawn" offers something similar, only much cooler. Here, the towers are called Tallnecks and look like 100-metre-high giraffes with a tray on their heads. You have to climb them and hack them. But as these giants are constantly moving, you first have to find the right springboard to jump on. A highly entertaining task!

You'll also come across mysterious ruins, which are supposed to reveal more about the strange robot dinos, but which mostly raise new questions. Graphically, they're fascinating and a superb counterpoint to the surface fauna.

By completing all these side challenges, you also cover your map with symbols. And because I can't resist wanting to do everything in this type of game, I never fail to get tangled up in the side missions. Fortunately, they don't feel like they're just there to artificially prolong the game.

Collecting and crafting

Each animal and robot creature you eliminate earns you loot. This means you can craft new ammunition or swap the contents of the loot for additional weapons and equipment from the merchant. You also pull up weeds and branches, as if your parents had assigned you the chore of weeding. You need so much of this stuff that most of the time you leave your mount behind and go on foot. Guerilla Games has gone a little overboard here. You constantly have to chase after hares, boars and foxes to use their skin and bones. And, as if "World of Warcraft" didn't annoy us enough 10 years ago, not all animals will provide you with these items. WTF?

Action, without weariness

With weapons, on the other hand, the studio has got it right. You have a whole arsenal of trait weapons at your disposal, projecting flaming arrows, ice bombs or electronic traps. However, not all projectiles are compatible with all bows. It's up to you to decide whether you prefer to play with fire or use arrows that pierce armour. Without the right weapons, you won't be able to get rid of your tough opponents.

The singular robotic creatures are at the heart of the plot. They're clearly inspired by dinosaurs, but their design is original all the same. When you touch them, they lose some of their loose parts, and when you land the final blow a cloud of sparks shoots out. But getting there is a long-term battle. These mechanical beings require resources. If the human opponents aren't very smart, the dinosaurs are, on the other hand, cunning and unpredictable.

Spectacular graphics

The icing on the cake of "Horizon Zero Dawn" is its stunning graphics. Not since "The Witcher 3" and "Uncharted 4" have I heard myself say, "Holy cow, look at that! ". And I can't get enough of it. Lush landscapes dotted with sparkling lakes give way to snow-capped peaks and arid desert regions. The incredibly realistic settings are packed with detail. The weather is no exception, with the sweltering sun disappearing beneath torrential rain and snowstorms. Thanks to HDR technology, the contrast rendition is fabulous, especially at night. When the moon filters its rays through the trees and partially illuminates Aloy's face, the chiaroscuro is staggering.

This attention to detail is also remarkable in the treatment of the inhabitants. Their outfits are inspired by the traditional costumes of indigenous peoples, mingled with trophies plucked from mechanical wildlife.

This attention to detail is also remarkable in the treatment of the inhabitants.

Conclusion: an unexpected masterpiece

I never imagined I'd be this excited about "Horizon Zero Dawn". The trailer hinted at a solid game, but I didn't expect it to be this impressive. My expectations of the developers of the 'Killzone' series have largely been met. I wish them every success in the future, and hope that the sequels will live up to their expectations and free up even more of my free time - and yours. "Horizon Zero Dawn grabbed me and didn't let go. Its incomparable universe and sympathetic heroine set a new record for open-world games. An adventure not to be missed under any circumstances!

"Horizon Zero Dawn" releases on 1 March, exclusively on PS4

Game consoles

Sony PS4 Slim 500GB + Horizon: Zero Dawn

Video games

Sony Horizon: Zero Dawn

PS4

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