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Horizon Zero Dawn: Complete Edition Review by Jadyn Rodrigues

Jadyn Rodrigues

· Reviewed on PS4

8.8

One of the final open world games released during the PS4's lifetime, however, arguably one of the best.

Pros:

  • Gameplay is stellar. You have a variety of options as to how you want to play, whether it be close-up with the spear, or far with the bow.
  • The game has a range of difficulty options. This is especially helpful for newer and casual players. Also there are harder difficulty options for experienced players.
  • Moreover, 'New Game +' is included as well for better re-playability.
  • The graphics of the game are incredible, showing detailing in each and every object. They are fleshed out even more on the PS4 Pro, where (as to my knowledge) the game is displayed in native 4K.
  • It also boasts an impressive soundtrack that complements each moment of the game extremely well.
  • Despite all of that, the game's true calling lies in its story. It weaves a spectacular and intricate tale about life after the fall of mankind. This unique plot is what propelled it to become a Game of the Year nominee.
  • Regarding the complete edition, it contains all of the DLC already. This means that players can access the Frozen Wilds early on in the game, which makes for an interesting gaming experience.

Cons:

  • The meticulous plot can be a curse too, more so to newer players. Casual players may find it a lot to take in and can have trouble understanding it.
  • The gameplay has a bit of a learning curve, which hinders first-time playthroughs.
  • However, the most insinuating part of the game are the loading times. This game takes an unreal amount of time to load. It's absurd. This is what hinders its playability. While it has been improved since launch with patches, the loading times still take way too long to be considered good. This needs to be fixed in the sequel.
  • The Complete Edition can be a bit pricey.

Speaking of the sequel though, 'Horizon Forbidden West' is scheduled to release later this year. It looks amazing so far from trailers and gameplay footage and it improves a lot on the existing systems within Horizon Zero Dawn (HZD). Therefore HZD will provide context or a refresher for fans when the sequel inevitably arrives.

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