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> Horizon Zero Dawn, The Aloypreciation Thread
SubRosa
post Jul 10 2023, 09:35 PM
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So I bought the Horizon Zero Dawn Complete edition from Gog about a year ago, as it was eventually ported from the PS to the PC. I finally started playing it a few days ago.

I am hooked. It has been a lot of fun. The story is very strong, and really draws you in. It often feels like a film or prestige (i.e. expensive) TV series. You are given the character of Aloy to play, and follow her through her hero's journey. There are a few opening sequences from her childhood, where you learn that she is an outcast from birth, and is treated pretty shoddily by the regular people in her tribe. Then you fast forward to her young adulthood, as she prepares to compete in her tribe's hunter/warrior competition. Succeeding means that she will no longer be an outcast, and might get some answers about her mysterious origin (no one knows who her mother was). Then, stuff happens...

The world-building is really strong. The game developers make the tribe and its customs come alive. They draw very heavily from both hunter-gatherer societies in general, and Native Americans in particular. Then they add in some post-apocalypse for flavor. As Aloy I came across an elder giving a history lesson to the children that was fantastic. It gave the entire backstory of the world, as seen through the tribe's eyes.

Basically in the Before Times, humans had an advanced, industrial society. They built machines to serve them. If you have read or watched any science fiction, you know what happens next. The machines tricked the humans, rose up, and destroyed their society, and nearly wiped them all out. In the end the machine overlord was defeated. But humanity was sent back to the stone/iron age in the process. The machines are still out there too, roaming around on their own doing their machine things. But they are no longer driven by a single will to exterminate humans.

The machines are one of the things that drew me. They are robots that mimic life forms, mostly. You can see ones that are basically bulls, others that are antelope/ostriches, others that are big cats, etc.. Plus a few are just cosmic horror monsters. But most look and act like wild animals. People even hunt them in the same way, and scavenge parts from them to use in crafting. So in a way it is kind of a bow and arrow hunting sim, but you are hunting robots.

Some nuts and bolts. The game feels a lot like the recent Tomb Raider games. It has a lot of climbing, and jumping, and running along ropes, and other parkour stuff. How you do it is a lot more streamlined and easier to do, with much less specific button pushing. For example, you don't have a push a button to hang on to a ledge, you just do it automatically. If you jump and catch a zipline, you just press the forward movement and jump key. Then you automatically catch the line and slide down without doing anything else. The same with running across posts. If they are near to one another, you don't even need to use the jump key. You just push the forward button and Aloy goes from post to post.

So simple is good.

The save system is exactly like it is in Tomb Raider. You have to find a campfire and activate it. That is the only way you can save. The game also creates autosaves are certain points during quests. Though it is not clear when it does so. But at least that means if you get killed during one, you might not have to go all the way back to the start again. I really, really don't like this. I cannot understand why they don't let you save anywhere, anytime, like we have been doing since the original Castle Wolfenstien over 30 years ago.

There is a lot of loot, and a lot of crafting. You can find or buy weapons and armor. Then you can craft ammo for your bows or slings or tripewire casters. They come in different varieties, like fire arrows, frost shot, electric wires, etc... Each element has a different side effect, such as electricity briefly stuns enemies. Weapons and armor also have upgrade slots, which you can plug items called coils into for bonus effects. You can loot them from machines you kill.

It is a somewhat open world. Once you are past the basic tutorial sections and really start playing as an adult, you are given access to one region of the world map. You can explore it at you leisure, do side quests, etc... But to get beyond it you have to advance in the main quest. At a certain point you are allowed to leave the starting zone, and you go on to the next one. So it is not like an Elder Scrolls game where you can immediately go wherever you want. Again, it feels more like a Tomb Raider game, where you are going from zone to zone. I am not sure if you need to advance the main quest to open every zone yet or not, as I have only gotten to the second one. There are about 6 or 7 in total.

The combat is very exciting, with a focus on bows, though you always have a spear as well, plus can use other weapons. But it starts out at least very bow heavy. Which I like. The machines have both unique components as well as armor plates that you can shoot off with precision shots, which are not that hard to make actually. Doing so weakens them significantly, so it is better than just blasting at them in general. They also often behave like animals, so they will get spooked and run in herds. You can use some strategy, and set up tripwires in advance where you think they will run, then circle around to the other side and start shooting. Then they will run straight into your traps. I like a game that rewards thinking like that.

It's easy to get killed. You don't have a whole lot of health. Healing is down by collecting medicinal plants that go into your healing bag. You press a dedicated button, and you get healed. It is not instant, but a steady increase over several seconds. There is only a limited number of medicine plants you can carry at one time, so in a long fight you can run completely out and be unable to heal anymore. Or you can take so much damage so fast, there is no time for the regular healing to work. There are healing potions that you can use as well, which are instant however.

The skill/perk system looks a lot like Assassin's Creed Odyssey. You buy each with experience points, and they give you bonuses in things like sneak attacks, scavenging, and the like. I am not really thrilled with the ones they offer. ACO has three perk trees with very specific types of skills, one for bows, one for melee, and one for sneaking/assassination. Horizon Zero Dawn has them sort of just scattered around at random. There are a bunch of perks for spears, but not really a lot for ranged weapons. Which seems odd, as this game heavily favors the slow, careful, hunter style over being a melee brick.

You can fast travel, but it uses resources called travel kits that you can buy or craft. So you are limited in doing it. There are mounts you can get as well. As you go through the game, you learn how to hack certain machines, and you can then use them as mounts. It did not feel very well implemented however. There are separate keys to speed up or slow down, which you have to go back and forth between as you move. Which is clunky. Even Oblivion and Skyrim did it better, where you just push the forward move arrow, and you moved forward. Stopped pushing the key, and your horse stopped. Plus a sprint key to go faster.

I found some mods that improve things. The main one is Gameplay Tweaks and Cheat Menu allows you to save anytime, anywhere. It also has a bunch of other tweaks you can use, like skipping the opening logos, etc... A caveat, you have to have the very latest version of the game for it, and I do mean the very latest. I had to use Gog Galaxy and update my game through it, rather than the offline install files, which it turns out are not the latest game version.

Remove Fall Damage helps a lot.

Ammo and Inventory Carrying Capacity Upgrades boosts how much stuff you can carry. This is a blessing. Because I forgot to mention, you start out only being able to carry 20 arrows. That is not nearly enough. I would often use half my arrows on a single enemy. Sometimes I had to literally craft more arrows in the middle of combat because I ran out. Increasing that made the game a lot more enjoyable, as I was not stopping to craft arrows constantly.


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WellTemperedClavier
post Jul 10 2023, 10:41 PM
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I played this a year or two ago!

I really liked the setting. It's a fresh spin on the post-apocalyptic genre (and a welcome change from the endless deserts associated with the same). The various cultures you run into are also a lot of fun, since they are unique cultures that seem to have organically developed within their milieu (geography, culture, etc).

Modern open-world games don't usually do much for me. Something about the presentation just makes the settings feel too much like checklists. But the setting of Horizon Zero Dawn was interesting enough to make up for this, and I think the limited fast travel also helped it feel more visceral.

Unfortunately, I don't think the sequel is available for the PC, though I may pick it up if it's ever released.
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Acadian
post Jul 10 2023, 11:47 PM
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WooHoo! I bought the HZD collection on Gog quite some time ago but have been waiting for someone like SubRosa to venture out there and give us a report before I install and try it. Wonderful observations that add to what I've been able to learn about the game. Love your take on modding - yeah, save anywhere/time is a big deal and glad there's a mod for that. Will certainly follow your adventures here and refer back to this thread when I eventually do try it. Balancing ESO, DII Resurrected and Conan Exiles right now.


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SubRosa
post Jul 11 2023, 01:11 AM
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I have been doing a little more experimenting with the spear today. I found that if you hide in the tall red grass (you will know it when you play the game), you can use a perk called Lure Call. It will attract the nearest machine to you. Then you can lie in wait until it comes close. Then you can do a Silent Strike. There are also perks that improve your damage for this assassination style attack.

It tends to one shot machines, and it does so quietly. So it does not spook the others in the herd. If you are careful, you can pick off an entire pack one machine at a time this way.

IGN has a decent guide of the game, with an interactive map

Gamepressure also has a good guide

Something I neglected to mention is your Focus. It is a minicomputer that snaps onto the side of your head. It allows you to interface with electronics and read emails, video and hologram recordings. It also is useful before combat, as it can see enemies through trees and walls. You can use it to mark every foe. When you turn if off, they remained marked. So it is like the eagle in Assassin's Creed Odyssey, which you can use to scout out a location and mark all the enemies.

Another thing that seems pretty important is the Ancient Armory side quest. You have to collect 5 power cells from around the game world. Then you can use them to unlock a bunker with a suit of armor. I think it is the best armor in the game. Two of those power cells are in the early part of the game, so you want to make sure you scarf them up in the beginning of the game.

The first one you can find is in the Bunker Ruins that you explore as a child in the tutorial. You can go back as an adult in the first zone in the game. What I did not know here is that there are stalagmites which block off some rooms. You can use your spear to break them down, and enter those spaces. Of course the game never tells you that. You have to read about in in a guide.

The second is in the All-Mother mountain, which is a quest-locked area. You get into it early in the main quest. When you are inside be sure to explore everywhere. There is a locked door with a red glowing knob. Look to the left of it to find a little tunnel to get you inside.


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TheCheshireKhajiit
post Jul 11 2023, 01:34 AM
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I always thought this game looked interesting, kind of a retrofuturistic prehistory kind of thing. For some reason, I just can’t bring myself to look at it very closely though. Something about it just… loses me, for lack of a better expression. It might be the machine creatures.


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treydog
post Jul 11 2023, 11:56 AM
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Horizon Zero Dawn is one of my Top 5 games. The greater part of that is due to the writing. There are moments that still resonate with me- an example is when Aloy breaks a machine siege and one of the soldiers shouts, "Praise the Sun!" She mutters to herself, "It wasn't the 'Sun' out here risking its ass!"

Yes, the game is "eye-candy," but NOT at the expense of game play, or writing, or characterization. The organic way the backstory unfolds is fascinating, and the machine behavior and appearance equally so. The awe I felt on first encountering a Thunderjaw...

Naturally, we learn more about Aloy, as she is the "playable character". However, she also meets and interacts with a number of NPCs who are much more than props for "her story". There is a genuine feeling that these folks have lives and motivations.

A quick note on that armor SubRosa mentioned- it will absolutely make the final fight in the game more survivable.


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Lena Wolf
post Jul 11 2023, 12:38 PM
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QUOTE(TheCheshireKhajiit @ Jul 11 2023, 01:34 AM) *

I always thought this game looked interesting, kind of a retrofuturistic prehistory kind of thing. For some reason, I just can’t bring myself to look at it very closely though. Something about it just… loses me, for lack of a better expression.

My sentiment exactly. My hubby plays it regularly, we have all the editions on PS4. I quite enjoy half-watching him play it, but it isn't attractive to me to play it myself. Because then I'd have to be watching it with both eyes, I suppose. wink.gif


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SubRosa
post Jul 12 2023, 01:36 AM
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I find myself wondering of the name Aloy is inspired by alloy, in keeping with the machine theme. Also because she



Aloy

Moonlight

Tallboy

Footprints


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Acadian
post Jul 12 2023, 12:38 PM
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Thanks for the great screens!

So Aloy is actually the first GMO heroine? tongue.gif


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macole
post Jul 12 2023, 04:43 PM
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It is a good looking game that's for sure.


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SubRosa
post Jul 15 2023, 06:04 AM
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Where's Aloy?

Sacred Lotus

Into the machine world

The machines seem to be using a black hole for garbage disposal

A red sun rises, blood has been spilled this night

Twilight

Mountains

Snowing


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Renee
post Jul 15 2023, 01:06 PM
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Jeeezz these are gorgeous. Really love the red sun picture.


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Acadian
post Jul 15 2023, 04:04 PM
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Found her!

Absolutely gorgeous looking game!


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Kane
post Jul 19 2023, 05:55 PM
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Loved the write-up, Sub. It is indeed a fantastic game and I loved the take on "machines rising" that story delivers.


The sequel is supposedly just as good if not better - but I'm still waiting for the GOG port. Sony isn't great about sharing until a couple years pass.


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SubRosa
post Jul 19 2023, 09:04 PM
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I hear that a third game is in the works. My guess is that when it drops, Sony will release a port of the second game on PC.


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Kane
post Jul 19 2023, 09:14 PM
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That'd be my luck.


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SubRosa
post Aug 1 2023, 10:02 AM
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Waterfalls

Sliding

Mount Doom

Distant Mountains



Well, I beat the game like a red-haired Nora step-child. The story was really good. This would make for an excellent prestige TV show. I guessed at most of what had happened in the past. Especially after finding an ancient recording about thousands of human zygotes being prepared. But it was still absolutely chilling when I finally learned the details.

I liked the villains in it, especially Ted Faro, the villain from past. He reminds me so much of the tech-bro billionaire morons who plague us today. He was an idiot who failed upward, riding the coat tails of far smarter and more competent people, like Elisabet Sobeck. Then he ended all life on the planet because he literally did not know what he was talking about when he demanded that his war bots be built with no back doors to override control of them. He is a man who never once thought about the consequences of his actions, because his entire life his privilege always shielded him from ever suffering consequences in the first place.

The modern day villain of Hades was a really good robot villain. I think it was a much more realistic version of an AI/robot being a monster. It is not because it became self-aware and decided to wipe out humanity. It was simply doing what it was created to do. It is like a car that rolls over its owner and crushes them, because they forgot to put it in park.

Most of all I really liked Aloy. She is a very cool character to hang out with. She is kind, compassionate, curious, and fierce. She knows how it feels to be an outsider, which alone makes her easy to empathize with. That is something everyone can relate to at one time or another. She reminds me a lot of January, and makes the same kind of decisions, because deep down they are both simply good, hopeful people at heart.


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Acadian
post Aug 1 2023, 08:01 PM
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I'm so glad you played this so I could get your perspective on the game. As I've said, I did buy it on supersale at GoG some time ago but have not installed it yet.

Beautiful screenshots again!

Some Buffywaterfalls, sliding over the flaming Deadlands, Red Mountain, and northern Skyrim. tongue.gif


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