Happy Nintendo Switch release day! To those who have snagged this new console, I hope ya enjoy it. I’m stuck to sticking to my policy of wanting three games before I invest in a new console. That means I probably won’t be on the Switch train until they release some themed version that I MUST have, or there is some software that makes me salivate to a point that I must go shopping. Then again, I hear the new Zelda game is totally legit! We’ll see how long I last on holding off.
While I am only watching people enjoy their new Nintendo Switch console, I’m in PS4 land enjoying Horizon Zero Dawn. I really shouldn’t have picked this game up, but I am weak…and money is just a thing…and screw being an adult and making adult like decisions. So I preordered the game on PSN last week and then watched a countdown clock tick away until the game unlocked at 11PM CST on Monday. Thank you pre-loading! Little did I know just how addicted I would become.
Horizon Zero Dawn is an interesting mix of genres. There is a bit of fantasy blended with sci-fi. It might sound weird having a hero that hunts mechanical animals with a bow and arrow, but the story works well to make this a believable thing that could actually happen. Yes, you still storm bandit camps and find old towns, but you also go spelunking in nifty machine hideaways. There are times that I feel like I am Neo and I’m about to save all of humanity. Other times, I feel like I’m Red Sonja and the spear is the only way to resolve conflicts. Like I mentioned, it’s a wonderful combination of fantasy and sci-fi.
The other aspect of the game that has me playing into the wee hours of the morning is the photo mode. The game is stunning to see. The lighting, weather changes, and how the time of day changes the visual presentation is just fantastic. If you know some fundamentals of photography, you’ll even get more out of the photo mode. I often find myself roaming the lands looking for a spot to pose for a selfie.
I’m roughly twenty hours into Horizon Zero Dawn. I have no idea how long the game will take me to complete. There are just enough side quests to keep me going from one campfire to the next, but not so many that I feel oppressively overwhelmed. The story is enjoyable. The combat feels solid and challenging when it needs to be. The whole package is just well done. If you haven’t snagged anything new lately, and you’re in the need for a new world to check out, give this title some consideration.
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