Comparing Horizon Zero Dawn and TLoZ: BoTW
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When I saw Horizon I was blown away. But I don't have a PS4 or anything like that so I'll probably never play it. -___- I hope it's a fun experience for everyone who gets it though.
Zelda however, usually has fans going insane every time it is shown. One of the things that separates Zelda from all other games is the dungeon design. Zelda fans know it will be there...it's the meat and potatoes of every entry in the series and quite honestly every title has gotten BETTER with it's dungeons' puzzle designs. Puzzles keep getting more intricate and the themes of each dungeon more elaborate and mind-blowing. Nintendo has gotten super clever, especially with their new mechanics (the Wall mechanic in A Link Between Worlds for instance) Assuming BoTW doesn't ditch that trend, it is basically an amazing game already and all the cute hunting and climbing and exploring stuff is just a huge freaking bonus.
Sooo...If Horizon was a game that was great...but also had, like...Portal style puzzle designs meshed into it...that would basically be something that would make me throw my hands in the air and buy it.
When I look at most open world games it's a huge pass. But with Zelda...I know what I'm getting into. I know Nintendo will make clever level designs instead of just giving me a few tools to play with.
Hopefully I'm not wrong about this assumption...
Zelda however, usually has fans going insane every time it is shown. One of the things that separates Zelda from all other games is the dungeon design. Zelda fans know it will be there...it's the meat and potatoes of every entry in the series and quite honestly every title has gotten BETTER with it's dungeons' puzzle designs. Puzzles keep getting more intricate and the themes of each dungeon more elaborate and mind-blowing. Nintendo has gotten super clever, especially with their new mechanics (the Wall mechanic in A Link Between Worlds for instance) Assuming BoTW doesn't ditch that trend, it is basically an amazing game already and all the cute hunting and climbing and exploring stuff is just a huge freaking bonus.
Sooo...If Horizon was a game that was great...but also had, like...Portal style puzzle designs meshed into it...that would basically be something that would make me throw my hands in the air and buy it.
When I look at most open world games it's a huge pass. But with Zelda...I know what I'm getting into. I know Nintendo will make clever level designs instead of just giving me a few tools to play with.
Hopefully I'm not wrong about this assumption...
LordKasual
Banned
Well, sure
I'm not diving into the meat of this post because i don't really see the point
This is a...fine thing to do, i mean there's nothing wrong with comparing these two games. But it's just an odd thing to devote a thread to. Especially seeing as neither game has even been released yet.
I'm being reminded of the people who compared Persona 5 to Final Fantasy XV before either of those were released, strictly off the fact that they shared the common title of "JRPG". Which, to some people, makes them competitors. For some asinine reason or the other. Of course, this means absolutely nothing when it comes to the games themselves, their audiences, their scale, their ambitions, their gameplay, ect. In that case, it was nothing more than a thinly veiled attempt to bash one game and praise another of a certain preference. But the games themselves were so far removed from eachother that even finding a logical starting point wasn't even worth attempting.
This really isn't much different. The things that make BotW impressive and the things that make HZD impressive aren't only completely different, they're in tiers that are so far removed from eachother that it's surprising that people somehow find a common ground to compare them.
This pretty much explains the entire thread concept without going into any detail.
You've all but admitted in this paragraph that the games have very little common features that would warrant a serious comparison. But you want to do it anyway.
There is nothing to compare, because HZD and BotW are not even remotely comparable in visuals. Scroll up, look at the pictures. There is no amount of art direction that will bridge the gap between the visuals of these two games.
I think BotW is a beautiful game, i love cel-shaded visuals. But putting it up against HZD is literally an unfair comparison to make. You might as well be comparing a PS3 game to a PC game on Ultra.
You should have just made a "I'm going to gush about Breath of the Wild now" thread instead of finding the most impressive looking game on a SIGNIFICANTLY more capable console to use as a polishing stone.
Soapbox Killer
Grand Nagus
Didn't wanna start a new thread and I heard chatter about this today so I figured I'd ask about it on GAF.
This is my dilemma. I have no idea which one to play first. I may play Zelda first while I save up for a PS4Pro then start Horizon.
Wishmaster92
Member
What? No, just no....
Dude, The game is set in the distant future, dont forget about evolution and stuff like that..Nah dude. It doesn't just look that way, it is that way.
Let's take a closer look
If I may direct your gaze to the highlighted red, you can see that the forearm tapers into it at one end, and widens at the other end into a palm/backhand. This is consistent with human wrist proportions. There is no way the armguard covers the hand, unless Aloy's are grossly misshapen. That's her wrist.
With this in mind we can now compare the backhand area with her fingers (green highlight). As you can see, they are abnormally, one might say hideously long. What's worse is we can already tell this despite the fact that they are curled around the bow, meaning they are even disgustingly longer when not.
Don't wan't to believe me? Focus on her middle finger. It's stupidly lengthy.
As small an issue as this may be for most of you, this is an undeniable fail on the part of the graphic/character designers, for a game that supposedly tried to depict humans in realistic detail as AAA games usually do. It's a shame that tens of millions of dollars likely went into Horizon's development but their models can fall prey to such abysmal oversight.
DUDE!
Tell me more about the future, Nintendoman.
Well, after the Switch fails spectacularly and Nintendo goes third party, what difference will it make?
Psycho_Mantis
Banned
Worried about both of their combat systems and open world nature. Zelda looks to have a barebones combat system (as usual, though the physics aspect is a much needed layer) while Horizon seems to lack variety. Zelda's world looks quite ugly and barren while Horizon's looks beautiful but filled with needless intricacies and markers.
DriftingSpirit
Member
That can be customized.
MegaSackman
Member
How are the stories in Zelda games? I've only played Ocarina of Time and A Link to the Past and both were simplistic excuses for the game to happen.
Horizon could possibly have a bad story but I think it has much more interest in telling one than Zelda... or this changed over the years?
Horizon could possibly have a bad story but I think it has much more interest in telling one than Zelda... or this changed over the years?
DriftingSpirit
Member
Of course Gaf can't just have a decent discussion on a comparison between what seem like two very high quality games.
Gotta tear them down and make them seem like garbage.
SolidSnakex
Member
Basically all the previews are praising Horizon's combat left and right. It's worth keeping in mind that the gaming inspirations for Horizon were Monster Hunter, Binary Domain, and Dragon's Dogma.
People have had actual hands on gameplay and impressions seem very positive.
NHarmonic.
Member
Lol people acting like a zelda open world game is the second coming. Doing the exact same shit devs have been doing since years ago, but now physics. Ok.
At least horizon has robot dinosaurs, and isn't afraid to have a female main character instead of a hollow avatar nintendo fans have glorified for ages and protected from any criticism against it.
Both look great. Both terrify me because I'm usually not a big "open world" gamer, but I hope to buy and play them eventually, starting with Zelda - if reviews are as positive as the early impressions have been for Horizon, I'm gonna be fighting my instincts to avoid not just ordering Horizon and attempting to juggle my way through both, but I really don't want to because that always ends in failure.
It's a shame they're releasing so close to each other and making me choose =/ but yeah, I'll grab Horizon as soon as I have a gap in my awaited-games schedule. The Zelda-Persona 2 punch combo is already pushing that to like June...
It's a shame they're releasing so close to each other and making me choose =/ but yeah, I'll grab Horizon as soon as I have a gap in my awaited-games schedule. The Zelda-Persona 2 punch combo is already pushing that to like June...
BOTW is told in a new way.might be terrible, might be good
tkscz
Member
Combat looks to be changed from previous 3D Zeldas.
JetSetRadio
Banned
That grass.
Hispanic! At the Disco
Member
I bought a PS4 for Horizon and I'm buying a Switch for Zelda.
Why are they out the same week! Too much excitement!
Why are they out the same week! Too much excitement!
Wind Waker, Twilight Princess and Skyward Sword are actually pretty good story wise heck even Zelda Spirit Tracks is. Majora's Mask also is pretty good storywise. BotW looks like it's improving even more on story. It certainly got better over the years.
I will get both so i am not going the even compare these 2 games both will be fantastic and thats what matters imo.
DriftingSpirit
Member
I do too, however, I am not drawn in to the setting of Horizon. Never been one for Dinosaurs or prehistoric type settings. Completely turns me off.
geordiemp
Member
They both look good, although my thoughts with all open world games is how fucking empty they appear.
Reminds me of dragon age inquisition where 5 enemies would spawn as you come into the designated area - give me 10 things on screen at least.
I am not sure how BOTW or Horizon stand up to the empty 5 things spawning criteria, every video I have seen suggests this (although one horizon vid had a busy village).
I still think various interconnected maps with busy towns is much more interesting (think shadow of mordor population density).
Every BOTW video looks empty or has up to 5 enemies in set places......I hope to be proved wrong.
Reminds me of dragon age inquisition where 5 enemies would spawn as you come into the designated area - give me 10 things on screen at least.
I am not sure how BOTW or Horizon stand up to the empty 5 things spawning criteria, every video I have seen suggests this (although one horizon vid had a busy village).
I still think various interconnected maps with busy towns is much more interesting (think shadow of mordor population density).
Every BOTW video looks empty or has up to 5 enemies in set places......I hope to be proved wrong.
Comparing a brand new IP to a game series that's been made for decades
Its like comparing Zelda to Okami, love Okami way more though
DriftingSpirit
Member
From what I have seen (I am on blackout though), there has only been one dino creature and a myriad of regular wildlife. This isn't prehistoric either.
Franz Brötchen
Banned
Judging by your post history, you have a strange definition of blackout, though. Unless you don't read any other post in the Horizon threads, how isn't every comment with a GIF or image a spolier?
Zelda fans should not cast judgment on Horizon, not yet. I'm far more excited for Zelda because it is Zelda, and that really clouds my judgement when it comes to the level of hype I have for these games.
I'll have to play both and see what they have in store, I'll have to wait quite a while until I can cast a fair judgement on my preference.
Having said that, Horizon looks absolutely wonderful, I'm sure it will be an excellent game as well.
I'll have to play both and see what they have in store, I'll have to wait quite a while until I can cast a fair judgement on my preference.
Having said that, Horizon looks absolutely wonderful, I'm sure it will be an excellent game as well.
Horizon is incredibly beautiful, but the world itself is just a backdrop for the combat and story. The grass clips straight through Aloy, the trees and cool-looking windmills and mountains can't be climbed. While Breath of the Wild is less visually impressive, its world seems much more alive and tangible.
This isn't a knock on Horizon; the games just have completely different priorities and perhaps more differences than commonalities. If they weren't coming out around the same time I don't think people would be comparing them.
Vanguard771
Member
Once both games are out I wouldn't mind having an actual comparison thread as long as the discussion remains civil.
DecoReturns
Member
Horizon feels more comparable to Xenoblade then Zelda honestly.
DriftingSpirit
Member
I haven't read any of the previews or watched any vids. I have only seen a gif here or there (and it has been more of what I have already seen long ago) and some select quotes from articles.Franz Brötchen;229453944 said:
Let's call it a "flexible" blackout lol.
I got upgraded to a PS4 Pro for Christmas, and Horizon looks to be the first real showpiece for it (as well as looking like a great Witcher style game on its own).
I'm a little worried that even if Zelda is great and I'm not burnt out by open world gameplay I'll be underwhelmed by its fidelity.
I'm very excited for both though.
I'm a little worried that even if Zelda is great and I'm not burnt out by open world gameplay I'll be underwhelmed by its fidelity.
I'm very excited for both though.
Neoleo2143
Member
Except it's pursuing a design most open world devs have completely abandoned. Most rely on map icons and "dotted Lines" to guide the player instead of smart world design. There are exceptions like Deus Ex and Dark Souls 1 but these are the exceptions and not the rule. To me, I see a lot more classic RPG DNA in Zelda than I do modern open world formula. And that's such a rarity that I can't help but praise it for being risky with its core design.
It's not that open world or physics engine are awesome by themselves, you have to take into account that Zelda games are usually really good games. They are really polished gameplay wise and generally with great art styles. Those are almost always critically acclaimed games.
Now mix that with modern games, open world, physic engine, no hand holding and so on. This is why there is so much hype, because the series is really evolving, not just because it's an open world.
I will buy a switch to play BotW and for the first time I'm considering buying a Ps4 later for Horizon (and others) maybe.
BotW will be shat upon by its fans and then remembered fondly after its sequel releases. So it may be less than 5 years depending on when the sequel is made.
Your Mario avatar is showing.
Is this the new "Guerrilla never made a good game"?
Neoleo2143
Member
Nier Automata will be better than both!
Come at me bro's
That...might not be wrong lol.
I do have my share of Grievances with Nier Automata, after my positive eaction with the Demo and that's every time the core gameplay gets mixed up in that game it seems worse. It's concerning alongside the lack of lock on for higher difficulties. But Full controller customization in a Platinum game is A-OK by me.
On paper/at first glace Horizon really should wipe the floor with Zelda. But there's something about Breath of the Wild that just seems to...have a bit more heart. It's hard to articulate without sounding like a Zelda fanboy (which, while I'm a fan, I won't just blindly defend it), but there's something about the sparseness and character of Zelda that just wins me over. Things like Link shivering in the cold, to fire weapons being useless in the rain, to the overall meditative nature of it all, it just seems incredible to me.
None of that is to rag on Horizon. I've had that game preordered for years, and I can't fucking wait to play it. The visuals look incredible, the story is intriguing (though I'd be lying if I said I have a ton of confidence in Guerilla here), and the game just looks fun. But it also looks like a video game, in a way that Zelda doesn't. But things like that NPC interaction that made the rounds yesterday, things like that show the cracks in the surface and kind of go "this thing is gorgeous as all hell, but make no mistake, it's a video game and you're going to be doing video game things just like you do in other video games". And again, that's totally fine.
It's like, Horizon is a Disney movie while Zelda is a Ghibli movie. I love them both, but for different reasons. They cater to similar markets and can touch on similar subjects, but they just feel different. I can completely sympathize with why some people prefer the constant engagement of a Pixar movie over the more passive tranquility of a Ghibli, that's purely a matter of taste.
But Disney movies are common as hell, and I don't get Ghibli film's too often, so I'm excited as hell Zelda.
None of that is to rag on Horizon. I've had that game preordered for years, and I can't fucking wait to play it. The visuals look incredible, the story is intriguing (though I'd be lying if I said I have a ton of confidence in Guerilla here), and the game just looks fun. But it also looks like a video game, in a way that Zelda doesn't. But things like that NPC interaction that made the rounds yesterday, things like that show the cracks in the surface and kind of go "this thing is gorgeous as all hell, but make no mistake, it's a video game and you're going to be doing video game things just like you do in other video games". And again, that's totally fine.
It's like, Horizon is a Disney movie while Zelda is a Ghibli movie. I love them both, but for different reasons. They cater to similar markets and can touch on similar subjects, but they just feel different. I can completely sympathize with why some people prefer the constant engagement of a Pixar movie over the more passive tranquility of a Ghibli, that's purely a matter of taste.
But Disney movies are common as hell, and I don't get Ghibli film's too often, so I'm excited as hell Zelda.
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