Support NeoGAF

[James Sawyer Ford]

Doesn't matter if they both review well, there will be shit slung by both camps. It's already getting old and nothing has been reviewed yet.

I don't see a lot of shit slinging against Zelda, though?

I dunno, there's something weird about the way Horizon seems to draw out some extremely hostile folks against it. Even if it's just in a passive aggressive "looks meh, done before, same old" despite....not really being done before. It's almost as if Horizon is the hot chick everyone else is jealous of and hates on without really getting to know her.

It's like complaints are being made up against Horizon and I don't really see anyone saying Zelda isn't going to really be anything short of spectacular. I fully expect Zelda will very likely be rated higher and probably win GOTY for 2017. It's the single reason I have a SWITCH preordered.

And at the same time that doesn't mean Horizon won't also be an incredible game in its own right. They're not similar games at all, they just happen to be releasing within days of eachother. Not sure why they are drawing so much comparison.

 

[Equanimity]

A good-incredible open world action RPG.

People that say it's Far Cry with robots, be it a journalist or your average gamer - they're wrong.

Assassin's Cry

That's like me going into a Zelda thread and calling it Assassin's Cooking Mama Cry.

Do you see how dumb that sounds?

 

[Wolfgang Jr]

Assassin's Cry

 

[StrongBlackVine]

Assassin's Cry

Shit post.

 

[Mass_Pincup]

Great graphics
Sub par level design and story
Repetitive gameplay

I don't think Guerrila has it in them to deliver a truly great game so I expect it to be an average game with nothing truly setting it apart from other open world game apart from its setting.

 

[The Strokes]

Kind of expecting a 7.0 game. The gameplay that they've shown has been kind of hit & miss for me and Guerrilla's pedigree is mediocre, to say the least.

Hopefully I'll be wrong.

 

[Fantastical]

Extremely pretty, with a great world to explore and fun combat

 

[killatopak]

I really just want it to be a solid ARPG.

This is GG's first foray into RPGs much less open world.

I wish them luck.

 

[WeirdoStalkerJr]

I see my criticisms and others were valid.

Graphics look great! But gameplay and mechanics are very cookie cutter to me, like I have played this game before.

 

[brickarts295]

It has robot dinosaurs. I mean come on there no expectations to be had this game is already a winner, even if ends up being a Ubisoft open world.

 

[Servbot24]

Expecting better than average open world game, based on the footage we've seen so far showing that Guerilla's previous knowledge of fine-tuned gameplay will have some carry-over. However it will still have most of the flaws of open world design, and will probably be an 8/10 at best.

 

[Lion Heart]

Have they? I've liked a handful of them, but I wouldn't say they're on a roll. The order was a disaster. Driveclub was well liked around here and did well, but it had that disaster of a launch, and outside of gaf people were somewhat mixed. LBP3 reviewed really poorly and was generally considered the worst in the series. Knack nuf said. Killzone shadowfall was garbage most I've talked to agree with that and it's the lowest rated of the series. I like infamous SS, but I do feel it was a step down from 1 and 2. IDK their first party stuff has been a mixed bag to this point.

"On a roll". Not "their exclusives are all amazing"

Another key word, exclusives. Not first party.

Their last half dozen games have been killing it, U4, TLG, Nioh, Yakuza 0, GR2 have been fantastic and in 2 weeks they have another high profile game coming out.

They are on a roll.

 

[msdstc]

"On a roll". Not "their exclusives are all amazing"

Another key word, exclusives. Not first party.

Their last half dozen games have been killing it, U4, TLG, Nioh, Yakuza 0, GR2 have been fantastic and in 2 weeks they have another high profile game coming out.

They are on a roll.

I don't understand what games like nioh or Yakuza have to do with Sonys ability to produce quality though outside of then getting exclusive rights.

If you go by that the statement doesn't really work. To me the statement implied Sony has produced a ton of quality so why expect this to be different? I pointed out that's not necessarily true and in fact their first party has been hit or miss.

 

[Muffdraul]

I'm pretty vanilla with my expectations. So far everything I've seen seems to indicate it will probably be pretty goddamn motherfucking good.

 

[texhnolyze]

I see my criticisms and others were valid.

Graphics look great! But gameplay and mechanics are very cookie cutter to me, like I have played this game before.

If anything, gameplay looks pretty solid for me. Good action with many gadgets at our disposal. We can even use the environments to our advantage.

My concern is how deep the RPG mechanics go in this game.

- How stats work and calculated to damage and defense, as well as final output.
- How the weapons and armors take roles in those stats.
- How the world (including NPCs) react to my choices
- How my choices matter in the world
- etc.

It's a Western RPG, so I expect a lot from Horizon in the RPG departments.

 

[VanWinkle]

To those who say it's like Far Cry or Assassin's Creed, I won't argue that it has common elements that those (and many other) games. But I want to ask you a question, to see if you're just trying to belittle the game, or you genuinely see it as another FC/AC: How is Horizon NOT like open world RPGs such Skyrim, Witcher 3, etc? Because I'd rather hear how you think it's not like those games than just hear you say it is like Far Cry.

 

[StrongBlackVine]

"On a roll". Not "their exclusives are all amazing"

Another key word, exclusives. Not first party.

Their last half dozen games have been killing it, U4, TLG, Nioh, Yakuza 0, GR2 have been fantastic and in 2 weeks they have another high profile game coming out.

They are on a roll.

Horizon is 3 weeks away, but NieR Automata(timed exclusive) is only 4 weeks away. Then MLB The Show and Persona 5 after that. This train isn't stopping any time soon.

To those who say it's like Far Cry or Assassin's Creed, I won't argue that it has common elements that those (and many other) games. But I want to ask you a question, to see if you're just trying to belittle the game, or you genuinely see it as another FC/AC: How is Horizon NOT like open world RPGs such Skyrim, Witcher 3, etc? Because I'd rather hear how you think it's not like those games than just hear you say it is like Far Cry.

Seem like an obvious dig to me. Ubisoft does not exactly have the best rep for open world game design right now. The refusal to to compare it to actual RPGs is telling as well(let's not go into that debate again).

 

[paragonpro]

Im expecting it to be good but people to be dissapointed when they realize that under the rad aesthetic lies a pretty by the numbers opem world action title akin to far cry

 

[killatopak]

The only thing that's barely the same with farcry/AC with Horizon is the towers which reveal the map.

Other than that's everything is new.

It's one way to downplay a game.

 

[KodaRuss]

I think it is going to be great and Aloy will be an awesome new Sony mascot.

 

[NightShift]

The art style and setting is stellar but I'm not so sure about everything else. I just want to know how's the writing because that's what would put it over the top for me. If it wasn't for Nier Automata, I would probably be more excited for it.

 

[lt519]

Graphically it looks awesome, I've avoided the hype, so I'm mostly expecting an Open World game overburdened by repetitive side quests and combat that after the 20-30th hour is boring. Knowing Guerilla Games the story will be average, but that isn't what I'll play it for. That being said it'll be worth a day one purchase purely for the spectacle and initial honeymoon phase.

Set the bar low, and if I'm blown away, cool, if not, oh well.

 

[SolidSnakex]

I didn't think ShadowFall was all that linear at all. For a game not intended to be an open world shooter, I found it to be as minimally linear as it could be.

Chapter 2 in Shadow Fall, the one where you eventually reach a forest section is really the only part that feels any more open than an average CoD game. Guerrilla even acknowledged this as one of the Behind the Scenes videos for Horizon is titled "From Corridors to Mountains"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EK_C-LV_CQ8

 

[Equanimity]

The only thing that's barely the same with farcry/AC with Horizon is the towers which reveal the map.

Other than that's everything is new.

It's one way to downplay a game.

I am wondering if people make the same ridiculous comparisons/generalisations in Zelda and Mass Effect threads.

 

[Devilgunman]

I want the battle to be consistently intense through out the game. I have always been wanting a "Monste Hunter" type of game in open world. I hope this game give me that feeling.

 

[KraytarJ]

It looks like it'll be good but I can't see it being a popular GOTY pick from a quality point of view. From what I've seen it looks very Far Cry. I unfortunately can't see myself playing it any time soon because I'm in a down period with games right now and the week after it is bananas, but if it's really any good I'll look into it at some point.

 

[StrongBlackVine]

I am wondering if people make the same rediculous generalisations in Zelda and Mass Effect threads.

Zelda is basically untouchable for some reason. Mass Effect Andromeda has a ton of uncertainty surrounding it(more than Horizon Zero Dawn if we are being fair), but it is kind of being given the benefit of the doubt(myself included) because of the history of the IP.

 

[Equanimity]

Zelda is basically untouchable for some reason. Mass Effect Andromeda has a ton of uncertainty surrounding it(more than Horizon Zero Dawn if we are being fair), but it is kind of being given the benefit of the doubt(myself included) because of the history of the IP.

I see. So it's basically Horizon that's getting all of these wild comparisons with a game from a different genre, character perspective and gameplay mechanics.

 

[whitemex88]

I'm just going to play to see what happens to Brom

 

[StrongBlackVine]

I see. So it's basically Horizon that's getting all of these wild comparisons with a game from a different genre, character perspective and gameplay mechanics.

Correct.

It's really surprising how the attitude towards this game has shifted over last the 6 months. All this speculation is really meaningless though. Reviews(more precisely Metacritic) will make or break the game.

 

[Sou Da]

I see. So it's basically Horizon that's getting all of these wild comparisons with a game from a different genre, character perspective and gameplay mechanics.

I've said Far Cry (3-4) in here myself but not as a mark against the game, it's just what it reminds me of at it's base. It's obviously a lot different and more complex but it's a good starting to point to articulate what it looks like to me.

 

[HassanJamal]

It'll do well sales wise, hype is solid and marketing great.

Reception wise, it'll be positive, probably looking at 70-80 scores. I expect good fun gameplay and enemy encounters, an ok story but side missions and collectibles will need improvements. Basically, the same feelings I would have with inFamous Second Son.

I mean this is Guerilla's first time with open world gameplay and after KZ SF, it's best to temper expectations.

 

[LotusHD]

I am wondering if people make the same ridiculous comparisons/generalisations in Zelda and Mass Effect threads.

Not that the concern trolling and what not against Horizon isn't irritating, but bemoaning that it doesn't seem to happen as often to other games releasing in the same window seems weird...

That being said, for the longest time people had doubts over stuff like there being proper dungeons or even towns in Zelda, if that counts lol

 

[StrongBlackVine]

It'll do well sales wise, hype is solid and marketing great.

Reception wise, it'll be positive, probably looking at 70-80 scores. I expect good fun gameplay and enemy encounters, an ok story but side missions and collectibles will need improvements. Basically, the same feelings I would have with inFamous Second Son.

I mean this is Guerilla's first time with open world gameplay and after KZ SF, it's best to temper expectations.

LOL that is not positive. A score in 70s would be disaster for this game. This is being setup as Sony next blockbuster first party IP. Also the things you are listing are flaws you have no way of knowing if that is true. What have to seen about collectibles to think it will need improvement? How many side missions have we seen? The world of Horizon Zero Dawn looks way more alive and interactive than Second Son. That was the textbook definition of an empty open world despite still being fun. I see no comparison between the two games.

 

[VanWinkle]

It'll do well sales wise, hype is solid and marketing great.

Reception wise, it'll be positive, probably looking at 70-80 scores. I expect good fun gameplay and enemy encounters, an ok story but side missions and collectibles will need improvements. Basically, the same feelings I would have with inFamous Second Son.

I mean this is Guerilla's first time with open world gameplay and after KZ SF, it's best to temper expectations.

Infamous SS was so unambitious, though. Not just for the studio, but for open world games in general. In honestly could have been practically the same game had it been linear or "wide-linear" (i.e. some of the UC4 locations).

Horizon is a VERY ambitious first-party game. And it's at least trying to be an ambitious open world game, even if it isn't necessarily reinventing the wheel (though, what open world games ARE?).

 

[Adamastor]

It's a new IP, that alone makes me excited. I'm hoping there's a good story to the game and that it's fun. I've stopped watching trailers and gameplay a few months ago in order to go in as blind as I can so I'm not spoiled, but just the whole universe has me excited for this game and the (potential) ones to come.

That being said, I was excited for the first Watch Dogs too, but every new game, especially new IPs deserve a chance in my books. I'm excited.

 

[Lion Heart]

I don't understand what games like nioh or Yakuza have to do with Sonys ability to produce quality though outside of then getting exclusive rights.

If you go by that the statement doesn't really work. To me the statement implied Sony has produced a ton of quality so why expect this to be different? I pointed out that's not necessarily true and in fact their first party has been hit or miss.

You took a benign comment and over analyzed the shit out of it. He said they are on a roll with exclusives so he feels this will be good because it will continue that trend. You obviously took offense to his praising of Sony and felt the need to express your dissatisfaction with them, I've seen you get antagonistic in these threads numerous times.

 

[Trouble]

The only thing that's barely the same with farcry/AC with Horizon is the towers which reveal the map.

Other than that's everything is new.

It's one way to downplay a game.

The upgrades via hunting mechanic is straight out of Farcry. I'm perfectly OK with that, myself.

 

[Shpeshal Nick]

I don't see a lot of shit slinging against Zelda, though?

I dunno, there's something weird about the way Horizon seems to draw out some extremely hostile folks against it. Even if it's just in a passive aggressive "looks meh, done before, same old" despite....not really being done before. It's almost as if Horizon is the hot chick everyone else is jealous of and hates on without really getting to know her.

It's like complaints are being made up against Horizon and I don't really see anyone saying Zelda isn't going to really be anything short of spectacular. I fully expect Zelda will very likely be rated higher and probably win GOTY for 2017. It's the single reason I have a SWITCH preordered.

And at the same time that doesn't mean Horizon won't also be an incredible game in its own right. They're not similar games at all, they just happen to be releasing within days of eachother. Not sure why they are drawing so much comparison.

I don't understand posts that suggest we should all merely take part in circle jerks or echo chambers.

As someone who has been nothing but on board with this game since the moment it was shown, I don't see why people HAVE to love how it looks. There are absolutely PLENTY of reasons why I could understand people being hesitant about the quality of this game:

1) Dev history...not that great

2) I could see how it has the potential to be viewed as "repetitive" (even though I personally feel that is the worst complaint about videogames these days. Games are repetitive by nature)

3) People are getting wary of open world bloat in open world games, why? Because it happens in almost all of them

4) Sony exclusive let down. Sony exclusives have been the most hyped this generation by an absolute fucking mile, which also means the disappointment has been that much greater when they haven't lived up to that hype. No Man's Sky being the obvious example, but there have been others

5) It's a new IP. We know nothing about it relatively speaking. It has no history. Zelda is a 30 year franchise. Not really apples to apples there.

6) This is arguably the most important point, basically no one has played this game. So when you combine points 1 through 5 with this one, it's understandable.

Again, I say all of the above as someone who is looking forward to this game immensely. To the point where I'm buying a Pro for it, but to insinuate that everyone should heap nothing but praise on a NEW IP versus an established franchise like Zelda and take part in a circle jerk, is frankly ridiculous.

 

[Instro]

My expectation is to be disappointed. Minimal faith in Guerilla to deliver on the potential here.

 

[LotusHD]

(though, what open world games ARE?).

Gravity Rush 2, sort of, at least where traversal is concerned. BoTW doing some cool stuff too.

 

[Muffdraul]

I expect that towards the end of the story you're going to find a super high tech futuristic facility left behind by the ancient civilization and it will tell you what happened to the world. I expect that will be relatively cliche with some unique twist to make it feel at least somewhat fresh.

 

[StrongBlackVine]

I don't understand posts that suggest we should all merely take part in circle jerks or echo chambers.

As someone who has been nothing but on board with this game since the moment it was shown, I don't see why people HAVE to love how it looks. There are absolutely PLENTY of reasons why I could understand people being hesitant about the quality of this game:

1) Dev history...not that great

2) I could see how it has the potential to be viewed as "repetitive" (even though I personally feel that is the worst complaint about videogames these days. Games are repetitive by nature)

3) People are getting wary of open world bloat in open world games, why? Because it happens in almost all of them

4) Sony exclusive let down. Sony exclusives have been the most hyped this generation by an absolute fucking mile, which also means the disappointment has been that much greater when they haven't lived up to that hype. No Man's Sky being the obvious example, but there have been others

5) It's a new IP. We know nothing about it relatively speaking. It has no history. Zelda is a 30 year franchise. Not really apples to apples there.

6) This is arguably the most important point, basically no one has played this game. So when you combine points 1 through 5 with this one, it's understandable.

Again, I say all of the above as someone who is looking forward to this game immensely. To the point where I'm buying a Pro for it, but to insinuate that everyone should heap nothing but praise on a NEW IP versus an established franchise like Zelda and take part in a circle jerk, is frankly ridiculous.

Sony also has some best exclusives and games of this generation period with Uncharted 4, Ratchet & Clank, Bloodborne and Nioh and really solid games like Until Dawn, inFAMOUS Second Son, Gravity Rush 2, Yakuza 0, The Last Guardian, MLB The Show. There have been some amazing highs and some terrible lows(The Order 1886, Drive Club and No Man's Sky being lowest). I really don't think it being a Sony exclusive or associated game is relevant at all to how the game will turn out. If you are skeptical because the dev's history then fine, but other studio's works have no bearing on Horizon Zero Dawn at all.

 

[Shpeshal Nick]

Sony also has some best exclusive games of this generation with Uncharted 4, Bloodborne and Nioh. There have been amazing highs and some terrible lows. I really don't think it being a Sony exclusive is relevant at all.

Well. It is.

To the discussion point of why some are hesitant about this game it's completely relevant.

 

[lt519]

Infamous SS was so unambitious, though. Not just for the studio, but for open world games in general. In honestly could have been practically the same game had it been linear or "wide-linear" (i.e. some of the UC4 locations).

That is the problem, basically every Open World game could be argued that it could have been boiled down to be a Wide Linear game (and have been a better game for it). There are a lot of articles and even threads on NeoGAF about this. Open World design by nature is a hand crafted story following way points surrounded by bloat. There are very few games that are actually fun to just play in the sandbox that is created beyond collectibles and repetitive side quests. So it's easy to be hesitant about a new IP. I actually have started to prefer wide-linear games like UC4 and SS more than pure Open World games like Witcher 3 and DA:I. To me UC4 and SS have well executed gameplay that is fun to explore and play in their limited sandboxes. Games that get to big like Witcher 3 and DA:I get lost in side quests and middling gameplay, they try and do too much. If I had to guess, Horizon is going to fall into that category. But that is also personal opinion, obviously a lot of people loved Witcher 3. DA:I is more what I see happening, initial "this is awesome!" honeymoon phase followed by a big "meh," mostly because I don't trust GG to deliver on the things that allowed Witcher 3 to overcome the poor gameplay.

I'm rooting for it though, my Pro and 4K TV are ready for it.

 

[StrongBlackVine]

Well. It is.

To the discussion point of why some are hesitant about this game it's completely relevant.

It's a stupid reason for any one using it. What Ready At Dawn or Hello Games did is completely irrelevant to what Guerrilla Games or Japan Studio will produce. And if someone is using that extremely flawed reasoning there has been more good than bad, especially recently.

 

[Dremorak]

If it isnt good, I'll do it! I will!

 

[MarineMountie]

A great game that will give me many hours of fun gaming. My most anticipated title by far, and one that I have pre ordered. I don't think I have been this excited for a game since RDR.

 

[GribbleGrunger]

Realistically high.

 

[Donthizz#]

Looks like they have sent out review copies already. I see a media person on my friends list playing the game.