First Horizon review [Engadget]

[oldmario]

There's something about Aloy. I can't quite put my finger on it, but there's an enchanting kind of magic in the way she shoots a bow, speaks her mind and sprints across vast valleys littered with monstrous metal beasts. Aloy is powerful and loyal, an underdog outcast who rises to glory on an epic scale, and it's impossible to not root for her. She's as clever as Hermione Granger, as tough as Lara Croft and better with a bow than Katniss Everdeen -- and she's the reason I fell in love with Horizon Zero Dawn.

As is often the case, love hit me out of nowhere, when I least expected it. See, Horizon is not my typical kind of game. I'm generally drawn to experiences I can play in bursts, like League of Legends, TowerFall, Neko Atsume or Overwatch, and I've never been tempted to play all the way through massive, open-world role-playing games like Dragon Age, Skyrim or The Witcher. I see the appeal of these series -- I'm a nut for the fantasy and sci-fi genres in general -- but they never hold my attention for long.

link

Spoiler

post me early if old

edit: review is down but here's a screencap https://abload.de/img/ertjejerketketkrlfku41.jpg

 

[GravityInsanity]

Wait, what? First embargo broke?

 

[Don.Abbade]

Embargo is set for tuesday, so yeah, broken embargo....

 

[Noks415]

isnt embargo lifted on the 20th?

 

[Toki767]

Posted -3111 minutes ago lol

 

[DriftingSpirit]

isnt embargo lifted on the 20th?

Yep, but someone apparently messed up.

 

[shiftplusone]

Allowed to post early because they promised a good review

#Followthemoney

 

[Karak]

Holy crap...that is a huge mistake hahahah

 

[SinCityAssassin]

And gone.

 

[Rembrandt]

Aloy/10

 

[DriftingSpirit]

Holy crap...that is a huge mistake hahahah

Don't slip up!

 

[Qblivion]

Just got taken down... but not before I copy/pasted it into notepad lol

 

[MyNameIsRye]

Glowing review btw. This game is gonna score high.

 

[Smellycat]

What was the score?

 

[Rembrandt]

What was the score?

there wasn't' one. she really just continuously praised the main character and story.

 

[LastMinuteHero]

Shit did anyone archived this? I've already read this but wanted to send it to my brother

 

[MetalliCabombination]

Sreencaps anyone?
im sure someone has it open

 

[Ivory Samoan]

.....and it's gone.

Stoked it's a good review though, can't wait!

Just got taken down... but not before I copy/pasted it into notepad lol

Top stuff mate

 

[FlyingIrishMan]

What was the score?

Didn't see a score, just very positive overall remarks.

 

[belvedere]

Aaaand it's gone.

 

[Cert.in.Death]

What was the score?

1.21 gigawatts

 

[Noks415]

Posted -3111 minutes ago lol

My math sucks ass but wouldnt that equal monday midnight? lol

 

[Smellycat]

there wasn't' one. she really just continuously praised the main character and story.

Didn't see a score, just very positive overall remarks.

gotcha

 

[More_Badass]

What was the score?

No score, but tons of extremely high praise

Aloy is powerful and loyal, an underdog outcast who rises to glory on an epic scale, and it's impossible to not root for her. She's as clever as Hermione Granger, as tough as Lara Croft and better with a bow than Katniss Everdeen -- and she's the reason I fell in love with Horizon Zero Dawn.

I've never been tempted to play all the way through massive, open-world role-playing games like Dragon Age, Skyrim or The Witcher. ...But, with Horizon, 30 hours sounds like barely enough time. I wish it were 60 hours long. I wish it were an infinite MMO that I could live inside of for years to come. Finally, I understand open-world RPGs.

Aloy's personal journey is intrinsically tied to the broad mysteries hovering over Horizon's world, and each new revelation unfolds beautifully throughout the game. The team at Guerrilla Games have crafted a powerful narrative headlined by an equally compelling protagonist

 

[Joyful]

is this a review or a love letter

 

[Qblivion]

Sreencaps anyone?
im sure someone has it open

I can post the text as long as it isn't against the rules.

 

[_Clash_]

I got a speed read in

No score, loved Aloy, loved here personal journey, familiar and inviting in a good way

 

[FinalStageBoss]

Damn somebody fucked up lol

 

[gundamkyoukai]

It's gone lol.
But the reviewer really seem to like it .

 

[WadeitOut]

Wait so the reviewer couldn't make it through DA, The Witcher or Skyrim?

Review 100% null and void to me
Now

 

[theaffection]

What are the odds this game will be one that everyone loves for the first months then suddenly turn on it a few months later? The Shadows of Mordor effect

 

[LotusHD]

is this a review or a love letter

It can be both.

My math sucks ass but wouldnt that equal monday midnight? lol

True. I recall someone saying embargo ended at 3 AM EST though.

 

[jayu26]

is this a review or a love letter

Aloy is love, Aloy is life.

 

[McMoneyman]

Sreencaps anyone?
im sure someone has it open

Can screencap it if it's allowed.

 

[CEJames]

Well that was taken down fast, but I love those character comparisons. That was eloquently written, if not a little creepy, on how he fell in love with her

 

[Shambala]

Let's not get to excited guys. But I hope gg delivers a great game 🙌

 

[Memory]

Is he saying the game is 30 hours long or he only had 30 hours to review it?

 

[jayu26]

Is he saying the game is 30 hours long or he only had 30 hours to review it?

Probably did not do all the side stuff, but the reports for the main quest is coming in at around 25hours.

 

[Milennia]

this game is going to be fucking huge

 

[More_Badass]

Well that was taken down fast, but I love those character comparisons. That was eloquently spoken, if not a little creepy, on how he fell in love with her

How is it creepy? People like, and empathize with, likeable well-written characters

Also it wasn't a he

 

[dmr87]

Sony ninjas incoming.

 

[FlyingIrishMan]

Well that was taken down fast, but I love those character comparisons. That was eloquently written, if not a little creepy, on how he fell in love with her

The reviewer is a she if that makes it less creepy.

 

[FinalStageBoss]

Some mighty high praise though.

 

[Memory]

Probably did not do all the side stuff, but the main quest is coming in at around 25hours.

Sounds long enough for the main story, exploring and side quests will hopefully double that time.

 

[More_Badass]

Wait so the reviewer couldn't make it through DA, The Witcher or Skyrim?

Review 100% null and void to me
Now

You joking right? Sometimes I can never tell on GAF

 

[OrbitalBeard]

A 25-30 hour main quest sounds good.

 

[FinaruDensetsu]

Glowing review btw. This game is gonna score high.

I don't think Engadget is an outlet that really sets the trend for reviews in general. Their bread and butter is hardware not software. This means very little in determining what the overall score will be.

 

[DriftingSpirit]

A 25-30 hour main quest sounds good.

Yep, not too little, not too much. Just right.

 

[jayu26]

Sounds long enough for the main story, exploring and side quests will hopefully double that time.

I do wonder how much or many Cauldrons the reviewer finished. Those things are taking a lot of people by surprise in a good way.

 

[Loudninja]

I dont think the review actually gave the completed time