Barely announced at E3, Sony and Guerilla Games were already present at gamescom last week with their new IP 'Horizon: Zero Dawn' and presented it in detail in a live cinema including a developer Q&A.
Horizon: Zero Dawn is an open-world action game where you take on the role of Aloy, a skilled hunter, exploring a vibrant and rich world inhabited by mysterious and mechanical creatures. You'll embark on an emotional journey, uncovering the secrets of a tribal society known as the Tribes, and exploring ancient artifacts and advanced technologies that will shape the fate of the planet and its inhabitants. The story itself will only be revealed to players by experiencing Horizon: Zero Dawn, which is why it will not be discussed at Gamescom or at future events. Furthermore, the franchise launch will forgo a multiplayer component, as Guerrilla Games states that they want to focus initially on telling Aloy's story. There is simply not enough room for additional characters or AI partners.
In the foreword, Senior Producer Mark Norris also stated that you will encounter various tribes, each with different levels of strength and who rule their own territories. Aloy herself belongs to a tribe that considers itself among the first to take up the fight against the machines and is therefore regarded as stronger. The presentation began with the already well-known E3 trailer, before the developers themselves took matters into their own hands and jumped into the approximately 20-minute live presentation.
What was immediately striking was the view of the colorful and expansive landscape, suggesting that every location was open for exploration. A vast and open game world is promised, traversable without any loading screens. The exact point in the game wasn't entirely clear, but the presentation suggested a more advanced stage, as Aloy appeared quite adept at fighting machines and handling weapons. According to previous statements from Guerrilla Games, the tribes in "Horizon: Zero Dawn" are portrayed as rather primitive and lack the necessary skills to utilize modern technologies like weapons.
The task during the presentation was to capture a liquid carried on the backs of the roaming creatures. The primary focus here is on a tactical approach, as a reckless charge would inevitably lead to one's demise. Besides using our bow, which features various arrows such as stun or explosive ones, the player should also make use of the environment and study the creatures' behavior. One should always be aware that one is physically outmatched by the creatures, leaving little choice but to proceed tactically and seek opportunities within those parameters.
Resource management will also be a crucial aspect, requiring you to constantly search for ammunition and supplies to avoid ending up empty-handed. These can be found directly in the environment, dropped by enemies, but trading with other tribes will also be possible and necessary. However, we were already well-supplied for the presentation, so we could finally get started.
So, we start by sneaking through the thick grass, observing creatures from a distance and checking our weapons before slowly approaching them. Even the initial battles against smaller creatures are incredibly intense and dynamic, constantly switching between using a bow, sneaking around, and ambushes… until the enormous Thunderjaw leaps into view, roaring across the entire screen, reminiscent of the legendary scene from Jurassic Park where the T-Rex makes its entrance. This certainly commands respect, but there's hardly any time to rest. Despite its apparent superiority, the Thunderjaw has several weak points that need to be exploited, such as its side cannons, which can be blasted off with tranquilizer and explosive arrows and used as weapons to deliver the final blow against this colossal creature. Just watching was incredibly tense, and now you're eager to try "Horizon: Zero Dawn" for yourself.
Graphically, the action title utilizes a heavily modified Killzone engine, which certainly gives "Horizon: Zero Dawn" its own identity and an atmospheric look, even if there's still room for improvement. Therefore, one can only refer to the current screenshots to form one's own opinion. Finally, I'd like to mention the fantastic soundtrack, which was played repeatedly during the presentation and enveloped us in mystical sounds.
The presentation of "Horizon: Zero Dawn" made it clear that development is still quite early. While the concept isn't entirely groundbreaking, the basic design and intense on-screen action certainly generate a lot of interest. So, until its release next year, there's plenty to look forward to and, above all, surprises from "Horizon: Zero Dawn."
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