‘Horizon Zero Dawn’ a game-changer for ‘Killzone’ studio
It turns out that Guerrilla Games has been working on the wrong franchise all along.
Since 2004, the studio has made a name for itself with the “Killzone” series, a gorgeous but generic sci-fi shooter. The projects were visual marvels, but when it came to gameplay and story, they left much to be desired.
No one has ever doubted the talents of the Netherlands-based developer, but “Killzone” was an unappealing subject. It came off as Sony’s half-hearted attempt at copying the success of Microsoft’s “Halo” franchise.
But Guerrilla Games’ latest effort “Horizon Zero Dawn” is different. For once, the developer moves away from the Helghasts and interplanetary warfare of “Killzone” and focuses on a sci-fi realm that’s a little more down to Earth.
Set in the distant future, “Horizon Zero Dawn” follows the exploits of Aloy. The young woman lives in a world in which humanity has regressed into a second dark age after being almost wiped out in a mysterious apocalypse. Civilization is divided into separate tribes, each with its own religion, culture and perspective.
“Horizon Zero Dawn” looks like ancient history except for one thing — robots. Instead of wolves and bears crossing the land, giant mechanical beasts roam the world. This gives the world a unique flavor, as Aloy explores the wilds searching for the cultists who attacked her tribe.
It’s a compelling narrative, one that borrows from novels such as “The Hunger Games,” “The Maze Runner“and “Game of Thrones.” Guerrilla takes bits and pieces from each and weaves it into a world that begs for exploration. Almost like a page-turner, “Horizon Zero Dawn” enthralls players with a conspiracy, as Aloy unravels the sins of a past age.
Part of the reason the adventure works so well is the gameplay. “Horizon Zero Dawn” plays almost like a third-person “Far Cry.” Aloy explores a lush world full of tundras and mesas. She can climb cliff faces or fly down a zipline during her travels. She re- lies on her bows and arrows as versatile weapons that lets her snipe at enemies from afar or rapidly fire at adversaries point blank.
The game can also be silent, which as stealth is an important factor. Often, Aloy is outnumbered, and trying to shoot her way out of trouble just ends in defeat. A better way to handle foes is to hide in the tall grass and eliminate them with stealth attacks. When hunting bigger robotic monsters such as the T-Rex-like Thunderjaw, players must plan out an assault. They have to set up traps and use rocks and trees for cover if the situation goes awry.
Thankfully, the stealth mechanic is flexible in “Horizon Zero Dawn.” Being spotted doesn’t necessarily mean instant failure. Sometimes players can activate a stealth kill to silence an alerted adversary, or Aloy can flee and attack from a different angle.
Guerrilla Games gives players enough tools to deal with a wide variety of enemies. Some robots fly and Aloy will have to use her ropecaster to tie them down. If she’s facing a Stalker, Aloy can fire her tearblast arrow to knock off its cloaking device. During moments when Aloy finds robots ganging up on her, she can even hack into a mechanized beast and use it as a mount to escape or let it fight alongside her. Players will need all these skills to deal with the dozens of missions and sidquests in “Horizon Zero Dawn.”
Although most of the game plays like dream, it does have an issue with item management. Because players have to craft ammo from robot parts and natural resources, players will spend a lot of time in menus dropping loot and making room for more material. This adds a strategic component to encounters as players have to consider how many resources they want to invest in a hunt or mission, but it’s also a problem because the interface is cumbersome.
But that is a minor annoyance that can’t take away from “Horizon Zero Dawn’s” brilliance. The game is the kind of project that can redefine a studio, in this case for the better.