Guerrilla Games' new IP Horizon Zero Dawn was an instant classic when it first released on the PS4. Although the game was challenged by some stiff competition for Game of the Year, it still made a strong enough impression to convince Sony to make a sequel for PS5. On top of that, Sony has also made the very rare decision to port Horizon Zero Dawn to the PC.
Playing Horizon Zero Dawn on the PC delivers the quintessential open-world experience that fans of the genre want. By no means is the PS4 version a slouch, but with high-end hardware, Horizon Zero Dawn looks and plays like a dream. If players never experienced the game on PS4 or even if they have, it's hard not to recommend this PC port.
As with any game on the PC, one of the biggest selling points for Horizon Zero Dawn is the visuals. The game looked exceptional on the PS4 and PS4 Pro, but on a PC the world that Guerrilla Games has created is stunning. The textures on the characters are much more detailed and the faces feel more realistic (if still a bit plastic-y). Foliage has a more lifelike and dynamic feel, which is key for a game that relies so heavily on tall grass, bushes, and trees to create cover/hiding spots. Draw distance goes a long way towards highlighting how expansive the world is, and the varied biomes are vibrant when they are supposed to be or damp and oppressive other times.
Of course, Horizon's animal/robot hybrids are the best opportunity for the graphics to be pushed to the limits. Particle and lighting effects on the creatures are incredible, and the collision between Aloy's weapons and the metal and glass is beautiful in its destructive nature. The game has such a unique art style and design aesthetic that works so well at any resolution, but the higher the better.
It isn't often that gamers get to indulge that idea in the back of their minds that a PS4 game would look even better on the PC, but Horizon Zero Dawn affords that opportunity. And at this point, PC gamers should hope that Sony is more agreeable to porting its games over to the platform.
The port itself ticks all of the boxes that PC gamers could hope for. There is Ultrawide monitor support, tons of customization to meet the specs of any PC rig, and HDR for those with higher-end monitors. But arguably the most impressive piece of the package is the optimization tool that runs before the game starts and suggests the ideal settings for the hardware available. Most games have recommended settings by default, but it feels like Horizon Zero Dawn really looks at the power of a system and determines what it can push.
Gameplay-wise, Horizon Zero Dawn on PC is not a markedly different experience on PC, but there are some benefits to the platform. The higher frame rate allows for pulling off some impressive combinations that would be harder on console. As players become more accustomed to the weapon options, they can quickly set traps, hit precision points with Aloy's bow, and dodge right in the nick of time.
Using a mouse and keyboard can also make for more precise setups, where a controller isn't as fluid. Platforming and world traversal are not significantly different, but the combat benefits from the added precision of a mouse and the versatility of a keyboard. All of this is plenty feasible on the PS4, but it feels a lot more accommodating on the PC with the higher frame rate.
The combat in Horizon Zero Dawn is one of the major highlights of the experience and while the improvements aren't as significant, there are still some available to those on PC. Depending on player's hardware they might find themselves capable of executing a series of attacks that would be otherwise impossible on console. By no means does the mouse and keyboard “change” combat; it just makes the experience a little more fluid overall.
Outside of those key improvements, Horizon Zero Dawn feels largely the same as it did on console. The story is very engaging if a bit familiar in its sci-fi tropes. The voice acting and character work are up there with the best that gaming has to offer. And the world is exciting to explore and find how the far future has returned a modern landscape to its more primal roots. The PC version also includes the Frozen Wilds DLC, which includes some slight improvements to the facial animations and a new tundra environment.
Horizon Zero Dawn is already an exceptional game in its own right, but on PC it is easily the better experience. Whether gamers weren't interested the first time around or they don't have a PS4 but do have a PC, this is still a must-play. Even those that enjoyed Horizon Zero Dawn will find that the PC version brings some new layers to the table thanks to the higher frame rate and improved visuals. The game still adheres to the open-world mold a little more than some might hope, but the environments, story, and gameplay help elevate it enough to be memorable.
Horizon Zero Dawn is available now for PC. Game ZXC was provided a code for this review.
Horizon: Zero Dawn
Horizon Zero Dawn follows Aloy, a mysterious villager who sets out to protect her world from a wide array of dangerous machines that stalk the lands.
