Topic: Horizon: Zero: Dawn

Yeah the storytelling and the dialogue will be this game's biggest hurdle. If it can get that right, I think we'll be onto a winner.

@Quintumply: Yep defiantly but is it just me but I though the guy speaking in the trailer rambled on for a little too long other than that it was awesome

According to another website, there will be a pre-order bonus

Nora Machine-Trapper Pack! This resource pack includes modifications to increase the accuracy and damage of your weapon, and add elemental resistances to your outfit. It also contains crafting resources to ensure you are well-stocked with arrows, traps or mines to overcome the Machines you encounter.

Also it listed more details about the limited/collectors edition in game bonuses which gives some insight into the RPG/crafting side too

Carja Storm Ranger Armor: Its layered metal and leather construction provides additional protection against blades and arrows, all without weighing the wearer down. An extra modification slot allows you to tailor it to your personal play style.
Carja Mighty Bow: This finely-made bow, fit for a captain’s hand, puts additional stopping power behind every arrow fired. Its punch can be relied upon whether fending off bandit raiders or Machines. The extra modification slot allows you to choose between further increasing damage, or extending its range.
Banuk Trailblazer Armor: This outfit offers additional protection against the elements. An extra modification slot allows you to tailor it to your personal play style.
Banuk Calling Bow: This specialized hunter’s weapon has been carefully worked to tear free armor plating and precious components. The extra modification slot allows you to choose between extra damage to components or increased impact.
Banuk Traveller Pack: This pack contains stocks for fast, safe travel between previously discovered locations, allowing you to avoid the dangers of the open trail. It also includes ammunition crafting resources for you to stock up before your journey.
Nora Keeper Pack: The Nora are extraordinarily skilled and inventive at using machine components in their own devices. The crafting resources in this package allow you to create mines and traps that can tip the hunt in your favor before the first arrow is shot.

Even if you don't pre-order or go for one of the collectors editions - I am sure some of this could be available in the game at some-point - just not from the start or at least have something similar. I thought it was interesting to see what these items were, what they offer and it does give a bit more insight into the game from an RPG/crafting PoV.

Agreed. The thing with Killzone is that the lore was excellent, and that seems to be the case here as well. I just really hope they can put together something a little above average in the story department. They hired people from Obsidian and CD Projekt Red so there really should be no excuses.

I'm going to give the trailer the benefit of the doubt because the voiceover for that was likely bespoke and not something that will be in the final game.

I didn't think Killzones campaign stories were that bad. Granted they weren't as 'epic' or as 'deep' as some story heavy game but they were by no means the worst. Killzone 2 was (imo) the best campaign of the three but the 3rd seemed to be more focussed on its MP. It looked great though but lacked 'something' that the second had - I also felt it was over far too soon.

In general, I do find most RPG's lacking in the story department. A lot of these also have great Lore but you have to either read about it in a manual or find out about it in game - often by finding objects and reading them or getting the extra dialogue from Side Quests. The Story's themselves are difficult to judge. I found Fallout 3's was very poor - but it made up for it in game-play, freedom, side quests and variety. I do find often that non-linear games lack the focus that a linear game has. I know I have 'struggled' to follow a main story because of being side tracked by other things - Side Quests, resource gathering, wandering around to discover new areas - which again can throw up even more distractions! By the time I get round to the 'next' step in the story progression, it can be day's or even weeks since I completed the last step and focussed on so many other things, I have forgotten the main story arc. I must admit I did find the Witcher 3's story a lot more easy to follow in general and some of the side-quests tied in to main quests.

Obviously this is new step for Guerilla Games - their first RPG. Its not like they haven't recruited from 'experts' in this area. The lead writer from Obsidian, who wrote Fallout New Vegas and co-designed the Nemesis system in Shadow of Mordor (as well as a number of other aspects - https://nl.linkedin.com/in/johnrgonzalez ), members of CD Project Red who were quest designers. According to Herman Hulst - "“In many ways, however different Horizon Zero Dawn is from the Killzone series, there are also a lot of similarities. We are still after fantastic graphics and we are after technical combat. But, yes, there are certain elements that are new to this studio. An open-world, for instance, required a huge effort from our technology team to get the systems ready. But also the game design elements such as RPG mechanics and story writing for this kind of game are very different and more difficult and demanding than for games that are more linear. So in those areas we have been very proactive in our recruitment effort.”

To me this says they were very aware of their 'weaknesses' in developing a game in a new genre (RPG) and so recruited to address these. I get the impression that the 'story' writers from Killzone are not as heavily involved in the 'story' of Horizon (if at all). I can argue that a lot of RPG's, the dialogue can be 'poor' and the delivery seem unremarkable, flat and lacking the 'emotion' of the situation - especially if you compare to something like Uncharted for example. I don't many that play RPG's purely for the story alone - only interested in following the story path through the game and ignoring all the exploration, crafting, side quests, freedom etc...

I am very interested in Horizons story though. I think it has a very interesting concept. The robo-dinos add a whole new layer as well. I could see mammals, reptiles, insects etc that survived the 'apocalypse' evolving to be some threat or dominant species but the machinery adds a whole new set of questions/mystery - especially as it appears that the human race has been knocked back to a pre-historic level and incapable of manufacturing these. Are they the result of some Terminator style Skynet system? Are they Transformer like aliens?. The cause of the Apocalypse or not? Are they built by a 'tribe' of Humans that survived but didn't get knocked back - so many questions and mysteries to find out and an incredible looking world to explore...

Game looks fantastic. Could be one of the best releases on PS4 based on what I've seen — if they get it right, of course.

Interview with Gamespot and Herman Holst and Jeroen Roding of Guerrilla Games talking about the game, the game-play, the world etc...

Ahhhh man I wasn't even looking forward to this game that much but after the recent trailers and gameplay I think it's going to be great! Can't wait to see more.

*I hope the constant narration gets turned off for the actual game, I don't like that!!!!!!

@mrobinson91: I doubt Aloy will be that chatty in the final game. I think it's just in there to help demo the game effectively.

Also - absolutely can't wait for this game!

@mrobinson91: According to the developers in the interview video, the 'extra' dialogue was purely for the demo purposes to let people know what was happening and explain it a bit more. I don't mind it myself as I think I would be having that 'dialogue' inside my head - probably not verbalise it but I still think a lot would certainly be going on in my own head...

@BAMozzy: @Quintumply: That's good then...when you are actually immersed in the game it probably wouldn't matter as much anyway though. Looking forward to it!

@mrobinson91: maybe she was on the phone. I can't see any other reason for her wearing that bluetooth headset

I am definitely getting this game day. It is shaping up to be a start to an all new trilogy. That is going to be awesome.

Most times I leave SP games for a while to save a little. Only but this one I will get day one.

Can not wait for this game!

More gameplay from Brasil Game Show; Still looks amazing:

Kill the robots win the game! Still waiting for more intricate detail regarding the usual RPG elements, do hope it doesn't follow the open world ubi model.

@Bad-MuthaAdebisi You and me both. I think the game will turn out fine though. It already seems more exciting than another Assassin's Creed if you ask me.

@Bad-MuthaAdebisi: I think it follows a traditional RPG - According to the pre-order bonus we will get different gear with different bonuses/perks and stats with crafting too. They have said the game is open to you right from the start and that you can go anywhere you want - if you can survive with the starting gear of course. Most if the game-play shown has Aloy at about level 12-ish. Whilst I am very interested in the story, I don't want them to reveal much more detail than we already know as the 'mystery' of it is what I am most keen on. As far as the RPG side goes though, they have recruited well so would expect that to be up to the standard I expect.

@Bad-MuthaAdebisi: According to Game Informer:

• GI was surprised at the depth of the game, how intelligent the AI is, and how fluid the controls are
• You can craft different outfits to change Aloy's appearance
• Aloy has 3 different skill trees that you can put level up points into. They are Prowler (Stealth), Brave (Damage focus), and Forager (Resource Gathering)
• Aloy can find modifications when she defeats enemies that can be slotted into her weapons and armor. These affect things such as stats and give buffs
  Guerrilla wanted to make a game that's "Beautiful in a majestic way" instead of the grit of Killzone. They wanted to create a world you wanted to be in, instead of escape from.
  Work on Horizon began in 2010
• Horizon has its own engine. Not the same as Shadowfall
• GI saw settings in desert, arctic, and temperate environments. Saw machines that will hide in the water.
• Guerrilla promises why the world got this way will be answered. Also say "this is a sci-fi game and that they won't depend on fantasy at any point.
• The various tribes are radically different including how they feel about the machines. Some of them believe the machines becoming more violent is punishment from the gods.
• You aren't recruiting different tribes to your cause but they will sell you different gear and have their own side quests and storylines
• Aloy is most concerned with finding her origin, and most importantly who her mother was
• She has been raised in the Nora Tribe, but the tribe completely ignores her existence. For reasons she doesn't know they seem to shun her.
• The Nora are ruled by women, Matriarchs
• Aloy was raised by another outcast named Rost, who didn't do it of his own will. The Tribe forced him
• Rost is stern and overprotective but only wants the best for Aloy / Father figure
• There are playable flashbacks of Aloy's childhood
• There are Hunter Trials which are essentially Big Game Hunts / Hunter's Guild
• A flying enemy called a d Glinthawk can throw ice bombs
  There are "Corruption Zones" which are areas of the map filled with dangerous enemies. Some of the biggest fights in the game can be found in these zones
• There are lots of sidequests but don't expect them to be as expansive as The Witcher
• Screenshots show a large Hermit Crab type enemy.

There are definitely RPG elements, but I also expect it to me more of an action-adventure game at its core. The level system seems rather 'primitive' so far, but to be fair, we haven't seen a lot of it either.

Also there's this beauty by GameInformer; Pretty neat cover, kinda has a 70s/80s sci-fi vibe.

Man, if there's any reason I miss having a subscription to Game Informer, it's the covers. They always seem to look nice.

@Octane Thanks for the info.