There hasn't been this much buzz surrounding Guerrilla Games for a while. The first-party firm last truly dropped jaws with its infamous Killzone 2 demo at E3 2005, a clip that turned out to be staged. A decade later, the Dutch developer has learned a lesson or two – it always shows gameplay where possible for a start. Horizon: Zero Dawn, the long-in-development action role-playing release that's been rumoured for many years now, continued that trend at E3 2015 – as managing director Hermen Hulst anchored an outstanding presentation during Sony's big PlayStation press conference earlier this week.
You play as a young tribeswoman named Aloy – potentially a reference to the Eloi in H. G. Wells' classic The Time Machine. Civilization as we know it has long since wilted due to the onset of a grave darkness, and the world has been reclaimed by nature and machines. The latter are a mysterious race who have succeeded mankind at the top of the food chain, and it's down to you and your kin to not only hunt these aggressive beasts, but also to learn of the secrets that led to humanity's demise – all while discovering your own destiny in a harsh yet sumptuous post-apocalyptic world. A pretty spectacular premise, no?
Of course, this is a studio that's never exactly slacked off in the world building department – those that took the time to invest in it will have found similar density in Killzone's lore. The difference this time is that by switching genres, the developer finally has an opportunity to flex its narrative muscles. We still don't know how close this will be to a CD Projekt RED or BioWare game, but the fact that the firm's been snatching up employees from both organisations suggests that we should probably expect dialogue trees, quests, and side-missions galore. For now, the organisation's emphasising the action part.
Guerrilla's always shown promise, but now it has an opportunity to marry its unrivalled art with an experience that's genuinely unique
And it looks sensational. Armed with a bow augmented with many different types of arrows, the meat and potatoes gameplay appears to best resemble Monster Hunter mixed with Uncharted, as electrical ammunition is used to startle snarling cyber-beasts, while rope darts can be employed to restrain them. The creator's promising enormous variety in both the artificial intelligence of the animals and your combative options; a skill tree will enable you to sharpen your abilities, while a crafting system will allow you to construct new kinds of gear and artillery as you progress.
With an inviting open world and a dynamic weather system, it's no surprise that Guerrilla Games is describing this as its most ambitious project to date. And yet, aside from a slightly too talkative protagonist, it appears to have struck solid gold. The company's always shown signs of real promise, but now it has an opportunity to marry its unrivalled art with an experience that's genuinely unique. The studio still has plenty to prove, of course – but for now, Horizon: Zero Dawn's dazzling debut is more than deserving of our Game of the Show award.
Do you agree that Horizon: Zero Dawn was the star of this year's E3, or are you not as taken with the title as everyone else? Fire an arrow into the comments section below.
Comments 62
The music in the trailer gives me shivers. Well deserved winner!
Agreed
I have liked pretty much everything I have seen of this game so far... The fact that they are bringing in people from both CD Projekt RED and BioWare has me excited.
I'll still give Uncharted 4 the slight edge (I expected awesome and Naughty Dog still somehow managed to top my expectations) but yeah this was my favorite new IP. I can't wait to learn more. Maybe at Paris or the PS Experience.
Best game of the PS show by far. TLG looked promising way back, but didn't do anything for me after the initial shock of the announcement itself and the same can be said for FFVII and Shenmue to a lesser extent, mostly because it'll take ages before we'll finally play it (if we ever will).
But Horizon, man where to start? This studio has shown with every Killzone installment how much potential they have, but they were the proverbial caged animal who now got released in the wild and will show everything they had to offer us for all those years. The Killzone lore is simply wonderful and I wouldn't even be surprised that it somehow ties to horizon, but even if it doenst I'm sure we'll get a story to back up the gorgeous visuals they're known for.
I truly hope this will come out holiday 2016, because the PS4 need a title like this: a game full of adventure and monster hunting instead of the interactive movies of late. Let the hunt begin!
Really well chosen!
I may have voted for Uncharted 4 but this was without doubt the best new IP at E3 and a very worthy winner for PushSquares game of E3. I have enthused about this ever since I first saw it and others were 'lost in dream land' by other announcements and no doubt will continue to do so too.
Part of the reason I voted for Uncharted was historical, Naughty Dogs reputation and knowing pretty much what to expect but the concept and potential of this game is huge and I can't wait to get my hands on it.
Looking forward to it but I think I put uncharted 4 as must have. They haven't failed us yet and probably aren't planning to start.
Killzone alongside Tower of guns and maybe Apotheon are the most unfun games on ps4 that I have played. Due to that I have zero confidence this will be entertaining.
Doom, Fallout 4 and Metal Gear are the big games for me. Although all sequels of sorts Im looking forward to every one. The doom editing tool looks absolutely boss.
For me its games like this that prove PC gamers aren't the master race gamers that they think they are. We console gamers get a lot of grief on gaming forums from PC gamers calling our systems outdated tech. Watching videos of PS4 exclusives like this proves otherwise. Yeah some gamers may have PC's capable of outputting high fps and 4k resolution but it costs an arm and leg and you dont get games like Horizon, Uncharted, The Last of Us etc etc. Yeah their is some great PC games but console are way cheaper and have great exclusives. Plus developers can optimize better on consoles since they know everyone will have the same hardware.
I've been gaming for 30 years and seeing games like this makes me wanna keep gaming for another 30 years. The music in Horizon just sucks me into the world.
Even though im excited to see more, Fallout 4 is still my number one game of E3.
I would have to go with Fallout 4 personally. Although this is definitely right behind it. I just hope it's more in line with The Witcher or Dragon Age instead of Assassin's Creed.
Stole the show for me personally. This game took my breath away and sucked me in like very few games do anymore. And that was just from the preview gameplay!
The only concern I have, and I do mean only concern because I like everything else I've seen, is how addictive the combat will be. The reason Monster Hunter stands as my favorite franchise of all time is because the combat is euphoric. It's absolutely precise and strategic and challenging and every single frame counts. AI and monster move sets are simply amazing, and provide some of the absolute best boss fights video games can offer.
If this game can nail in that respect- if this game can create challenging boss fight-like combat similar to Monster Hunter, this very well could turn out to be my future favorite game of all time, or at least one of them anyways.
I don't understand the hype from the brief gameplay myself, it looked pretty good and has plenty of potential. I thought the robot dinosaur concept was a bit daft but I'm happy to run with it.
I have no problem with this choice.
I agree. I'm really looking forward to this game. It's definitely one of the better games I've seen recently, and for a first impression, it did well!
Im really really excited about this world and the story. No matter how excited I am for FF7 Remake even TLG I keep coming back to this game. Well done GG I cannot wait!
Did they announced the release date window for this game, yet?
@WanderingBullet
I think they said 'aiming for 2016.' So we'll see. My guess would be at the earliest, Holiday 2016. That's when I hope it comes out.
@WARDIE http://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/how-the-ps4-and-xbox-have-raised-pc-system-requirements/
Next time somebody gives you or anybody grief about PC vs. Console, a little bit of facts as it stands "at the moment". (Click on the link above.)
I own a Mid-High level gaming PC as well as my PS4 and other consoles.
I don't know if you've heard the saying:
" Ignorance is the ability to know, but not knowing"
"Stupidity is knowing better, but doing nothing about it anyway".
There's to much ignorance, but waaaay to much stupidity....lol.
My point is facts are facts, yet people still turn a blind eye.
Horizon looks great, but I would have to see more gameplay to ultimately decide if I'm going to purchase it.
My No.1 Pick is Still-"Fallout 4"!
Have they said anything about multiplayer?
@JaxonH There is NO tutorial in this game. Art director Jan-Bart van Beek revealed that there is "a lot of interplay between the different weapons and ammo types, and there is a sort of creative aspect there where you need to find the right way to use weapons for particular robos. And that counts for a lot of the game. We don't tutorialise the game, we don't go and tell you how to hunt these robos or how they interact. You really have to go out there and explore these things by trial and error.
"And it's the same case for learning about how the robos interact between themselves; who's protecting who and how they are all interconnected. You're always a little bit like David Attenborough where he's sitting in the bushes and studying these creatures trying to learn their behaviour, seeing how you can exploit that behaviour from them."
Guerrilla is taking a similar approach to Horizon's storytelling as well.
"You won't find us in any interviews explaining what the robos are, why they are there or how they came to be," van Beek continued. "This is something for the player to find out themselves. By exploring the world, going to the ruins and learning as much as possible about our game, everything will reveal itself."
The Giant Thunderjaw Robo comprises 93 separate elements, each with their own hit points and effects. You’re not just shooting it any which way to grind down its health, but instead where you hit really matters, making the battle much more tactically interesting. For instance, Aloy used one of her explosive arrows to knock off the disc-launcher from the beast’s back, which she then picked up to use against it, knocking off its protective armor plating. By hitting the sensitive “muscles” peeking between the creature’s armor, Aloy can deal three times as much damage and the unpredictable enemy AI makes for (to quote) 'extremely dynamic and tactically-engaging combat'. If you watch the trailer, you can see some of this in action - it wasn't scripted.
We saw one variation of this clip. The way Aloy stalked the herd of 'Grazers' and the way the flocked together and then scattered when the Thunderjaw arrived was very reminiscent of natural behaviour of animals and prey. It is just one way the scenario could play out. Had she approached in a different manner the herd would have reacted differently. You can use their behaviour to your advantage by setting traps and driving them towards them. You have to learn their behaviour and the way each type interacts with the others. According to some who saw the game behind closed doors, instead of merely sneaking up to the herd and taking them out one by one as they scatter, they showed that Aloy can also stealthily set up a couple of traps and force the grazers towards them by firing an explosive arrow that scares the herd into running in that direction to easily collect the cannisters. This just goes to show how the AI is quite natural and how tactical the gameplay is going to be. She is aware that the animals are skittish, so she uses that knowledge to her advantage.
Thunderjaw has multiple and unpredictable attack patterns too so that fight could have played out very differently. In the clip Aloy is around a level 12 and the Thunderjaw was already injured when the fight takes place. You can see Spears sticking out from another hunter/tribe attempt at killing it but never the less it was still quite a battle. A lot of the Robo behaviour reminded me of 'Jurassic Park' in the way they moved, herded together and scattered when the Thunderjaw burst through the trees.
@goonow I've read somewhere that there's no mutilplayer.
@Gamer83 Thanks.
It was the best New IP of the show, most definitely. Certainly intriguing.
@get2sammyb
By none other than Joris De Man.
IMHO the biggest E3 surprise this year. I love Killzone, and this looks so superextraawesome, frigi'n robotic dinosaurs with laser atached to their head!! Guerilla FTW!
@Punished_Boss_84 Is he back?!
@get2sammyb
https://twitter.com/dejongemathijs/status/611532555116871680
At least that's one aspect of the game nailed.
@Gamer83 This game has been in development since 2011 and has been playable and playtested for a year according to Shuhei Yoshida when he was speaking about it at E3 - some details about that can be found here
I am beginning to think that this could well arrive a lot sooner than we think. Maybe not in Q1, with Uncharted 4 due but they did release Bloodbourne and the Order 1886 in Q1 this year.
Part of me is now beginning to think that E3 was Guerilla Games opportunity to get some last minute feedback and to ascertain public response to their new IP before its launch. I wouldn't be surprised if it lunches before next years E3 but maybe that's just my wishful thinking....
@BAMozzy
That's basically what I wanted to hear
Really not sure if I like this or not: the combat seems a little generic, but it does look beautiful. If there's less combat, I'll be a little more excited
@Punished_Boss_84 Nice!
@Anchorsam_9 I dunno, I think it looks great. There's a ton of variety in that video, and seems there'll be lots of strategies to taking the Robo-Dinos down.
@get2sammyb Yeah, I'm just hoping some parts where you're too weak to take down the dino-robots and you'll have to escape from them, just to make them seem that more powerful
@Anchorsam_9 According to those that got a closer look at that part of the demo, Aloy is a level 12 and the Thunderjaw was already injured from another 'encounter' elsewhere and was at around half health - when it burst through the trees, it already had 'spears' sticking into it - presumably from another Tribe/hunters attempt to kill.
It would be highly unlikely you would have the resources, strength etc to tackle a Thunderjaw at lower levels. Certain ammo types are 'rare' and expensive too so if you don't use them effectively, chances of success are greatly reduced.
Obviously its still very early days from our perspective and we have only seen one real combat situation. Never the less, what I have seen and read from those who got to see this play out in different ways behind closed doors, I am optimistic and not overly concerned about the combat. What we saw was pretty much a real time snippet of the game play by someone 'experienced' in playing the game. Whether you or I would have been successful in that situation without the experience gained by reaching level 12, is debatable. Time will tell of course
Yeah, I'll keep an open mind about it because there were some parts that impressed me, but I'm not completely sold on it just yet, so I'll have to see a little more gameplay
To be honest I've never heard of this game untill now. So I will check it out.
@BAMozzy
Before next E3 seems to good to be true, especially if Sony wants to push out both Uncharted 4 and Ratchet & Clank. But if we could get it September or October 2016 I'd be perfectly happy with that. Or maybe a mid-late August release when the only big game it would have to compete with would be Madden.
@Gamer83 Based on the information I have read/heard, its feasible it could be in the first half of the year and like I said, Sony don't mind putting out several big games in the same quarter. I really don't think it will matter when its released in essence. Obviously in the last quarter its likely to face more competition from the holiday season but it looks good and strong enough and judging by the amount of interest it generated, quite likely to be successful.
From Guerilla Games and Sony's perspective, I can't see any issue with releasing it in the first quarter IF its ready and more by sitting on it just because other games are/have been released within a month or 2. Its an RPG at its core so and not in direct competition with either Uncharted or Ratchet and Clank. it also has no MP so for all those without PS+ could be finished with Uncharted and Ratchet and Clank within a few weeks too.
Regardless of when it releases, I am very likely to buy and looking forward to it
@RicksReflection And using digitaltrends as a reference point is probably a mixture of ignorance, stupidity and blindness...
@BAMozzy
It's just behind Uncharted 4 on my most-wanted list for PS4 exclusives. Definitely a day one purchase whenever it comes out.
@Gamer83 I am exactly the same too... Already have U4 pre-ordered and no doubt will pre-order this too....
@BAMozzy
If you don't mind me asking, where have you gotten some of the information you've shared here? Youtube? IGN?
@stevejcrow - Firstly the facts are correct, even if you don't like the site itself as a reference.
Secondly, did I insult you "directly" and if not, why are you being a A-H**E? Your are "exactly" the type of person I was talking about, showing "ignorance" by "not educating yourself on the facts" and stupid for "lashing out" defending an uneducated opinion.
My buddy has been hearing non-stop customers complaining about the "newer requirements" for "some" of the "newer games" that are out for both "Next-gen consoles and PC" and it's usually about the " base video ram requirements for PC" with some complaints about " base Quad Core requirements for PC.
So instead of complaining about my source choice, argue the "facts".
So what "facts" do you want to dispute?
Unless your just trying to troll and start a flame war?
@Gamer83 Lots of different sources. A lot of gaming websites and some of the E3 videos/interviews/after show's etc) Here, here and here for example and watching this, this, this and this for example... The last video is a good one!
@BAMozzy
Thanks
@Gamer83 no probs Hope you (and anyone else) finds them interesting.
@BAMozzy
The last video definitely got me more hyped. Which I didn't think was possible. I want the game yesterday.
This one is still a maybe for me until more gameplay is shown and info given. Modes, offline/online, handling of DLC and/or microtransactions.
I'm surprised it isnt already up for pre-order with a high priced season pass.
@BertoFlyingFox Haha. That does seem to be the industry these days, doesn't it? Having said that, this does seem like quite an expandable games, so if they want to add in expansions with extra quests and stuff post-release, I'd be cool with it — as long as the core game is good and work starts after the main campaign is complete.
@get2sammyb Yeah I'd be cool with expanded content in a game like this, it looks beautiful. Just dont want expensive DLC or a microtransaction kind of progression system that feels too grind heavy for the sake of selling small items in pieces.
Chances are that wont happen, I'm just much more cautious nowadays.
@get2sammyb
I don't know about you but I thought Killzone Shadow Fall was supported pretty well with good content for reasonable prices post-release. I think Guerrilla Games deserves some of the benefit of the doubt. It's not their companies like Capcom and WB have made DLC a dirty three letters.
Yep agree with pushsquare. Isn't the story written by an ex-fallout 3 writer and with ex-Witcher 3 employees? GG are one of the most talented developers in the world. .. just missing story writers and world creators but now I believe their team is maxed out. watch out naughty dog lol
@bbq_boy This GamesRadar article confirms that ex-Bethesda and CD Projekt Red developers helped build Horizon's open world. The lead writer of this wrote Fallout 3: New Vegas. They basically head-hunted some of the best people involved in RPG gaming...
@Gamer83 - yeah that last video is definitely a good one to explain a bit more and get you hyped!!
@RicksReflection Calm down there, your link to an opinion piece, which is pretty much debunked in its comments, was nothing but ignorant and lacking insight itself. I was not attempting to troll or anything of the sort.
Suggesting that the processing power needed to run a game on PC in Ultra at 60fps and in 4k is influenced by the PS4 is fanciful.
@stevejcrow -I don't know about where your from mate, but where I'm from if somebody "tries" to use a "witticism" with a "passive aggressive" attitude, its a insult plain and simple, so poking me in the eye and then telling me to be calm, ain't gonna cut it.
The article is factual in that the "influence" that this "(forefront) of new generation of consoles" is real, & affecting "Mid Range" PC Gaming.
Development for software across the "Consoles & PC" are linked sir and do "influence" one another, no matter what kind of juvenile witticism you try and come up with, and the fact that you would "still" try to argue differently shows that your more concerned with "being right", than "whats right", like "selectively parsing" part of the referenced article & printing it on this forum to "make it sound" ludicrous.
But instead you pop off trying to be "witty" and attacking someone unprovoked, instead of trying to "read" the content of the link on the "subject" and "then" refute any points you have that "you think" is not based in fact, that's in the link.
But instead you "directly" insult me, and yet (in your words)- I need to be calm....lol.
Let me ask you something, Does saying stuff like that work in a real life face to face situation, or only on forums and blog sites?
This game is a must buy! OPEN WORLD with Action RPGs and on top of dat, i heard there will be co-op !!! Damn, this is gonna be f huge! Like Halo-like or God of War-like scale !!!
This is your second warning, please watch the language -Tasuki-
I would say Fallout as game of the show but officially that was revealed before E3. I gues my next choice would be DOOM. Looked simple but fun. Horizon doesnt really appeal to me, robotic dinosaurs...I dont know, man
Uncharted 4 for me, then it was Fallout until I saw this game play video so this is now a very close second. The combat looks exceptional from the brief demo and cannot wait to see more. Hopefully any exploration there is lives up to this.
Also a quick shout out for Star wars Battlefront which is looking great
This is my favorite new IP this E3. AMSTERDAM PRIDE! GOO GUERRILLA!
Easily my favorite game shown from Sony. So glad Guerrilla stopped making Killzone games.
Super Mario Maker was the clear winner.
Meh
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