Upcoming PlayStation 4 exclusive Horizon: Zero Dawn is building up to be an ambitious undertaking for first-party studio Guerrilla Games. Supposedly a sort of action role-playing game hybrid that's set in a big open world, many interested onlookers have no doubt been pondering upon the size and scope of the release, and thanks to IGN Latin America's interview with producer Mark Norris, we've finally got some interesting quotes to go on.
According to Norris, it's not the size of the game's world that people should be concerned with - it's the density of it. "I think it's always interesting when we talk about an open world, [many] wonder how big the map is," he begins, adding: "I think one of the things you should ask is how dense the population of that map is, what activities will be [like] or if it will [be] a map where you [have to] run where there is absolutely nothing."
In other words, a map that's full of things to see and do is better than a gigantic map with next to nothing in it. It's a statement that we tend to agree with, with last year's Fallout 4 in particular proving that an incredibly dense game world can work wonders compared to a setting that's simply large for the sake of being large.
"We are really seeing the quality of the content that will be on the map, the number of secondary missions, how we want to shape the main story over the world map and feel full. We do not have a size that we can give, but I can say that we have done an analysis of other games and I think we have achieved something that will be good for Horizon," Norris concludes.
Does this sound promising to you? Is Horizon right up near the top of your most wanted list? Hunt some mechanical animals in the comments section below.
[source latam.ign.com, via examiner.com]
Comments (40)
Even more important than density is unique content, though. Fallout 4's definitely got a strong open world, but I did feel like I was starting to see the same things after a while.
It sounds like they're probably on the right track with this, though.
MGSV is a good example of this, the gameplay is fantastic but it's world was far too big where you constantly had to run all over the map to complete missions without much happening.
LOVE the Killzone games, so I have full confidence this will be just as engaging.
@MadAussieBloke Couldn't agree more. I'm sure a lot of people enjoy vast open spaces as it immerses them in the world, but not me. Or you.
This sounds promising. I can't stand unnecessarily bloated world maps. It decreases fun factor rather than increasing it.
Yeah, I think it's safe to say that is a better response. That quells one of my worries for the game.
Somewhat off-topic...
I haven't even played the game yet but all ready love the main character. I think she look's terrific. Anyone know who is voicing her?
For a game like this wouldn't you want big open spaces for all the robot dinosaurs etc. But wow just looked at the screenshots the game looks amazing with all the scenery, can't wait to see more of this game!
I am so stoked for this game. I'm fairly picky about the games I buy now-a-days but this will definitely be a pre-order for me. I can not wait. I think the fact that it's post-post apocalyptic shows that they are thinking outside the box. Please be released in 2016 ray:
@Splat I think it's Nolan North
It can still be big without being bloated and ridiculous. I wish a developer would take the leap and create an open world game without fast travel. Instead make interesting things to see and do on the way to your main objectoves. Just my opinion.
Horizon: Zero Dawn is by far my most anticipated new IP. Its also more anticipated than a lot of existing franchises too. In terms of PS4 exclusives, its only behind Uncharted 4 in terms of my most anticipated game - partly because I love Uncharted games and the quality of Naughty Dog as developers - lets be honest their last 4 games have all been GotY winners and can see U4 being no different either.
Everything from the concept, lead character, genre, art style etc appeals to me about this and I do prefer to have a more densely populated world than vast open spaces with little to do. Obviously You don't want everyhing condensed into a very small area either and some 'quieter' areas can help make the busy areas seem more intense too. I get the impression that the world will have quite a bit of variety, from Tribal villages, to open planes and wooded areas (where the Robo-Dinos roam) as well as 'old' and overgrown cities as well. Maybe it won't be as big as the total area in the Witcher 3 (if you also include all the Viking inspired islands) but I don't think it will be condensed into a 'small' area either
@SonyInfinity Yeah fast travel ruins open world games slightly just because of the amount you miss and the random events that happen. I refuse to fast travel anyway unless I absolutely have to.
Good, I'm tired of games being big for the sake of it, The Witcher as amazing as it is would be just as good if the map was half the size or maybe even better. GTAV is another which is huge but almost every building is a look but don't touch scenario. Fallout 4 seems to have it about right and it sounds like Horizon is going to focus on the things that actually matter. This is going to be a great year for gaming and Horizon is right at the top of my list of new IP's
@Patinator
I concur, fast travel for me is something I only use very late on in a game, for loose end quests.
As for open world's, if you take red dead redemption, that was quite empty but it worked beautifully.
This is definitely a game I am excited about. This article also brings up another game in No Man's Sky. The idea of being in such a large place and nobody you know to encounter along the way definitely diminishes appeal of the game.
I agree. It's quality over quantity any day.
Arkham Knight had quite a small map but was full of things to do and clever design made the world map seem bigger than it was.
@carlos82 Gta 5 was huge but quite empty on single player. Online has a fair bit to do but the whole point of Gta online freemode was to make your own fun/ storys etc. I much prefer big open worlds where there's big open spaces etc but you can make your own fun/ story with it rather than open world games where you can follow the story and the rest are just fillers.
Considering they signed one of the minds behind fallout 3, and new Vegas it should have good density.
It's number one on my anticipated games list. Agree with Norris 100%
@get2sammyb I simply can't take fallout 4 anymore, is always the same thing, Supermutant, deathclaw, a few bandits, some stupid generic quest.
@Splat Google would know.
@Frank90 it seems like ur doing the preston misiions
@ozgood really I think its awesome a huge universe to explore also u can play the game u want
Yes please! I don't need large map where majority are just empty space with collectibles and list to do...
Fallout 4 seems to do it right. Packed with a wild variety of things to do, and if you get tired of all the different types of combat (stealth, melee, guns blazing) you can do town building.
Ugh, Skellige is why I gave up on Witcher 3, loads of island that take an age to reach, run around mountainous islands to find empty places, fight the same dozen monsters over and over, the game needed chopping by a third and replacing with the DLC, they basically did what Destiny did except the Witcher content is superior.
@MadAussieBloke Yeah, agreed. I think the towns in TW3 were very well done and has sufficient hustle and bustle, but overall the world felt quite barren. Fallout 4 was better, and not just because it was supposed to be a barren wasteland. I also like how a lot of the NPCs would refer to each other and make the world feel connected, like that girl from the farm near Sanctuary having a crush on that black guy from Diamond City's bar. The same girl was the topic of a conversation of the mother and son on a distant farm, the mother advising her son to try to make her his wife but the son saying "No, she's got her eye on [name of black guy that I've forgotten] from Diamond City". I really enjoyed that.
Not to mention the little story you piece together about the father trying to protect his two sons in his little nuclear bunker, wondering where his wife - a nurse from the city - was and if she was okay. Then you go to the large hospital in Boston and see her journal on the terminal, wondering about her husband and sons and regretting that she couldn't die with them. Pretty moving stuff and all as totally missable content that the player must piece together him or herself. Or games do similar things but it was the sheer volume and interconnectivity of it in FO4 that elevated it.
@SKC_Diamond Preston, Haylen, the other guy on cambridge police station, the one who send me to take the crops from the farmers, there's A LOT of repetitive quests. And this is lame, even for bethesda "not so great" standards
Kinda excited for this game but i've not heard anything about crafting or equipment or weapon customisation or anything really that make's this stand out apart from having metal dinosaur's and a red head. Anyone else seen anything new?
Super excited for this game!
@Frank90 Go to Goodneighbour, do the Silver Shroud questline and I dare you not to smile.
"In other words, a map that's full of things to see and do is better than a gigantic map with next to nothing in it"
Ya know what's even better than that? A gigantic map that's full of things to see and do. Why does it have to be either/or? Take a cue from Xenoblade Chronicles X- a world the size of Skyrim, The Witcher 3 and Fallout 4 COMBINED, yet more densely populated than any of those games. Heck, I wouldn't be surprised if it was as dense as all 3 combined too.
Point being, you can do both. While density is more important than size, it's also a cop out to use one as an excuse for the other...
@ApostateMage I did it, it's nice, but short, four quests I guess. And the end is a bit abrupt.
This is very encouraging. I'm playing Divnity now (still) and I love the fact that there is always something going on on the map, around pretty much around every single corner. It's the density of what you can do that keeps your interest going, not the map size. If they manage to get them positively big but balanced by stuff to do, I am in (even more than I was as I'm really keen to get this).
@SonyInfinity Kingdom Come Deliverance.
@swordofdestiny95 Now that is a game I haven't thought about in awhile, but is definitely on the radar. Makes sense they wouldn't include fast travel as they are going for 100% realism, which I think if done correctly could be awesome. I am actually pretty burned out on the fantasy genre but Kingdom Come looks be a medieval style game set in a realistic world. Any idea on a release date? I know it is a small studio so could be awhile I guess.
@SonyInfinity It's currently in Alpha. I'm hoping sometime this year. And hoping for retail release. You can check Warhorse Studios YouTube channel. They post dev diaries and updates.
@swordofdestiny95 Thanks for the info bro
@SonyInfinity No problem. This'll be a good year for Sony and split screen games.
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