In HZD you play as 10 year old Aloy, a girl abandoned by her mother at birth and is under the ward of Rost who have been outcast from their Nora tribe. After the first act Aloy grows to an 18 year old who is on a mission to find her mother.
The gameworld feels and looks like a cross between a Viking and Native American Inidan setting in a land over run by robotic animals (yeah pretty crazy story). It's nearest comparator is Assassin's Creed Valhalla, but HZD far exceeds AC in everyway. The narrative is quite gripping, you want to carry on playing to find out what happens next. There are quite a few unexpected WTF moments too.
That said this game has the bext graphics to date - it really is on the Pixar scale of animation, and along with beautiful quick time events and cutscreens it often feels like an interactive movie. The character models and scenery are stunning.
It is a semi open world and combat is quite basic but satisfying. Overall it is a fantastic game and I look forward to playing the expansions
I play in 4k ultra settings and get 75fps
Graphics 10
Sound 10
Gameplay 10
Story 10
Stability 10
Value for money 10
Fun Factor 10
Overall 10
Review Deck:
4k 120Hz 55" Samsung Q95T screen
Ryzen 3600X CPU
Gigabyte RTX 3070 Gaming OC 8gb gfx card
MSI B450 Pro Carbon mobo
24gb DDR4 Patriot Viper 3200mhz Ram
Razer Nari Ultimate wireless headset
Logitech G13 Gameboard
Logitech G602 15 button wireless mouse
Drevo 60% wireless RGB mechanical keyboard
EVGA 650w GQ 80+ Gold PSU