Even ignoring the actually rare setting and well done world building, Aloy’s growth from kid out of her depth into the Savior of the planet, and how she reacts to primitive tribal cultures with beliefs she knows are outright laughable are really well done and really well executed. I’m more of a “play games for the mechanics” person and that’s what originally got and kept me hooked, but the writing works well.
I think the writing is fine and have some major notes tbh, but damn if the Operation: Enduring Victory reveal and summary discussion among the generals wasn’t jaw dropping. Aloy is a joy to watch too. Great dialogue sometimes, just overall a fun character.
To me she seemed incredibly stiff and wooden in the first game, with only a couple moments where she really emoted.
I watched a bit of the second one, and it seems like they characterized her a lot more this time around, especially during the first fight with the giant snake robot.
All the characters were super stiff and kinda cheaply animated on facial expressions on the first one, and it’s clear they invested heavy to fix that on the follow up, where all characters are way better at conveying emotions.
I mean, yes the facial animations (although I’ll say the subtle/weird faces worked for that one murderer dude) but also Ashly Burch/A lot in general. I know she’s a fantastic VA, so it might have just been the direction or something, but in the second her voice feels more emotional
Horizon has good writing, but somehow all of it is in the lore and none of it in the actual story you play.
and how she reacts to primitive tribal cultures with beliefs she knows are outright laughable are really well done and really well executed.
This is the most annoying part of the writing for me, because it happens every other conversation. At that point just make her look directly at the camera and say “this guy, am I right, player? He’s not like us, the civilized people” and get it over with
Maybe because I played it after Witcher 3 but I ended up dropping the first game because I found the characters so dull, and side quests were especially lacking. Funny thing is I played BOTW afterwards and that hooked me despite worse graphics and much weaker story, but the gameplay and exploration I found so fun.
Sony keep on trying to make Horizon into a big franchise. No one ask for the Lego game, and they tried to make an show. Who still talks about Horizon outside of posts like this one? The answer is no one.
That’s not really what astroturfing is. Astroturfing refers to groups pretending to be a small startup, but are actually organized by and working toward the interests of a larger entity.
For instance, a group of activists may petition their local government to request new laws that restrict how corporations can exploit local water sources, under the guise of environmental protection concerns. But it turns out that activist group is actually owned by Nestle, who are trying to carve out laws that would drive out their competition and do little for the environment.
I mean…the first one sold 24mill and was a must-buy of the PS4 era. It reviewed and sold well. The IP has legs even if FW didn’t perform as well. Maybe you hate it but I at least enjoyed the first one. I plan on playing FW when I am in the mood for an open world next 🤷♂️
Why are you so angry about this game? You seem to have a real axe to grind.
The myopia on display here is just astounding. “Because I don’t like this game, I don’t believe anybody else likes it either and its popularity has been faked”.
All that’s missing is that you start ranting about how Horizon is a woke plot to sap and impurify our precious bodily fluids
Some people feel this being shoved down the throats of the public (hence the astroturfing), no different than the wave of zombies, wave of pirates, wave of X, wave of Y. They are all overdone, and everyone is trying to eat of the public opinion/market. They aren’t doing it for the right reasons, they are doing it for profit. THATS the issue.
Where are the donations to woman’s rights organizations? They don’t handle it right.
No it isn’t. I’ve played the first game thrice, the second twice, and genuinely adore both for a variety of reasons.
Forbidden West is literally the only game I’ve bothered taking a week off work to play on launch, and then did it again on PC to play the DLC.
There is nothing about Horizon which makes it’s popularity unwarranted. The fans are real and there’s tons of us.
I’ll admit the idea of a live action adaptation felt stupid, but after my parents got to experience the story of the The Last Of Us through the actually well executed adaptation, I was cautiosly ready to wait and see if they might not pull of a decent adaptation of Zero Dawn for them to watch, too.
Hearing of its cancellation is no great loss though.
Who wanted a Horizon show?
The Horizon “franchise” is astro turfed to high hell.
It’s one of the best written games I’ve played.
Even ignoring the actually rare setting and well done world building, Aloy’s growth from kid out of her depth into the Savior of the planet, and how she reacts to primitive tribal cultures with beliefs she knows are outright laughable are really well done and really well executed. I’m more of a “play games for the mechanics” person and that’s what originally got and kept me hooked, but the writing works well.
I think the writing is fine and have some major notes tbh, but damn if the Operation: Enduring Victory reveal and summary discussion among the generals wasn’t jaw dropping. Aloy is a joy to watch too. Great dialogue sometimes, just overall a fun character.
To me she seemed incredibly stiff and wooden in the first game, with only a couple moments where she really emoted.
I watched a bit of the second one, and it seems like they characterized her a lot more this time around, especially during the first fight with the giant snake robot.
All the characters were super stiff and kinda cheaply animated on facial expressions on the first one, and it’s clear they invested heavy to fix that on the follow up, where all characters are way better at conveying emotions.
I mean, yes the facial animations (although I’ll say the subtle/weird faces worked for that one murderer dude) but also Ashly Burch/A lot in general. I know she’s a fantastic VA, so it might have just been the direction or something, but in the second her voice feels more emotional
Come on mate she’s just got the tism. I grew up as a bright kid with autism who questioned absolutely everything and I related to Aloy like hell.
Horizon has good writing, but somehow all of it is in the lore and none of it in the actual story you play.
This is the most annoying part of the writing for me, because it happens every other conversation. At that point just make her look directly at the camera and say “this guy, am I right, player? He’s not like us, the civilized people” and get it over with
Maybe because I played it after Witcher 3 but I ended up dropping the first game because I found the characters so dull, and side quests were especially lacking. Funny thing is I played BOTW afterwards and that hooked me despite worse graphics and much weaker story, but the gameplay and exploration I found so fun.
Side quests are definitely filler content. I did a few but not much interesting stuff there. Yhe setting and backstory is what made it for me.
In what way is it astroturfed?
They don’t like it lol, simple as
Sony keep on trying to make Horizon into a big franchise. No one ask for the Lego game, and they tried to make an show. Who still talks about Horizon outside of posts like this one? The answer is no one.
That’s not really what astroturfing is. Astroturfing refers to groups pretending to be a small startup, but are actually organized by and working toward the interests of a larger entity.
For instance, a group of activists may petition their local government to request new laws that restrict how corporations can exploit local water sources, under the guise of environmental protection concerns. But it turns out that activist group is actually owned by Nestle, who are trying to carve out laws that would drive out their competition and do little for the environment.
“Fake grassroots” = astroturf.
Zero dawn is probably a brilliant idea based on the current political climate. Problem is we have too many Ted Faros
I mean…the first one sold 24mill and was a must-buy of the PS4 era. It reviewed and sold well. The IP has legs even if FW didn’t perform as well. Maybe you hate it but I at least enjoyed the first one. I plan on playing FW when I am in the mood for an open world next 🤷♂️
Why are you so angry about this game? You seem to have a real axe to grind.
I had a lot of fun with FW altho I did overall enjoy the first more story wise. Gameplay the second is much better.
Take your time with it, if you liked 1 you should enjoy 2 at least nearly as well if not more. The DLC was fun and cute too
Thanks!
The myopia on display here is just astounding. “Because I don’t like this game, I don’t believe anybody else likes it either and its popularity has been faked”.
All that’s missing is that you start ranting about how Horizon is a woke plot to sap and impurify our precious bodily fluids
What your describing is just a major studio selling IP. It has nothing to do with astroturfing.
It’s the prominent female role during a time of corporations trying to be more accepting, while sometimes going too far.
Astroturfing may not quite be the right term, but Sony definitely had a little agenda while pushing the marketing of this particular IP.
Oh my God! Not a female character! And in her own story!!
Quick shield my paper thin fragility!
Some people feel this being shoved down the throats of the public (hence the astroturfing), no different than the wave of zombies, wave of pirates, wave of X, wave of Y. They are all overdone, and everyone is trying to eat of the public opinion/market. They aren’t doing it for the right reasons, they are doing it for profit. THATS the issue.
Where are the donations to woman’s rights organizations? They don’t handle it right.
Removed by mod
You mean what was profitable and what the public wanted at the time…?
I’m not the same person… fucking yikes buddy. Step away from the keyboard for the day.
I am also afraid of strong female leads in video games.
Removed by mod
No it isn’t. I’ve played the first game thrice, the second twice, and genuinely adore both for a variety of reasons.
Forbidden West is literally the only game I’ve bothered taking a week off work to play on launch, and then did it again on PC to play the DLC.
There is nothing about Horizon which makes it’s popularity unwarranted. The fans are real and there’s tons of us.
I’ll admit the idea of a live action adaptation felt stupid, but after my parents got to experience the story of the The Last Of Us through the actually well executed adaptation, I was cautiosly ready to wait and see if they might not pull of a decent adaptation of Zero Dawn for them to watch, too.
Hearing of its cancellation is no great loss though.