Play on: PS5, PS4, Windows (Steam Deck not applicable)
Current goal: Recover another AI to save the world
2017 was the last time I spent significant time with Aloy and the terrifying army of robotic dinosaurs and beasts that inhabit her post-apocalyptic world.
And oh, I forgot how fun the main combat loop in this game is. It’s been so long since I played the first game that I don’t remember the specific differences between them Zero dawn AND Forbidden West in hectic moments. However, the challenge of balancing bow and arrow shooting (my favorite type of shooting), resource management, trapping, and elemental status effects gives me a pure adrenaline rush in my female hero fantasy. Seriously, this would be my GOTY if it came out this year (I mean, it came out on PC anyway).
However, this story is a bit beyond me. As with Zero dawnI feel like this setting and these characters could benefit from another draft or two? That said, I’m starting to really like Aloy as a heroine. Plot themes like environmental destruction, human greed, and artificial intelligence also provide intriguing food for thought… especially considering where Earth is headed IRL (lolsob). Nothing really convinces me, but it’s still worth thinking about!
These days I feel like taking on more tough challenges in games, so I play on Very Hard and find the combat rewarding enough that I will definitely play another game on Ultra Hard once I finish. Plus, it’s incredibly great on the move, so it’ll be great for testing and showing off the impact of updates I make to my computer in the future.
-Claire Jackson
