Play it: PS5, PS4, Windows (not applicable to Steam Deck)
Current goals: Restore another artificial intelligence to save the world
2017 was the last time I spent meaningful time with Aloy and the terrifying armada of Dinobots and beasts that populate her post-apocalyptic world.
Oh my gosh, I forgot how fun the core combat loop of this game is. It’s been a long time since the first one, and I can’t remember the specific differences. zero dawn and Forbidden West during busy times. But the challenge of balancing bow shooting (my favorite type of shooting), resource management, trap setting, and elemental status effects gave me a pure adrenaline rush for a female hero fantasy. Seriously, this would be my top pick if it came out this year (I mean, it’s on PC anyway).
However, this story was a bit beyond my imagination. and zero dawndo I think this setting and these characters could use another draft or two? That said, I started to really like Aloy as a heroine. The plot’s themes of environmental destruction, human greed, and artificial intelligence also provide interesting food for thought… especially considering where the real-life Earth seems to be heading (laughs). Although nothing can completely convince me, it’s still nice to think about!
these days I crave more difficult challenges in the game, so I played it on “Very Hard” and found the combat rewarding enough that I will definitely play it again on “Super Hard” once I complete it. Plus, the motion effects are gorgeous, so it’s perfect for testing and demonstrating the impact of future upgrades I’ll make to my computer.
— Claire Jackson
