Science fiction with a bow and AI: 10 reasons to love Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered

At first, I was a bit sceptical about the Horizon Zero Dawn remaster. But then I remembered that I played the original when I was in high school (I have a diploma now), so over these 6 years, a lot of new people have come into the gaming industry who have not yet had time to get acquainted with the world where primitive people survive among high-tech machines. And it is for this audience that all these remasters should be perceived in the first place. The gg editorial team has completed Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered and decided to take a tour of the game's world to talk about the 10 main aspects that make you love Zero Dawn, and the "old" audience will be able to refresh their memories and once again go to save the world so that it does not die again.

A quick transition:

1. Cinematic storyline
2. Updated graphics for $9.99
3. Visor is your best friend
4. Combat system
5. Armour
6. Skills
7. Vehicles
8. Boilers and vehicle interception
9. Tribes
10. Quests

• Bonus #1: Frozen Wilds expansion pack
• Bonus #2: Easter Eggs related to other games
• In the dry balance

Cinematic storyline

Horizon Zero Dawn is set in the distant future, where human civilisation has been destroyed and nature has recovered, taking over the lost cities. Only a few tribes are left, and the world is inhabited by mechanical creatures that look like animals and dinosaurs. The main character is a young huntress Aloy, an outcast from the Nora tribe, who is trying to find answers to questions about her past and the origin of the world around her.

Since childhood, Eloi has lived alone under the care of Rostu, her teacher and protector, as the tribe avoids the girl because of the secret of her birth. However, she is determined to prove herself worthy of being with Nora and decides to take part in a test to earn the tribe's respect. During the test, the Nora settlement is attacked by unknown enemies trying to destroy Aloy, who, as it turns out, plays a key role in deciding the future of humanity.

The story of Zero Dawn attracts with a combination of a post-apocalyptic world, complex human relationships, and the secrets of an ancient civilisation. Yes, at first it seems that this is just a story about survival in a post-apocalyptic world. But behind all this lies a real large-scale science fiction story, because everything has an explanation - no magic. And at the same time, the game explores the topic of artificial intelligence, human responsibility for progress, and the danger of self-replicating technologies.

And all the while, you have the feeling that Zero Dawn is a game that would be easy and interesting to film, because there is a search for answers: who is Aloy, who are her parents, why did civilisation disappear, how did these machines appear, and how does all this coexist.

And if you haven't yet experienced dozens of game stories, believe me, the plot of the first Horizon will be something to interest you. Especially if you explore the game's lore in detail.

The lore of the world that was born again

The lore in Horizon Zero Dawn is really interesting. Usually, I hate all sorts of notes and the like in games, but here I wanted to find out what happened to this interesting world.

A huge part of the story is revealed through the artefacts of the ancient world that Aloy finds in the ruins - voice recordings, audio recordings, text records, and glyphs. Each of these elements provides fragments of information that help us understand how a highly developed civilisation plunged into chaos and what happened to the planet, turning it into a world where mechanical beings dominate nature.

Although it's also worth noting that many of the notes don't add anything to the lore, but allow us to create a detailed world in relief, showing it from different angles. Still, what elements are used to reveal this world?

• Voice recordings: These are video messages that tell in detail about the life and plans of ancestors. Through these recordings, players get to see the people of the past and learn about their fears, hopes, and last steps before the collapse of civilisation.
  
  
• Audio recordings: These recordings often contain personal stories and reflections that add more emotional context to the events. Through audio recordings, players hear conversations between friends, family and co-workers, revealing the personal tragedies that were part of the global catastrophe.
  
  
• Textual recordings: These include memos, notes, working documents, and emails, which provide insight into the daily concerns and problems of people at the time, as well as the development of the events themselves and how the world's leaders tried to contain the impending end.
  
  
• Glyphs: These are symbolic messages from modern tribes that keep secrets about their cultures, beliefs and perception of the world around them. Through glyphs, we can trace how the view of the world changed after the disaster, as well as how people adapted to the new conditions, creating their own mythology, in which the technologies of the past turned into deities and legends.

These elements help us to see the tragedy of the past and compare it with the new reality that Aloy faces. This approach to storytelling adds depth to the Horizon Zero Dawn universe and helps players not only explore but also understand the legacy that humanity has left for future generations.

Updated graphics for $9.99

Playing through the remaster, I was once again convinced that sometimes our brains deceive us or make memories from the past more vivid. The first few minutes in Zero Dawn Remastered you think: "Well, what's changed?". And then you open the original and realise that the game has undergone a lot of graphical changes. Now the graphics of Zero Dawn = Forbidden West. And the Horizon dilogy feels more coherent, because now there is no "technical gap". So what specific changes has the remaster undergone?

• Updated nature: from now on, the nature of the post-apocalyptic world feels more dense. Leaves, trees, grass, bushes, rivers, and all textures in general have been redesigned, and exploring the old and at the same time updated world is much more enjoyable, because sometimes you just want to take longer to get to the next task so that you can spend more time looking at the extremely attractive and diverse landscapes - from forests, mountains, steppes to winter deserts.
  
• The world is more alive: villages, outposts and cities feel more alive. We've added many more places for NPCs to stand, sit, or work, so the world no longer feels empty, as it could at times in the original version.
  
• Overhaul of buildings: the texture library from Forbidden West was used to update the buildings, so now the buildings look better. And besides that, walking around different locations, you will see the deformation of snow and sand as you move.
  
• Improved dialogues: Another important innovation is the updated dialogues, as 10 hours of additional character motion capture data was added to the remaster. In addition to updating the animations in the conversations, the camera and lighting settings for both conversations and scenes have also been updated.
  

So, Nixxes Software, who was responsible for the remaster, did a great job and the game was really brought to life. So if you've been wanting to get back into Zero Dawn but have been putting it off, feel free to pick up the $10 update, because all these changes are well worth the price.

Visor is your best friend

Having discussed the changes in the remaster, we can now return to the main elements of the game. At the very beginning of the game, you get a viewer that you will use all the time, but what is it?

This small technological relic becomes an indispensable tool for Aloy to survive, explore, and interact with the environment. The visor gives her an advantage over other hunters because it allows her to scan things and machines, identify their weaknesses and learn their behavioural patterns. Roughly speaking, the visor acts as an augmented reality for Aloy.

Interface and features of the viewer

The viewer interface is activated by pressing the R3 button and shows a holographic image of the world around you, highlighting important elements. It has several main functions:

• Machine scanning: allows you to identify individual components, design details and weaknesses of each type of machine by highlighting them in yellow.
  
  
• Highlighting resources and objects: all resources that can be collected are visible through vegetation or other obstacles.
  
  
• Trail and route detection: allows you to trace the tracks of animals or enemies, and shows future routes for vehicles.
  
  
• Researching the history of the world: the vision reads data and messages hidden in abandoned buildings and holographic displays, revealing the history of the world and previous civilisations.

All in all, the visor is one of Aloy's most important tools, providing her with a tactical advantage and allowing her to discover more details about the world of Horizon Zero Dawn, its past, and the technologies left over from an ancient civilisation.

Combat system

The combat system in Horizon Zero Dawn combines different types of weapons and tactics, allowing players to choose a fighting style that suits their preferences. Thanks to several types of weapons that have their own characteristics and purpose, you can become the best hunter in this world, and various modifications allow you to improve them and adapt them to different situations.

Types of weapons

• Spear: The main melee weapon that Aloy uses to deliver quick strikes. In addition to regular strikes, the spear can be used to intercept machines, giving you access to the ability to control them as transport to move around the world (such as robo-horse).
  
• Thebows in the game are divided into three types:
• Hunting bow: A standard weapon, suitable for medium-range battles. The arrows for this bow come in different types, from regular arrows to fire arrows, suitable for different tactics and enemies.
• Precision bow: Designed for long-range battles and has a higher punch than a hunting bow. This bow is ideal for targeting enemies' vulnerabilities.
• Military bow: Used to shoot special projectiles, such as electric arrows, that can be used to impose effects on enemies that weaken them.
  
• Rope gun: Designed to restrain and immobilise vehicles. The ropes can be tied to the ground, reducing the enemy's mobility and making them an easier target for precision attacks.
  
• Sling: A weapon that allows you to throw explosive charges. Sling weapons are available with explosive, frost, and fire charges, and are particularly effective against large vehicles that are vulnerable to explosions.
  
• Nitemet: This weapon allows you to set thread traps between two points. When the enemy passes through these threads, an explosion occurs, causing heavy damage and stopping the enemy.
  
• Traps: A set of individual items used to prepare for battle. For example, explosive or fire traps can be placed in the path of enemies, dealing additional damage as they approach.
  

Weapon modifications

Each weapon can be upgraded by adding modifications that improve certain characteristics. For example, modifications can increase attack power, bow draw speed, or improve additional effects such as fire, ice, or electricity. Modifications are found in the game world or obtained from defeated enemies.

Armour

Armour plays an important role in protecting Aloy during battles with machines and humans. Each set of armour has its own unique characteristics, suitable for certain fighting styles or to counter specific threats. Armour can also be upgraded with modifications that add resistance to different types of attacks.

Types of armour

The game features several types of armour, each with its own unique benefits:

• Hunting armour: Balanced for different situations, it offers basic protection and is suitable for standard combat.
  
  
• Stealth Armour: Enhances Aloy's ability to remain undetected, which is ideal for those who prefer to avoid open conflicts and attack from hidden positions.
  
  
• Melee Armour: Increases protection against physical attacks, useful for fighting enemies who attack at close range.
  
  
• Effect Resistant Armour: Designed to increase resistance to fire, frost, or electricity. It is very useful for battles with machines that have attacks with elemental effects.

Armour classes

Armour in Horizon Zero Dawn is also classified by rarity:

• Normal (green): The simplest armour with basic protection.
• Rare (blue): Offers more resistance to certain types of attacks than regular armour.
• Epic (purple): Offers the best protection and additional effects that can be modified to increase effectiveness in combat.

Armour modifications

Just like weapons, armour can be modified to add improvements that increase its resistance to various types of damage. For example, some modifications can add resistance to electrical attacks or increase the overall level of protection. This allows players to customise their armour for specific tasks or types of enemies.

Shield Weaver armour

Special attention should be paid to the Shield Weaver armour, one of the most powerful sets in the game. This armour creates a protective energy field around Aloy that absorbs damage up to a certain point until it is depleted. When the energy field is depleted, it takes a short time to recover, during which time Aloy can take damage.

To get the Shield Weaver, players need to find five energy elements scattered around the world. This armour becomes very useful during difficult battles, giving Aloy the ability to withstand more attacks and thus better manoeuvre.

Skills.

In Horizon Zero Dawn, skills are an important part of Aloy's development, allowing players to tailor their playstyle to their needs. Skills are divided into four main classes, each focusing on specific abilities and approaches to combat, survival, and exploration.

Skill classes:

• Prowler: Focuses on improving combat skills, especially accuracy and ease of use of the bow. Skills in this class allow you to deal more damage to enemies, in particular by expanding your arsenal of attacks and capabilities in melee and ranged combat.
  
  
• Brave: Skills in this class improve survival by providing more stealth capabilities and helping Aloy to cloak more effectively, attack from hidden positions, and acquire more resources. This class is ideal for those who prefer a stealthy approach.
  
  
• Forager: Aimed at improving the ability to gather resources and manage supplies, which is very important during long journeys and large battles. This skill class gives you the ability to mine more materials, use traps, and better control intercepted vehicles.
  
  
• Traveller: helps with resource management and machine management.

The most important skill:

• Concentration (Brave): Allows you to use a special time dilation mode when aiming, which is very useful for accurate shots at vulnerable parts of machines.
  
  
• Silent Strike (Prowler): Allows you to quickly and silently eliminate enemies in close combat without being noticed.
  
  
• Triple Shot (Brave): The ability to shoot 3 arrows at once, allowing you to kill machines faster and more efficiently

More useful skills:

• Quiet Sprint (Prowler): Allows Aloy to make less noise while moving, which helps to move more efficiently around enemies.
  
  
• Critical Hit (Brave): The ability to deal a strong blow to an enemy who has lost his balance.
  
  
• Call Mount+ (Forager): Aloy will call a mounted machine to him at any point without the obligation to tame it.

Less useful skills:

• Scavenger (Forager): While useful for quickly accumulating materials, players can get enough resources without this skill if they explore the world carefully.
• Balanced Aim (Prowler): There are very rare moments in the game when you need to shoot at enemies while balancing on ropes (I had 0 such moments).

Cars.

In Horizon Zero Dawn, machines are the main enemies and the hallmark of the series. The world is inhabited by dozens of different types of machines, from small and fast to massive and extremely dangerous. Each machine belongs to a specific class, has its own weaknesses, combat tactics, and unique abilities.

Terra-formers

They resemble animals such as bulls or goats and shape the Earth's soil to help plants grow. There are 5 vehicles in the Terra-formers class:

• Broadhead
• Charger
• Grazer
• Rockbreaker
• Trampler

Purifiers

Similar to the first class, but their main task is to detoxify the atmosphere and marine biosphere. The Purifiers class includes 4 machines:

• Lancehorn
• Snapmaw
• Stormbird
• Strider

Recyclers

The main task of these machines is to disassemble the destroyed machines and return the parts back to the Boilers for reuse. This includes only 2 machines:

• Glinthawk
• Scrapper

Transport

Designed to move large volumes of cargo, as well as to transport materials for their own terraforming functions. There are 4 of these vehicles in total:

• Behemoth
• Fire Bellowback
• Freeze Bellowback
• Shell-Walker

Recon.

Originally created to help the machines find land suitable for terraforming, but later their purpose changed to guard and monitor other machines, as well as instantly attack humans when detected. There are 3 such machines:

• Longleg
• Redeye Watcher
• Watcher

Communication.

There is only one machine in this group that will never attack and cannot be attacked. In the game, you need to climb on the Tallneck machine, which resembles a giraffe, to open a certain area of the map.

Combat.

Combat machines didn't even exist at first, but appeared after machines began to see humans as a threat. Often equipped with weapons and armour, combat-class machines are some of the most dangerous machines and can often be seen among more vulnerable machines, probably guarding them. There are 4 of these vehicles in total:

• Ravager
• Sawtooth
• Stalker
• Thunderjaw

In general, each vehicle has its own "zest" and specialisation, which makes it necessary to use different approaches and combat strategies depending on the type of enemy and its behaviour. This makes the battles interesting and forces you to constantly adapt to new challenges, which makes Zero Dawn's gameplay one of the best elements of the game.

Cauldrons and vehicle interception

In Horizon Zero Dawn, cauldrons are ancient underground complexes where machines are created. By opening a cauldron, Aloy gets the opportunity to take control of certain machines. This gives a significant advantage in battle, as intercepted machines can help attack enemies or serve as transport. Although the ability to intercept the types of vehicles that serve as transport is granted to the player immediately after the prologue without the need to open the Cauldron.

In total, there are 4 boilers in the game:

• The SIGMA Boiler: In it, you have to solve primitive puzzles, and at the end there is a battle with the Fire Bellowback boss
• RHO Cauldron: Here you have more interesting puzzles, and at the end there is a battle with the boss Snapmaw
• CauldronXI: in it you will face a battle with the boss Stalker
• ZETA Boiler: There are no puzzles, and at the end there is a battle with the Thunderjaw boss

However, some machines remain unintercepted even after accessing the cauldrons, which adds to the challenges for players. Nevertheless, it is worth opening them, as it helps a lot in the battle and adds new opportunities for battle tactics.

Fighting the Thunderjaw boss in the ZETA cauldron

Tribes.

In the world of the game, humanity is divided into different tribes, each with unique beliefs, culture, and a special way of life that reflects their view of the world and methods of survival. They live on the remains of the old world, inhabiting different climatic zones and constantly facing threats from machines and hostile groups.

Types of tribes:

• The Nora are a tribe of hunters and gatherers, known for their seclusion and religious worship of Mother Nature, whom they consider sacred. They live in the forested mountains and strictly observe their traditions. The Nora are particularly reverent of sacred sites and have rituals that symbolise their dependence on nature.
  
• The Karha are the most advanced tribe in the Horizon world, known for their love of the sun, which they consider to be the supreme deity. Their kingdom, located in deserts and sunny plains, consists of the majestic city of Meridian and a powerful army. They suffered a civil war due to the rule of a cruel Sun King, which led to a split in the tribe.
  
• The Karha of Darkness are a splinter group of the Karha that emerged during the civil war. Their beliefs are shrouded in cruelty and dark rituals, and they serve the former Sun King, believing him to be the true leader. They are known for their aggression and inability to reconcile with the Karha.
  
• The Ozeram are a tribe of master blacksmiths and inventors who live in the mountainous regions. They do not have a strict religious structure, instead valuing craft and knowledge. The Ozeram are renowned for their technology and metalworking skills, making them key allies of the Karh.
  
• The Banuk are a tribe that lives in the icy lands of the north. They have a deep connection to machines, which they consider part of nature, and worship them through spiritual shamans. The Banuk are also renowned hunters who believe in the ability to conquer machines by learning their weaknesses and characteristics. The Banook are revealed in the Frozen Wilds expansion pack.
  

All of these tribes add variety to the world of Horizon Zero Dawn, and reveal different sides of humanity trying to survive the dangers of the new world.

Quests

Quests are divided into main (story) quests and numerous side quests that not only add new details to the story, but also provide opportunities to earn rewards, skills and resources.

Story quests

Story quests are the main storyline that reveals the origin of Aloy, its connection to the world of machines, and the secrets of ancient civilisation. They develop key events and lead Aloy to discover her destiny. The player passes through various locations, learns about the Metal World, restores destroyed technologies, and gradually understands how machines began to dominate the planet.

Side quests

Side quests complement the world of Horizon Zero Dawn, giving the player the opportunity to help other characters who are facing difficulties or danger. In them, Aloy meets with representatives of different tribes and often acts as a mediator in their conflicts or solves local problems. Completing these quests often brings valuable resources and experience, as well as unlocks additional story elements.

Quests.

Quests are small tasks that the player can complete as they pass by or encounter random situations in the world. They are less significant than main or side quests, but can provide useful resources, experience, and rewards for completing them quickly.

Infected zones

These locations are infected with aggressive machines that have become more dangerous due to anomalies in their code. Aloy must clear these areas by destroying enemies to make them safe. Completing such tasks brings bonus experience and opens up new areas on the map.

Hunting grounds

Hunting grounds are special challenges where players can test their skills. There are three levels of challenges in each hunting ground, and each of them has a time limit. For the successful completion of tasks, the player receives rewards and badges that can be exchanged for special rewards from traders.

Bandit camps

Bandit camps are scattered around the world and are havens for enemies who terrorise the local population. Aloy can clear these camps, destroying enemies and thus ensuring security in a particular region.

Viewpoints.

Viewpoints are places that allow Aloy to view voice recordings and story fragments that reveal events from the past. Each viewpoint shows the remnants of the humanity that inhabited the world before the catastrophe and reveals details of how civilisation fell.

Collectibles

Collectibles include artefacts, glyphs, and other items. They can be found all over the world and often tell additional stories about an ancient civilisation or provide information about the culture of different tribes. For collecting certain amounts of such items, Aloy receives rewards from merchants or special rewards that make the quest easier.

Each of these quest elements enriches the world of the game, allowing the player to better understand the past and present of the Horizon Zero Dawn world.

Bonus #1: Frozen Wilds expansion pack

But after completing the game, don't rush to delete it, because the remaster still has the Frozen Wilds story expansion.

The Frozen Wilds expansion pack for Horizon Zero Dawn expands the original game by adding new territories, storylines, enemies, and mechanics. The player gets access to a snowy location - the Land of the Edge, which is home to the mysterious and warlike Banook tribe. Events unfold against the backdrop of a new threat - the presence of a mysterious force called the Demon, which infects and strengthens machines, making them deadly. Aloy must uncover the origin of this force and protect the Banook tribe.

New locations and storylines

Frozen Wilds opens up a huge new area to explore - a snowy region full of dangerous machines and beautiful, albeit harsh, landscapes. The location is full of frozen lakes, mountain peaks and cold wastelands, where both deadly machines and valuable resources are hidden. The player will get to know the Banook tribe, which has its own cultural heritage, beliefs and rituals, including their worship of machines and attempts to understand the nature of the "Demon" that infects local machines.

New enemies and machines

Frozen Wilds introduces new machines, each with unique attacks and requiring a special approach to combat. Infected machines also become more aggressive and resilient, posing a serious threat to Aloy. Learning new tactics and ways of fighting becomes a necessity.

New skills and weapons

The Frozen Wilds expansion pack also offers a new skill tree that provides opportunities to improve interaction with machines and combat. Some of these skills allow you to collect resources faster or intercept machines more efficiently. However, it is worth noting that this skill tree is available while playing the main game.

New weapons are also added to the game, including reinforced bows, as well as improved armour that protects Aloy from extreme cold and helps him better withstand strong enemies.

Bonus #2: Easter eggs related to other games

Horizon Zero Dawn also has Easter eggs that add interesting details and references to other games, which makes you explore the world in more detail. Here are a few of the most interesting ones, and you'll find the rest on your own, as we don't want to reveal all the cards:

• Killzone: you can see a group of Karh's guards playing a board game with a small figure resembling a Helghast soldier from the Killzone shooter series, another Guerrilla game. You can also find a mug with the game's logo.
  
• Death Stranding: on one of the corpses hangs a necklace worn by the protagonist of the DS game. There is also a doll and handcuffs from Death Stranding. The authors added them because Hideo Kojima created the DS using the Decima engine. Horizon was also made on the same engine.
  
• RIGS: Mechanised Combat League: at one of the vantage points you can see a stadium with the RIGS logo: Mechanised Combat League, a VR game created by Guerrilla's sister studio, Guerrilla Cambridge.
  

In a nutshell

Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered combines an interesting lore and story, updated and modernised graphics, and dynamic gameplay. The story of Aloy, who explores a post-apocalyptic world full of mechanical creatures and uncovers the secrets of the past, including the causes of the fall of civilisation, has every chance of attracting players who are just starting their journey into video game exploration.

A combat system and a wide range of weapons allow players to create their own strategies, taking into account the characteristics of each machine. A variety of skills, armour and modifications add even more depth to the gameplay. Thanks to the successful implementation of all these elements, Horizon Zero Dawn is an interesting game, and its remaster will help to attract both a new audience and return old players.

Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered
Genre.	Action Adventure RPG
Platforms.	PlayStation 5, PC
Number of players	Single-player
Developer	Guerrilla, Nixxes
Publisher	Sony
Time to complete	14-35 hours
Release date	31 October 2024

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