Play on: PS5, PS4, Windows (Steam Deck N/A)
Current goal: Recover another AI to save the world
2017 was the last time I spent meaningful time with Aloy and the fearsome armada of robo dinos and insects that inhabit her post-apocalyptic world.
And oh em gee, I forgot how much fun this game's main combat loop is. It's been so long since I played the first one that I don't really remember the stark differences between Zero Dawn and Formerly forbidden at busy times. But the challenge of balancing bow-and-arrow shooting (my favorite type of shooting), resource management, trap placement, and elemental status effects gives me the pure adrenaline rush of a female warrior. Honestly, this would be my GOTY if it had come out this year (I mean, it kinda did on PC anyway).
The story is a bit over my head, though. As with Zero DawnI feel like this setting and these characters could have used another version or two? That said, I'm starting to really like Aloy as a heroine. The plot themes of environmental destruction, human greed, and artificial intelligence also provide some interesting food for thought… Nothing has won me over completely, but it's still good to think about!
These days I have more difficult challenges in games, so I'm playing on Very Hard and finding the combat rewarding enough that I'll do another playthrough on Ultra Hard once I'm done. Also, it's more than a fancy move, so it'll be good for testing and demonstrating the effects of future upgrades I make to my PC.
-Claire Jackson
Source link
