In Horizon Zero Dawn, I’ve recently done something I rarely do: continued playing long after seeing the end credits roll. This, after having returned to the game over a year after its release, and not just for a dive into its Frozen Wilds expansion— I actually returned to complete the main story line.
Horizon’s open world full of beckoning icons and side quests galore had previously kept me distracted to the point that I’d made little progress. This time, I was committed to giving the game the chance it deserved… by decidedly sticking to the critical path so that I could blow through it as efficiently as possible and check it off my unfinished/backlog list. I marveled at the excellence of its writing as the story crescendoed, and at the complexity of its combat options, easing into a comfortable rhythm by the time I’d reached and overcome the final encounter. A cinematic post-credits scene teased a sequel. I was awestruck, felt a euphoric sense of accomplishment and completion, and left it behind. Until only a few days later, when it occurred to me I wanted more Horizon Zero Dawn.
Since returning for an encore, I’ve played countless hours more— both core game content and some of the Frozen Wilds DLC (which, so far, is great). Mostly, though, I’ve been diving into the abundant open world “distractions” and side quests I’d written off during my initial play-through in the main game, leaving my journey into the Frozen Wilds for after I’ve done everything else I want to do.
Lately, I’ve been really enjoying completing additional challenges like Hunting Grounds Trials, seriously testing my combat tactics and execution against the game’s robotic, dinosaur-like machines, and delving the depths of Cauldrons to enhance my spear’s machine override capabilities. I’ve also ascended all the Tall Necks to finally reveal the entire map, leading to further exploration and the collection of special items. And I’ve begun clearing Bandit Camps and Corrupted Zones, both significant challenges that continue to test my resourcefulness. Initially, these various options felt overwhelming, if not like unnecessary bloat. Now, having finally immersed myself in understanding the game and appreciating what it has to offer more fully, I’m happy to have even more Horizon Zero Dawn to play.
Update: On September 11, 2018, I proceeded to earn all PSN trophies for Horizon Zero Dawn’s main game, nabbing my first and only Platinum trophy to date.
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