The world of Horizon Zero Dawn, with its breathtaking landscapes and mechanical beasts, arrived on PC with the Complete Edition, offering players the definitive experience. But with so many other games vying for your attention, and potential steam specials popping up, is it still worth diving into Aloy's adventure in 2024? This review will explore gameplay, performance, and overall value to help you decide if this complete package is right for you, even compared to a PS4 or PS5.
Unraveling the Mystery: What Horizon Zero Dawn Offers
Horizon Zero Dawn™ Complete Edition on PC delivers the full narrative arc of Aloy, a young outcast seeking to uncover her past and prevent a catastrophic future. The game blends action RPG mechanics with a compelling open world to explore. Players engage in tactical combat against unique machines, using a variety of weapons and skills. The complete edition includes "The Frozen Wilds" expansion, adding new lands, skills, and challenges to the base game, ensuring hours of gameplay for those who want to complete every quest. The target audience is broad, appealing to action RPG fans and those who enjoy open world adventures with engaging stories.
Performance and Value: How Does It Hold Up?
Originally released on PC in 2020, Horizon Zero Dawn Complete Edition has seen several updates to improve performance. The game generally runs well on modern hardware, though older systems may require some tweaking of settings. Comparing the PC version to the original PS4 release, the PC version offers superior graphical fidelity and frame rates. When considering value, the Complete Edition offers a substantial amount of content for its price, especially when on sale. It's a worthwhile investment for those who haven't experienced the game before, or those looking to replay it with enhanced visuals.
A Lasting Impact: Community and Continued Relevance
Despite being released a few years ago, Horizon Zero Dawn maintains a strong community and a continued presence in gaming discussions. While there's no active DLC development, the game's modding community keeps the experience fresh with new content and enhancements. Its sequel, Horizon Forbidden West, builds upon the foundations of Zero Dawn, making it an essential starting point for newcomers to the series. The game's single-player focus provides a self-contained experience, offering plenty of replayability through new game plus and difficulty options.
The Verdict: Should You Embark on Aloy's Journey?
Horizon Zero Dawn™ Complete Edition remains a compelling experience on PC. Its engaging story, tactical combat, and beautiful open world combine to create a memorable adventure. If you enjoy action RPGs and are looking for a game with a rich narrative and plenty of content, especially at a discounted price during Steam Specials, this is a must-buy. Whether you're a newcomer or a returning player, Aloy's journey is still well worth embarking on in 2024. Consider it even if you have a PS5; the PC version offers unique modding opportunities.
Pros & Cons
✅ Pros
- Engaging story and well-developed characters
- Tactical combat with diverse machine enemies
- Beautiful open world to explore
- Complete Edition includes substantial DLC content
- PC version offers graphical enhancements over consoles
❌ Cons
- Initial PC release had performance issues (mostly resolved)
- Combat can become repetitive at times
- Some open-world activities feel generic
- Requires a relatively powerful PC for optimal settings
- Story pacing can feel slow in certain sections