Horizon Zero Dawn: Complete Edition

The story of Horizon Zero Dawn: Complete Edition receives widespread praise for its engaging narrative, rich world-building, and character-driven themes. Critics like Digital Chumps highlight its emotional depth, describing it as a "tragedy with redemption" that leaves a lasting impact, while GameGrin applauds Aloy’s relatable journey and the game’s immersive storytelling. The post-apocalyptic setting, blending ancient tribes with advanced technology, is frequently lauded for its originality—IGN Spain notes its exploration of survival, evolution, and human-machine conflict, while COGconnected calls it a "unique and engaging" narrative that places the game among the "top games of the generation." The protagonist’s growth and the intricate lore, such as Aloy’s quest to uncover her past and the world’s collapse, are central to its appeal. Games.cz even hails it as one of the best stories in recent years, emphasizing its compelling plot and emotional climax. However, several critics point to narrative flaws that detract from the experience. Eurogamer Italy criticizes the script for being "overly verbose" with inconclusive dialogue options, while PCGamesN laments unresolved plot threads and bland characters. The dual storyline—focusing on tribal politics versus machine origins—is seen as underdeveloped by GameSpot, which notes that the initial focus on tribal conflicts feels less engaging than later revelations. PC Invasion highlights a protagonist who "feels overly perfect," creating a disconnect between story and gameplay, while Trusted Reviews critiques the depiction of tribal identities as problematic. Additionally, issues like repetitive quest structures (PCGamesN) and subpar voice acting (PC Invasion) are mentioned as persistent drawbacks. Despite these criticisms, the overall consensus among critics is largely positive, with many acknowledging the game’s strengths despite its flaws. The narrative’s unique blend of sci-fi and post-apocalyptic elements, coupled with Aloy’s compelling character arc, resonates strongly across reviews. Game Debate notes its "fresh take" on apocalyptic themes, while TheSixthAxis praises its intertwined stories of Aloy’s journey and world lore. While some critiques about pacing, dialogue, and character depth remain, the majority agree that Horizon Zero Dawn offers a memorable and immersive experience. As GameGrin observes, even those not typically drawn to sci-fi find the story "compelling," suggesting its narrative strengths outweigh its shortcomings for most players.

The gameplay of Horizon Zero Dawn: Complete Edition on PC is widely praised for its dynamic combat mechanics, strategic depth, and engaging open-world design. Critics like Digital Chumps highlighted the balanced skill tree, tiered weaponry, and weapon modifications as core strengths, while GameGrin and Gamersky emphasized the satisfaction of exploiting enemy weaknesses through stealth, traps, and varied weapons. The game’s focus on hunting mechanical creatures, combined with Aloy’s agility and tactical tools like the Focus scanner, was lauded for its innovation and replayability. Eurogamer Italy and Jeuxvideo.com noted the enjoyable blend of action-stealth mechanics and exploration, with PC Gamer praising the unique machine-taming system and diverse enemy designs. The PC port’s optimization and remappable controls also received positive remarks, as seen in GamingTrend’s acknowledgment of improved combat precision and smoother animations. However, several critics pointed to notable flaws, particularly around control schemes and open-world design. COGconnected and Gamersky criticized the mouse-and-keyboard setup for feeling less intuitive than controllers, especially for actions like dodging and aiming. DarkStation and PC Invasion highlighted issues with the open world’s overwhelming structure, citing excessive side missions, repetitive tasks like climbing Tallnecks, and a disorganized layout. IGN Spain and Meristation noted weaknesses in melee combat mechanics and AI shortcomings, while Metro GameCentral accused the game of relying on formulaic templates from other titles. Additionally, some reviewers, such as PCGamesN and JeuxActu, criticized the repetitive nature of resource gathering and the lack of innovation in stealth systems, which felt derivative of games like Far Cry 3. Despite these criticisms, the overall consensus among critics is that Horizon Zero Dawn: Complete Edition delivers a rewarding gameplay experience with strong combat and exploration elements. While 3DJuegos and GameSpot acknowledged minor flaws in PC controls, most agreed that the game’s core mechanics—such as its strategic combat, skill progression, and open-world variety—remain compelling. The Frozen Wilds expansion added content but did not significantly alter gameplay, as noted by DarkStation and JeuxActu. Critics like Worth Playing and Trusted Reviews emphasized that the game’s fun combat systems and exploration outweigh its shortcomings, making it a standout title despite its imperfections. The PC version’s optimization and flexibility (e.g., controller support) further solidified its appeal, even as some felt the open-world design could have been more refined.

The majority of reviewers lauded Horizon Zero Dawn: Complete Edition for its visually striking presentation, emphasizing its technical and artistic strengths. Critics consistently praised the game’s detailed environments, from lush forests to arid deserts, with COGconnected calling the PC version “breathtaking” for its sunlight effects and immersive landscapes. Areajugones highlighted realistic lighting, reflections, and an “artistic direction” that elevates the post-apocalyptic world, while GameGrin celebrated HDR effects, night-time machine lighting, and photo mode as standout features. God is a Geek described the visuals as “ridiculous” even years after release, noting enhanced resolution, ultra-wide support, and “masterful” environmental details. The PC port’s improvements—such as 4K resolution, dynamic foliage, and extended FOV—were frequently highlighted, with JeuxActu praising “dynamic foliage” and PC Gamer commending the game’s “visually diverse environments.” These reviews underscore a strong consensus that the game’s artistry and technical execution remain impressive, even by modern standards. However, several critics pointed to notable shortcomings, particularly in optimization and feature omissions. The absence of ray tracing and DLSS 2.0 was a recurring critique, with 3DJuegos and Eurogamer Italy noting these as missed opportunities for graphical fidelity. Performance issues also plagued the PC version, as Digital Chumps and GameSpew reported stuttering and frame rate drops on lower-end hardware, while COGconnected and GameSpew cited optimization problems that hindered smooth gameplay. Texture quality and character models faced scrutiny: JeuxActu criticized Aloy’s “overly smooth” appearance, and Jeuxvideo.com mentioned flickering vegetation and GPU-specific bugs. Additionally, Metro GameCentral noted that graphical improvements on PC were minimal unless using high-end hardware, while Impulsegamer acknowledged texture pop-in as a minor but persistent flaw. These issues, though varied, collectively suggest that the game’s visual ambitions sometimes clashed with technical execution. Despite these criticisms, the overall sentiment among reviewers was overwhelmingly positive, with most agreeing that Horizon Zero Dawn: Complete Edition delivers exceptional visuals. GameDebate and PCMag praised its “stunning aesthetic” and cohesive art style, while Worth Playing highlighted “gorgeous vistas” and seamless environmental transitions. Even critics who noted technical flaws, like Vandal and Trusted Reviews, acknowledged the game’s “quasi senza pari” (almost unparalleled) visual quality for a title of its age. The consensus was that while the PC port had room for improvement—particularly in optimization and feature parity with newer titles—the graphical and artistic achievements of Horizon Zero Dawn remain a strong selling point. As Windows Central noted, the game’s “diverse, emotionally resonant” world and “visually detailed” environments solidify its status as a visual triumph, even if some technical limitations persisted.

The sound design and music of Horizon Zero Dawn: Complete Edition receive widespread acclaim from multiple reviewers, who highlight their immersive qualities and technical execution. Areajugones praises the "excellent soundtrack, ambient effects, and spatial audio," while COGconnected emphasizes the "exceptional audio engineering" and dynamic transitions between serene and combat scenarios. Games.cz and Multiplayer.it both commend the soundtrack for its ability to elevate key moments and complement the game’s atmosphere, with TrueGaming noting that environmental sounds are "immersive." These critiques collectively underscore the game’s strengths in creating a cohesive auditory experience that enhances exploration and narrative engagement. The PC port’s improved surround sound, as noted by GamingTrend, further amplifies the sense of immersion, particularly in open-world environments. Despite these positives, several critics point to specific shortcomings. Areajugones identifies minor issues with audio positioning when using headphones, where voices occasionally misalign with visual cues, while GamingTrend notes "lip-sync discrepancies for minor characters." Jeuxvideo.com critiques the original soundtrack as "subtle and understated," lacking memorable or impactful moments, and TrueGaming observes that only one theme—likely the main melody—is truly memorable. Additionally, DarkStation’s vague mention of "audio environments" as a strength contrasts with Jeuxvideo.com’s criticism of basic facial animations, suggesting that while sound design is strong, other aspects of audio-visual integration may fall short. These critiques highlight areas where the game’s auditory elements could have been more polished or distinctive. Overall, the critics’ consensus leans heavily toward appreciation for Horizon Zero Dawn: Complete Edition’s sound design and music, with most agreeing that they contribute significantly to the game’s immersive quality. While there are minor technical issues and some reservations about the soundtrack’s memorability, the majority of reviews frame these as relatively minor flaws in an otherwise strong package. The PC port’s audio improvements further solidify its appeal, though the lack of substantial innovation in the music remains a point of contention. Collectively, the feedback suggests that the game’s auditory elements are effective and well-crafted, even if they don’t consistently reach the level of standout originality or technical perfection.

The voice acting in Horizon Zero Dawn: Complete Edition receives significant praise from several critics, particularly highlighting Ashly Burch’s performance as Aloy. DarkStation explicitly commends the "great voice work" and Aloy’s memorability, while Games.cz praises Burch’s portrayal alongside well-written characters that enhance immersion. Similarly, God is a Geek and TrueGaming highlight Burch’s strong vocal delivery, emphasizing how it contributes to the game’s engaging narrative. These critiques underscore the effectiveness of the voice acting in making Aloy a compelling protagonist and supporting characters relatable, with some noting that the story itself compensates for minor flaws. The resolution of audio issues from the PS4 version on PC, as mentioned by GamingTrend, further elevates the experience for players seeking polished sound design. However, several critics point to notable shortcomings in the voice acting and technical execution. Game Debate criticizes Aloy’s dialogue as "emotionless" and overly robotic, with some lines feeling "on-the-nose," while PC Invasion lambasts the voice acting, lip syncing, and facial animations as below standard, arguing they detract from immersion during key scenes. Worth Playing echoes this, noting inconsistent delivery, awkward animations, and dialogue that ranges from tolerable to laughable, despite a well-written story. Multiplayer.it’s observation that Italian voice acting mirrors the PS4 version without additional commentary suggests that while the core performances remain intact, technical polish remains uneven across platforms. These critiques highlight persistent issues with audio fidelity and animation synchronization that undermine the overall experience. The overall consensus among critics is mixed but leans toward acknowledging the strengths of the voice acting despite its flaws. While many praise Ashly Burch’s performance and the immersive qualities of the characters, others emphasize that technical shortcomings—such as poor lip-syncing and inconsistent delivery—hinder engagement. The story’s quality often serves as a buffer for these issues, with some critics like Game Debate and Worth Playing noting that it compensates for voice acting imperfections. Ultimately, Horizon Zero Dawn: Complete Edition’s voice acting is seen as a mixed bag, with its emotional depth and character portrayal standing out against the backdrop of technical inconsistencies that persist across platforms.

The technical performance of Horizon Zero Dawn: Complete Edition on PC has seen notable improvements, particularly in optimization and scalability. Critics like 3DJuegos and Areajugones highlight that the game is well-optimized for mid-range hardware, with stable frame rates and a day-one patch addressing initial issues. Eurogamer Italy praises scalable settings and 4K support, while IGN Spain notes enhanced features such as ultrawide compatibility and mouse/keyboard controls. GamingTrend emphasizes uncapped framerates and adaptive performance tweaks, and PCMag reports smooth performance on mid-range systems with consistent frame rates at high settings. Additionally, TheGamesMachine and TrueGaming commend the port’s solid foundation despite its age, suggesting that the technical groundwork is sound for a polished experience. However, several critics point to persistent technical flaws that undermine the PC version’s potential. COGconnected criticizes significant optimization issues requiring high-end hardware, while JeuxActu describes severe problems like 20-minute load times and frequent crashes. GameSpew and Vandal highlight missing DLSS support and GPU-specific bugs, such as stuttering on AMD cards or performance dips at higher resolutions. GameSpot and PCGamesN note frame rate drops during combat and texture pop-in, while Metro GameCentral and Meristation criticize instability and unexplained stuttering. These issues, combined with long load times and occasional crashes, create a fragmented experience that varies widely depending on hardware and driver configurations. Overall, the consensus among critics is mixed but leans toward cautious optimism. While many acknowledge improvements in optimization and scalability compared to earlier ports, technical inconsistencies remain a hurdle. Critics like 3DJuegos, Areajugones, and PCMag highlight the game’s stability on mid-range systems, whereas others, such as JeuxActu and Vandal, emphasize its fragility for less powerful setups. The lack of universal polish—particularly in areas like DLSS support and GPU-specific optimizations—suggests that Horizon Zero Dawn: Complete Edition is a technically sound but uneven PC experience. Despite these flaws, the game’s core mechanics and visuals remain compelling, with many reviewers agreeing that its technical shortcomings are mitigated by its engaging gameplay and aesthetic appeal.

The majority of reviewers highlight the strong replayability of Horizon Zero Dawn: Complete Edition through its expansive open-world design, diverse content, and features that encourage multiple playthroughs. Critics like 3DJuegos, DarkStation, and IGN Spain emphasize the game’s 40+ hour base experience, bolstered by DLCs such as The Frozen Wilds, which add significant hours of exploration and side quests. Gamersky and Games.cz specifically note the inclusion of "New Game+" mechanics and all content (including expansions), which enhance longevity. The game’s varied landscapes, hidden secrets, and dynamic combat systems—mentioned by Digital Chumps, Impulsegamer, and Windows Central—create a sense of discovery that keeps players engaged even after completing the main story. Additionally, JeuxActu and Multiplayer.it praise the open-world structure for fostering repeated exploration, while PCMag highlights the abundance of collectibles and scalable challenges that cater to completionists. However, several critics point out limitations in replayability due to repetitive elements and uneven content quality. PCGamesN and TrueGaming criticize the formulaic open-world design and average side missions, which can become tedious over time. Jeuxvideo.com and Worth Playing note that some side quests suffer from repetitive mechanics, while Multiplayer.it mentions superficial narrative elements that may deter multiple playthroughs. These critiques suggest that while the game’s core systems and exploration are compelling, its reliance on familiar open-world tropes and inconsistent side content could diminish long-term appeal for some players. The balance between innovation and repetition remains a point of contention among reviewers. Overall, the consensus leans positive, with most critics agreeing that Horizon Zero Dawn: Complete Edition offers substantial replayability through its rich world-building, DLC expansion, and mechanics like New Game+. DarkStation, Digital Chumps, and God is a Geek argue that the game’s engaging combat, narrative depth, and exploration make it worth revisiting, even for those who’ve played it before. While some reviewers, such as PCGamesN and Jeuxvideo.com, acknowledge flaws in repetition and side content, these are often seen as minor drawbacks compared to the game’s strengths. The combination of extensive playtime, varied challenges, and a rewarding open world positions Horizon Zero Dawn as a strong candidate for multiple playthroughs, despite its occasional shortcomings.