First one was amazing and reviews for the sequel are glowing. Who else is picking this one up at launch?

Can't wait! All the reviews basically say one was amazing and this one just improves on it

I still need to play Zero Dawn! Yikes...

There's Elden Ring coming out in a few weeks, too. I don't know where I'm going to find all this free time.

Other than Destiny 2's expansion, this has been my most anticipated game of the year (unless BoTW 2 or GoW 2 come out in 2022). I was really happy to read they invested more effort in the side quests and they're being compared to Witcher 3 levels of quality. Really looking forward to diving back into this world.

I'm really debating whether or not to play Zero Dawn, or just watch a good story recap video on YouTube for it.

chase128 said:

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I'm really debating whether or not to play Zero Dawn, or just watch a good story recap video on YouTube for it.

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Absolutely play it. I've played through the entire thing like 3 times.

Cromagnum said:

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chase128 said:

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I'm really debating whether or not to play Zero Dawn, or just watch a good story recap video on YouTube for it.

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Absolutely play it. I've played through the entire thing like 3 times.

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Another vote to play through it... was the first game on the PSN I got the platinum trophy on and still wished there was more to do. For an open world game, the fact the combat never got stale even on hour 50 was pretty awesome. I loved the Witcher 3, but there are only so many ways to fight a bandit or a monster in that game.

And do the story! Pick up all holos and texts. The fighting content plays second fiddle to the story in this game imo.

I've got my copy on pre-order for the PS4, never could get my hands on a PS5, plan on taking a couple of days off next week to play it.

And absolutely play the first game, it's probably my favorite game ever on PS4, also up there are The Last of Us 1 & 2, and Spiderman. Seen a few reviews and they are all outstanding. Playing the first game will give you a chance to get the mechanics down since there's so much you can do and adjust weapons on the fly. The new game will build on top of that. It's just a really cool environment as well, especially when you add in The Frozen Wilds DLC into the mix. You play everywhere from deserts, jungles, mountains, even inside of old buildings and underground areas called cauldrons, where you learn how to control different machines.

There will be plenty of new machines in the sequel but I think most of them from the first game will be also in there as well. Once you get the handle on the game it's really fun, I wouldn't say it's difficult, just really engaging and immersive. At the beginning I can remember seeing my first Thunderjaw and thinking, nope, no thank you. Later, those are the most fun fights to engage in, when you kill them with their own firepower. Fireclaws are a beast, even when you're good, I would blast arrows at them from crazy distances to defeat them. Plenty of times I wouldn't even fast travel to get where I needed, I'd just ride the whole way because the environment was fun to look at.

I've been looking forward to this game for a while.

As expected it looks better on PS5 and PS4 Pro compared to my standard PS4 but I'm just glad it's not a PS5 exclusive.

Been wondering about the first game forever. I have it on my Wishlist. I'll check it out after I finish my current game.

YouBet said:

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Been wondering about the first game forever. I have it on my Wishlist. I'll check it out after I finish my current game.

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Same. I have to many big open world games going right now

I put off the first for a while, but finally played it a few months ago and enjoyed it.

However, I don't want to dive into a new large game mere weeks before Elden Ring. I'm gonna have to put this one aside for later this year.

It will be nice to finally use my PS5 for a PS5 game, lol.

I was thinking the same thing! Excited for this series, but I'm definitely focusing on Elden Ring. Finally, some PS5 games!

HFW is downloaded on my PS5 and waiting for the digital gate keeper to go away and let me play it! I loved ZD and the story, side missions and just plain exploring was great.

chase128 said:

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I'm really debating whether or not to play Zero Dawn, or just watch a good story recap video on YouTube for it.

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I has one of the best combat systems ever designed. The gameplay destroys the story and the story is pretty good.

If you ordered the PS4 version to save $10 and get the PS5 upgrade for free, I wouldn't pre-install on the PS5. Its the wrong version as you wont get the PS5 version until launch day since they haven't given us credit yet for the PS5 version being purchased.

Another vote for playing it. The cut scenes are only part of the engagement into the story. All of the little recordings and data lying around draws you into it even more. I found myself thoroughly exploring the main quests locations to make sure I hadn't missed any of them.

Head Ninja In Charge said:

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chase128 said:

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I'm really debating whether or not to play Zero Dawn, or just watch a good story recap video on YouTube for it.

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I has one of the best combat systems ever designed. The gameplay destroys the story and the story is pretty good.

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That's what makes doing extra playthroughs more fun. First time I went through, it was just a few weapon types and then control what robots I could. Controlling your first Thundermaw is fun; I inadvertently did that cauldron second (after Sigma). I wondered why it was so damned tough, then realized I had skipped quite a few to get there.

The subsequent playthroughs, especially once you start improving your weapons, makes you play a little more with using weapons a little differently. My latest one I only just started using the tripcaster. That definitely would have made my life a helluva lot easier if I had used it before.

Yeah. There really wasn't a bad weapon in the original. You just had to figure out what works best in a given situation. Once you learn how to maneuver better, you can play around with the "wrong" tactics to change things up.

There still isn't anything better than knocking the weapons off of one Thunderjaw to wreck a 2nd one with them however.

I wish I could take my Shield Weaver armor into HFW. I am sure they will give a brief cutscene or something that explains why Aloy lost all her weapons/armor heading into the FW. Since the events of FW take place just weeks after the ending of ZD.

atmhockey said:

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I wish I could take my Shield Weaver armor into HFW. I am sure they will give a brief cutscene or something that explains why Aloy lost all her weapons/armor heading into the FW. Since the events of FW take place just weeks after the ending of ZD.

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Maybe the game opens with Aloy coming to her senses while riding in a wagon, and then someone says "Hey! You! You're finally awake".

atmhockey said:

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I wish I could take my Shield Weaver armor into HFW. I am sure they will give a brief cutscene or something that explains why Aloy lost all her weapons/armor heading into the FW. Since the events of FW take place just weeks after the ending of ZD.

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https://gamerant.com/horizon-forbidden-west-shield-weaver-armor-nerf/

Looks like the batteries ran out.

Zero Dawn Complete Edition was free last year at one point so I downloaded it. Took a while to get into but then loved it. Platinuumed it and ordered Forbidden West about a month ago. Honestly which the wife and kids would take a vacation this weekend so I could sit home all weekend playing.

Got my pre-order queued up! Definitely recommend playing the first one + DLC

Can't wait for this one! I pre-orded one of the collector editions so I'm hoping whatever carrier Playstation decides to use gets it here on release day. The first game was amazing and this one will look even better on the PS5. I watched a graphical review and the amount of detail in the world is astounding.

I'm interested in this game but since I'm an older gamer lol I don't know that I want to get frustrated like I currently am with Demon Souls. I have won Bloodborne and I understand about those Souls games but man I am getting sick of dying in Demon Souls (usually against a boss) and then I have to go ALL the way back to where that is to even try again. Is this game like that? Or more normal and a little easier gameplay than a souls type game?

The first one is nowhere near a souls game in terms of difficulty or how far you get set back when you die.

I've seen a few live gameplay streams on youtube this morning. Might be worth looking one up if you're curious and not concerned about potential early spoilers.

I am HORRIBLE at video games but am a sucker for a good story. I just play on easy and I've heard FW will allow a lot of customizations to change particular elements of difficulty levels (damage received, looting, etc.)

I loved HZD on easy mode because I could do literally every side quest and wander without constantly getting mauled by machines.

I know a lot of people don't like to play that way but I would get too frustrated, quit, and miss out on an amazing game if I let it be a battle slog.

Gomer95 said:

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I'm interested in this game but since I'm an older gamer lol I don't know that I want to get frustrated like I currently am with Demon Souls. I have won Bloodborne and I understand about those Souls games but man I am getting sick of dying in Demon Souls (usually against a boss) and then I have to go ALL the way back to where that is to even try again. Is this game like that? Or more normal and a little easier gameplay than a souls type game?

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If you can beat Bloodborne, then the Horizon games should be a breeze. They are simply open world action RPGs.

Awesome! Ya'll already sold me on it lol.

Fenrir said:

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The first one is nowhere near a souls game in terms of difficulty or how far you get set back when you die.

I've seen a few live gameplay streams on youtube this morning. Might be worth looking one up if you're curious and not concerned about potential early spoilers.

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Only thing close i would say are some of the trials. Some of those ****ers took me hours to beat just 1 of them on top times.

I would pay an extra $5 to play early! Just saying.

For those wondering, the original game is only $10 on the PS store. I got it downloading right now

wangus12 said:

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For those wondering, the original game is only $10 on the PS store. I got it downloading right now

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Mainline the story and you can get through pretty quick. If you venture off into side missions you can spend 40+ hours in game.