Horizon Zero Dawn Reviews: 12 Critical Reactions You Need To Know

7. It's Solidly Challenging

"Being killed in Horizon isn’t Dark Souls-style punishing, but as you save via spread out ‘campfires’, the threat of death also equals the threat of losing some progress." - IGN

"It’s a dangerous environment, and the game only gives you checkpoints during missions...It does make the stakes seem higher, but the unfortunate side-effect is that it can make you risk-averse...It’s a damn hard game at times, too. If you take on more than you can handle, death can come in a matter of seconds." - Telegraph

Even with the aforementioned simple stealth mechanics, the game still boasts a solid degree of difficulty, and players who get complacent will find themselves quickly subdued, even with the game's huge array of weaponry and abilities available to the player.

Several reviewers noted that their stubbornness is often what got them killed, and by changing up their tactics (perhaps using traps to get the drop on a powerful enemy), they were easier able to proceed.

Metro did contend, however, that players are able to farm resources to become extremely powerful very quickly, though called this approach "boring" and not really within the spirit of the game.

For the play-style most gamers will adopt, there's a potent level of challenge here, which when it comes to a new IP, is always a relief to hear.