Horizon Zero Dawn, Free With #PlayAtHome

Sadly there has been no new update on what is next for Sony’s #PlayAtHome program, as of the time of writing. Though for those of you who have been a bit busy since March when we covered the last several announcement, you may have forgotten what is free today. It is quite a big one actually, something that puts most of Prime Gaming to shame in recent months, aside from Blasphemous and Moving Out. I’ve even had a bit of a complaint about what is available through the Epic Games Store, no matter how much I love an artist of two games this week.

Nonetheless, the curmudgeon that I am knows a very good deal when he sees it, and loves it. From today until the 15th of May, you can pick up Sony’s very own Horizon Zero Dawn: Complete Edition. Ok, I know that’s in the title, and I did mention it back in March, but could you at least act surprised and happy for once? At least be happy I haven’t mentioned Aloy, the red-headed daughter of a post-technological/pre-historic techno future dyslexic, is a better Lara Croft than 2013’s dreadful character.

Do you remember when everyone was making steampunk games, now it is all cyberpunk thanks to Cyberpunk 2077? Well, between the two we had a blip of Sony titles being pre-historic Norway; at least, that’s how I’d describe Zero Dawn and God of War (2018)’s worlds. From the little of Horizon Zero Dawn I’ve been able to play before, it is very much triple-A games of the time: Towers, collect-a-thons, Bat-vision, and a story that’s plotted like the flight plan of a Qantas flight. It is not bad, however, if you’re playing a lot of triple-A titles anyway (i.e Ubisoft and such), you might find some of its adventurous aspects lacking.

For the three people who seem to have not played or heard of Horizon Zero Dawn, it is that action-adventure thing we put every open-world crafty thing in. Set in a point in history we’re either climbing out of or descending into, depending on which idiot you ask, you play as Aloy. A committee-designed young woman that’s the best of the adventure-y young women in games over recent years (played by the wonderful Ashly Burch). She takes on dinosaur-like creatures in the aforementioned Norway, all of which are made of toasters and other future-tech. Though given everyone seems to have Bluetooth and holograms, I’m guessing this is the future.

It is an interesting little idea, a beautiful world, and a triple-A title with a woman at the front. The only problems I have, which are personal ones so don’t take them too seriously, are the ones that make the game very much like most games released before it. As I gave a hint of in the glance of the full title, you’ll be picking up the full version of the game. This includes the full game, the Frozen Wilds Expansion, a couple of the cosmetic and item bundles such as special bows and such, a PS4 theme, and the Digital art book.

One thing I can never take away from Horizon Zero Dawn, some of the art of the game is fantastic! You’ll be able to pick up all of this from 8 PM Pacific time/11 PM Eastern time tonight in the US, 4 AM April 20th British Summer Time, 5 AM Central European. I suspect within a day or two, someone will be reporting the PSN being down for the number of people downloading Horizon Zero Dawn.