Clear Your Backlog
Horizon Zero Dawn is almost upon us and it’s definitely a game you’ll want to experience for yourself. An experience that’s this kind of special doesn’t come around often, though, and therefore there are a few preparations you should make to ensure that you have an optimal best possible experience playing. To give you a helping hand, we’ve put together a comprehensive list of preparations you should make in the days before Horizon Zero Dawn’s release.
Jumping into a large open-world and story-rich game like Horizon Zero Dawn while you’re playing another title isn’t ideal. Horizon Zero Dawn is at its very best when you just immerse yourself in the experience, and switching between two different games can get a little confusing in terms of controls and storylines. Therefore, if you’re still working on a couple of games at the moment, or are just looking to clear some of your backlog, now’s the time to do it.
Horizon Zero Dawn is a pretty huge game with plenty to keep you occupied for up to about 50 hours, so not having any other distractions to pull you away means you can spend the time to appreciate and enjoy everything the game has to offer. Get anything your toward the end of or any short experiences finished over the next week to ensure you can go into Horizon Zero Dawn with a fresh head, ready to embrace its wondrous world.
Considering a PS4 Pro? Now’s the Time
If the idea of a PS4 Pro hasn’t interested you up until now, but you have the money for a 4K investment, then now is most definitely the time. Horizon Zero Dawn is the game that shows off just what Sony’s supercharged system is capable of, and as such, you can expect retailers to be offering some hardware deals when the game launches next week. Playing Horizon Zero Dawn on the PS4 Pro is one of the most visually stunning and buttery smooth experiences I’ve had playing on a console in quite some time. While the game is sure to look great on the original PS4, those looking to experience the game in all of its beauty should seriously look into a PS4 Pro right about now.
It’s not like Horizon Zero Dawn is the only big PS4 Pro game coming in the next few months, either. For Honor has recently released and looks great on the Pro, and Mass Effect Andromeda later in March looks set to make proper use of the system’s extra power, too. Horizon Zero Dawn marks the beginning of the proper PS4 Pro games, and it’s breathtaking.
Clear Hard Drive Space
Whether you buy your games physically or digitally now, you’ll eventually run into the issue of having filled up your PS4’s hard drive with installed games. With games weighing in at 50+ GB, a 500 GB hard drive doesn’t take long to fill when you take the operating system into account, too. If you’ve not done a clear out on your system for a while, take a couple of minutes to ensure that you’ve got the necessary space for Horizon Zero Dawn.
The game comes in at around 40GB, so one or two games off your hard drive should be plenty of space. There’s also a day one patch to take into consideration, too, so make sure you’ve got a few GB extra just in case. Oh, and while you’re on your system, make sure to plug those controllers in and have them fully charged, you don’t want the battery to run out midway through an intense battle with the machines now, do you?
Pre-Order
Reviews are now out in the wild for Horizon Zero Dawn, and it’s pretty safe to say that the game is a refreshing and exciting experience that many players are likely to love. Of course, all of the hype and excellent praise surrounding Horizon Zero Dawn, it could be difficult to get your hands on a copy at your local retailer.
Even if your preferred store normally has games readily available, if you know you’re going to pick it up, it’s better to not run the risk. After all, look what happened with Nioh after supply simply could not meet demand and still remains out of stock at many retailers. As for digital buyers, pre-ordering the game will mean that your PS4 will begin preloading Horizon Zero Dawn 48 hours prior to the game’s official US launch date of Feb. 28. With the game being 40GB, making use of pre-loading the game could save you a ton of waiting around when the game finally unlocks on the PlayStation Store. If you want to be playing as soon as possible, pre-ordering and pre-loading is vital. Plus, you get a free dynamic theme and in-game content too. And who doesn’t want that?
Avoid Spoilers Like the Plague
While we promise not to spoil the game for you, some copies of the game have managed to leak into the wild, and as such, spoilers are likely to start appearing the closer we get to launch. If you often frequent forums or noticeboards, you may want to be extra vigilant over the next few days so as to ensure your wait remains spoiler-free.
Horizon Zero Dawn’s story is one of intrigue, twists, and turns, and one whose impact can easily be lessened by seeing one pesky spoiler. Trust us, all of the hard work will pay off when you finally get your hands on the game and take down your first machine.
What preparations are you making before playing Horizon Zero Dawn? Will you be picking up the game on Feb. 28? Let us know down in the comments below.
Published: Feb 22, 2017 10:35 am