vs. Fallout 4
Fallout 4 handles its open world quite differently from Horizon Zero Dawn, and it has much more of a focus on the RPG side of things. The world is vast, though not as varied if you don’t have the DLC, but that’s perfectly understandable. While the world Aloy gets to explore is seeing a resurgence of life, the Boston Wasteland in Bethesda’s most recent RPG is still suffering from the nuclear fallout from centuries before.
While it’s not as vibrant, it still manages to be beautiful. The light shining through the decay of once lively cities, mutated wildlife hurrying about its business, sometimes attacking you for getting too close, and mechanical menaces trying to destroy you all make this a post-apocalyptic world that is intriguing and worth exploring. And that exploration was pretty enjoyable.
Where Horizon excels over Fallout 4, though, is in regards to the fluidity of gameplay. Yes, Fallout 4 is action that can be played in first or third-person, but it can be stiff at times, especially compared to the tribal/mechanical warfare found in Sony latest first-party exclusive. The combat is beautiful to behold, and the frenetic strategy provides a layer of depth and challenge that ensures no two encounters are the same. Plus world traversal just feels more engaging, just the animations as you jump, slide, swing, and swim though the large, beautiful world is captivating.
