Common Sense Media Review
By Chad Sapieha
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Gripping drama with tough female hero is a must-play tale.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 13+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Play
Videos and Photos
Horizon Zero Dawn: Complete Edition
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 3 parent reviews
What’s It About?
HORIZON ZERO DAWN: COMPLETE EDITION brings Horizon Zero Dawn, a sci-fi action role-playing game originally released in 2017 exclusively on PlayStation 4, to Windows PC players. The game is set in the distant future after an unknown calamity has brought an end to human civilization, and players take on the role of a mysterious young woman who explores the ruined world searching for answers about her origin and what happened to the people of the past. As she moves through the open wilderness between the tribal communities that have sprung up, she encounters enormous and powerful robot animals that can be aggressive and dangerous. She learns to use a variety of weapons, including arrows, spears, traps, and explosives, to strategically take down these relics from a technologically superior past, all the while on the lookout for any clues that might explain the world as it was before, how it came to an end, and who she is. The PC edition includes all of the original game's post-launch content, including The Frozen Wilds downloadable content (DLC), which adds a new map and chapter to Aloy's tale. It also allows players to opt to play with a mouse and keyboard rather than a traditional gamepad, and it provides the ability to alter the game's graphics to boost frame rate and increase field of vision on wide displays.
Is It Any Good?
This was a remarkable game on the PlayStation 4, and it's just as good on Windows PCs. Horizon Zero Dawn: Complete Edition wisely chooses not to mess with anything that made the console version so unforgettable. The compelling story -- filled with memorable characters and brilliant plot twists that fans of speculative fiction are sure to love -- remains intact and unchanged, and the fascinating, enormous open world we get to explore as Aloy is brimming with mysteries to discover. The combat is as strategic and rewarding as it was on PlayStation 4, forcing players to learn how to use a satisfying array of weapons and traps to take down challenging robotic foes, and PC players who don't like gamepads are bound to appreciate the improved accuracy offered by a keyboard and mouse setup. Having the excellent and expansive The Frozen Wilds DLC -- a narratively rewarding chapter that takes place at the same time as other events in the main game -- thrown in at no extra charge is just gravy.
As expected, PC players also benefit from graphical and performance boosts -- assuming that the game is being played on a moderately well-equipped rig. A decent gaming PC will allow players to increase the frame rate for a smoother experience, and players with extra-wide displays can expand the camera frame to create a wider field of vision and achieve a more cinematic look and feel. Horizon Zero Dawn: Complete Edition probably isn't enough of an upgrade to justify purchasing it a second time, but anyone yet to experience this enormous, brilliantly written adventure with one of the strongest and most memorable female leads in recent memory would do well to seek it out now that it's available on a new platform.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the impact of violence in media. Is the impact of the violence in Horizon Zero Dawn: Complete Edition affected by the fact that the game pits humans against intelligent robots? Did you ever feel pity for the machines you fought?
What are some of Aloy's strongest and most important traits? Does any part of her depiction stoop to female stereotypes?
Game Details
- Platform: Windows
- Pricing structure: Paid
- Available online?: Available online
- Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
- Release date: August 7, 2020
- Genre: Role-Playing
- Topics: Great Girl Role Models , Robots , Science and Nature
- ESRB rating: T for Blood, Drug Reference, Language, Mild Sexual Themes, Violence
- Award: Common Sense Selection
- Last updated: August 6, 2020
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
Suggest an Update
What to Play Next
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate