Horizon Zero Dawn is an amazing looking game. From the impressive lighting effects to the lush, sweeping vistas (I’ve always wanted to write that bit), to the weather effects and dinobot animations — everything looks so good.
So naturally, I was hoping for the inclusion of Photo Mode, a feature that so many games lack, (unless those games are made by Naughty Dog, because those folks get it). Horizon Zero Dawn does in fact boast an impressive Photo Mode right out the gate.
Horizon Zero Dawn also comes with the option to remove character models in case the player wants to capture the aforementioned lush vistas in all of their glory — without Aloy mucking it up.
Here we see Aloy running and a backdrop of lush vistas:
Here’s the same scene sans Aloy:
I have to give credit to Guerrilla Games for including such a robust Photo Mode. It’s so often overlooked, which is a crying shame. Capturing that perfect image only enhances the exploration of these incredibly detailed worlds that the developers have worked so hard to create.
And when you think about Aloy’s character in context of the story, she is just as much of a tourist as the player. Both she and whoever is holding the controller will be discovering new terrains and sights together. It’s only fitting that we should be able to capture the moments of triumph and beauty, and have something quiet to look back on once the journey is complete.
