In Sony's 2016 E3 presentation, the company focused much of its time on games coming soon to the PlayStation 4.
One of those games is Horizon Zero Dawn. Sony showcased the title during its presentation and later released over eight minutes of gameplay footage.
Although the title won't release until early next year, Sony released many details about it, as well as offered up information on special editions and preorder bonuses.
Here's what we know so far about Horizon Zero Dawn:
Story
In Horizon Zero Dawn, players take control of Aloy, a female hunter who roams a world taken over by robotic creatures.
"Take on the role of skilled hunter Aloy as you explore a vibrant and lush world inhabited by mysterious mechanized creatures," Sony said in its presentation. "Embark on a compelling, emotional journey and unravel mysteries of tribal societies, ancient artifacts and advanced technologies that will determine the fate of this planet, and of life itself."
Setting
Although at first glance, the setting of Horizon Zero Dawn resembles a fantasy, with lush greenery and environments, it's actually a massive and open post-apocalyptic world set 1,000 years into the future. It's sort of like the world of Terry Brooks' Shannara: something that was once our modern world that is now in ruins, with only a few reminders left of what once was. Here, though, robotic creatures ran humanity away from Earth.
Gameplay
Although at first, it seems that Aloy's only weapon against these creatures is her bow and arrow, gameplay shows that she can craft more interesting things to fight with by looting those mechanical beasts that she's killed. She can create tripwires, explosives and new kinds of arrows. The game also features a massive world open to exploration when Aloy isn't fighting off robo-creatures.
Horizon Zero Dawn is also a roleplaying game, meaning that Aloy will have the ability to also interact with others and her environment and complete missions as they become available.
Perhaps most impressive about gameplay, though, is that Horizon Zero Dawn will not have loading screens. The game moves fluidly as Aloy travels across the massive world.
Release Date, Special Edition And Preorders
Although Horizon Zero Dawn was originally intended as a 2016 release, the game will arrive exclusively on the PlayStation 4 on Feb. 28, 2017.
There are two special editions available for preorder from selected retailers. The first is the $69.99 Digital Limited Edition, which features a download of the game, two resource packs, two outfits and two weapons. The Collector's Edition, which retails for $119.99, features the game, as well as a nine-inch statue of Aloy, a 48-page artbook, a steelbook case, four resource packs, two outfits and two weapons.
Anyone who preorders the game gets an additional resource pack. Customers who preorder from GameStop or EB Games also get an additional outfit and bow.
