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[Draugoth]

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Game Information:

Game Title: Horizon Call of The Mountain

Genre: Action-adventure, role-playing, open-world, post-post-apocalyptic, bow-and-arrow, VR

Platforms:

• PlayStation 5, PlayStation VR2

Media:

• Horizon Call of the Mountain | Announce Trailer - YouTube
• Horizon Call of the Mountain | Pre-Order Trailer - YouTube
• Horizon Call of the Mountain – The Game Awards Teaser Trailer

Developer: Guerilla Games Info

Developers' HQ: Amsterdam, Netherlands

Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment

Price:

• PS5 Standard - $59.99 USD / £59.99 GBP / €69,99 EUR / $79.99 CAD
• PSVR2 Bundle - $599.99 / £699.99 GBP / €669,99 EUR / $779.99 CAD

Release Date: February 16, 2023 (Game)

More Info: r/Horizon | Guerrila Website

Review Aggregator:

Opencritic - 81/100

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MetaCritic - 79/100 [PS5] [PSVR2] - 41 Reviews

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Critic Reviews:

Review Aggregator:

MetaCritic - 79/100 [PS5] [PSVR2] - 34 Reviews

Critic Reviews:

Telegraph - 100/100

Each new locale is seemingly more rich and detailed than the last, and I regularly felt compelled to stop looking for the next path forward and instead just take in the magical realism of my surroundings.

GamingTrend - 100/100

Sony needed a system-seller for their PlayStation VR2, and Horizon: Call of the Mountain is it. Scale, interactivity, haptics, and satisfying combat that matches the main games makes for a must-have for anyone picking up Sony’s newest hardware.

PlayStation Universe - 90/100

Despite its linear nature, Horizon Call of the Mountain remains a truly stellar showcase of the PSVR2's capabilities. From the retina-searing 4K HDR visuals that are generously bleeding with detail and fidelity, through to the deft use of haptic feedback and adaptive triggers in the PSVR2 Sense controllers which ensure that players are utterly immersed in the climbing, exploration and combat within its world, Horizon Call of the Mountain is a highly enjoyable action adventure that fans of both the series and great VR games in general can effortlessly enjoy.

GamesRadar+ - 90/100

Horizon Call of the Mountain is a touch of magic, bringing the Horizon world to life in first person on PSVR 2. It's stunning, captivating, and never loses sight of what made Horizon Zero Dawn and Horizon Forbidden West so special.

EuroGamer Poland - 90/100

Horizon Call of the Mountain is not only a showcase of PS VR2 capabilities, but also a great adventure. Open world of this well-known brand has been transferred to virtual reality in a successful and highly imaginative way.

Road to VR - 85/100

Horizon Call of the Mountain takes players on a fun adventure throughout a breathtaking world, showcasing some of the best graphics you'll find anywhere in VR. Beyond the epic vistas, the game's smaller details—like rich foliage, an array of climbing gadgets, and interactive props—make Call of the Mountain a very immersive game. It's a joy to see the sci-fi beasts of the Horizon world up close in VR, and their excellent animations and sound effects make them thoroughly believable. While combat could be a bit more fluid and climbing could have more interesting challenges, as a whole the game offers up a satisfying dose of VR native gameplay. Beyond the great environmental art, Call of the Mountain's characters are also impressively rendered, though unfortunately they're not involved or developed enough to make them memorable.

HobbyConsolas - 82/100

Horizon Call of the Mountain is the first major PS VR2 exclusive, and it does its job to show off the possibilities of the new headset, from the spectacular, crisp graphics to the new controller functions. It especially shines in combat against the machines, although at times it feels a somewhat corseted experience.

Dexerto - 80/100

Horizon: Call of the Mountain does not move any proverbial mountains, but it remains a strong technical showcase for what the PlayStation VR2 can do. In a world where AAA VR titles don’t appear too often, it’s in an exclusive club of unmissable VR experiences that you should definitely pick up.

IGN - 70/100

Horizon Call of the Mountain’s exciting highs elevate it just enough above its often monotonous climbing mechanics to create a fun first blockbuster entry into the PS VR 2 library.

Gamespot - 70/100

The first foray into virtual reality for Guerrilla's beloved franchise is a big success, even if it doesn't do anything new.

Metro GameCentral - 60/100

An effective tech demo but it struggles to be anything else, not least because for the majority of the time it’s just a fairly vanilla climbing simulator.

 

[Kokoloko85]

Not surprised. Either put your best teams on the games or dont bother. Otherwise it will just be the same as VR1, Move and, Vita etc.

 

[TintoConCasera]

Just my two cents, but a 7/10 can still be very fun, specially on VR and even more so if you are new to it.

You won't believe the ammount of time I spent on that VR apartment that Steam has as it's launcher for VR apps, just messing around the environment doing shit.

 

[Unknown?]

Not surprised. Either put your best teams on the games or dont bother. Otherwise it will just be the same as VR1, Move and, Vita etc.

You expected it to review well? Cool!

 

[lh032]

call of the mountain is basically a next gen VR launch game, so i dont expect rave reviews, should be around 75/100

REAL PSVR2 games will be coming in the future.

 

[Kokoloko85]

You expected it to review well? Cool!

What part of “not surprised” means I expected it to review well lol? I was pretty sure it wasnt going to set the world on fire

 

[SlimySnake]

Who wanted a climbing simulator out of a horizon game?

 

[Unknown?]

What part of “not surprised” means I expected it to review well lol? I was pretty sure it wasnt going to set the world on fire

It's getting decent reviews.

 

[Stuart360]

Seems good scores for a VR only game. You're not going to be getting loads of 9's and 10's for VR games guys, so no need to be dissapointed here, these are very solid scores.

 

[XXL]

Pretty much what I expected. Only a few more days.

 

[Fbh]

Looks fun, and visuals are certainly impressive.
But for an almost full priced game releasing as the highlight to a $549 accessory I expected more than a 6 hours game that's reportedly primarily about climbing and ,seemingly (at least from what I see), made almost entirely of recycled assets.

 

[TintoConCasera]

You're not going to be getting loads of 9's and 10's for VR games guys

https://www.metacritic.com/game/pc/half-life-alyx

Wish I could post more examples tho.

 

[Pelao]

It looks pretty, but I was expecting a higher quality playable experience from a $60 first party game. I'll wait to see how the other launch games look before deciding whether or not to buy it, as I'd like to have something more to play on launch day than GT7 and RE8.

 

[EverydayBeast]

VR feels like an event, putting on a headset you’re vulnerable. The headset is on everyone’s radar, how are they shipping these with chip shortages? I could see myself playing psvr2 everyday, firewall worked on the original psvr.

 

[SlimySnake]

Seems good scores for a VR only game. You're not going to be getting loads of 9's and 10's for VR games guys, so no need to be dissapointed here, these are very solid scores.

I think this kind of mentality doesnt help. Just because its a VR game doesnt mean you arent spending $60 on it. Doesnt mean you arent spending $550 on a brand new hardware for it. We have to treat it just like any other AAA game.

Half Life Alyx has proved that you can have a 93 metacritic AAA game. That's what Sony aims for with their first party titles and its disappointing that their only big AAA release for VR is more of a mixed bag.

 

[GymWolf]

Who wanted a climbing simulator out of a horizon game?

Climbing in forbidden west was so good and universally appreciated by fucking no one that they decited to double down in the vr game.

Absolute genius.

 

[Lucifers Beard]

What I expected, good game but not necessarily great. I’ll give it a crack at some point in the future but it’ll be a showcase piece more than anything else.

 

[Lunarorbit]

I hate when there is such a huge gap between review scores on something non controversial.

Those low scores seem suspect

 

[Dick Jones]

I'm waiting on the dildo reviewers score before I make up my choice. The PS Move Controllers on PSVR were a surprise hit for them that I can see low scores with the awful ergonomics of stuffing the PSVR2 controllers up the arse.

 

[midnightAI]

I think this kind of mentality doesnt help. Just because its a VR game doesnt mean you arent spending $60 on it. Doesnt mean you arent spending $550 on a brand new hardware for it. We have to treat it just like any other AAA game.

Half Life Alyx has proved that you can have a 93 metacritic AAA game. That's what Sony aims for with their first party titles and its disappointing that their only big AAA release for VR is more of a mixed bag.

Why do people keep ignoring GT7, its a big AAA release for VR whether it has a flat screen as well as VR mode (its still the full game in VR and was designed that way throughout development)

 

[mckmas8808]

Just my two cents, but a 7/10 can still be very fun, specially on VR and even more so if you are new to it.

You won't believe the ammount of time I spent on that VR apartment that Steam has as it's launcher for VR apps, just messing around the environment doing shit.

But it's basically an 8/10 game. So there's no reason to make excuses as to how someone can have fun with this game.

 

[R6Rider]

LMAO.

Call of the Mountain is getting 8/10 average and people are calling it a mixed bag.

 

[Rudius]

Opinions of flat gamers about VR titles are almost irrelevant to me. I only trust those experienced with VR.

 

[TintoConCasera]

But it's basically an 8/10 game. So there's no reason to make excuses as to how someone can have fun with this game.

Not making excuses, just saying that people shouldn't care about scores.

You don't have to make excuses even if the game's a 0/10. Just play what you have fun with.

 

[mckmas8808]

Not making excuses, just saying that people shouldn't care about scores.

You don't have to make excuses even if the game's a 0/10. Just play what you have fun with.

True. Just surprised that some seem to cliff jumping when this game is an 8/10 game. Like that's good to me. I was hoping for mid to high 80s, but a 79 Metacritic is good, just not great. And since I love the Horizon universe and this game will be super pretty, I'm happy about this.

 

[The Cockatrice]

https://www.metacritic.com/game/pc/half-life-alyx

Wish I could post more examples tho.

Only reason why Im not investing in VR, whether its pc or ps. Nothing to play, only shit to waste time, maybe once a year or so. Anyone whos saying their vr headset isnt gainig dust is full of shit.

 

[ShadyAcshuns]

It's getting decent reviews.

Who pays $550 for "decent review" games?

 

[Ass of Can Whooping]

What the fuck are they thinking? You're trying to sell a $550 peripheral and this is your flagship title?

Surely they were aware a 7 hour climbing simulator wasn't going to recieve critical acclaim? Because that's what you need to be able to sell this thing. Not more average or above average titles and fucking ports of existing games.

 

[TintoConCasera]

Only reason why Im not investing in VR, whether its pc or ps. Nothing to play, only shit to waste time, maybe once a year or so. Anyone whos saying their vr headset isnt gainig dust is full of shit.

I dunno. I mean yeah, there aren't many true AAA VR games to play, but there's still many of very cool ones to invest some time with, and it's a good cardio too.

Games like Pavlov, Moss, Into The Radius, Superhot VR, Pistol Whip, Until You Fall... They are all great fun.

Also, vr porn, if you are into dystopian self-indulgent experiences.

 

[Romulus]

REAL PSVR2 games will be coming in the future.

Literally next week imo. GT7 and RE8 created with VR in mind since day 1 of development will be incredible.

 

[The Cockatrice]

I dunno. I mean yeah, there aren't many true AAA VR games to play, but there's still many of very cool ones to invest some time with, and it's a good cardio too.

Games like Pavlov, Moss, Into The Radius, Superhot VR, Pistol Whip, Until You Fall... They are all great fun.

Also, vr porn, if you are into dystopian self-indulgent experiences.

Whenever a game developer will have the balls to make a triple A game with actual sex scenes in VR, thats when I'll be in.

 

[mrmustard]

79 is not bad, but it's not a crowd puller like Half-Life: Alyx

 

[Majormaxxx]

But what score will WIRED give it.. That's the real question.

 

[Ass of Can Whooping]

I think this kind of mentality doesnt help. Just because its a VR game doesnt mean you arent spending $60 on it. Doesnt mean you arent spending $550 on a brand new hardware for it. We have to treat it just like any other AAA game.

Half Life Alyx has proved that you can have a 93 metacritic AAA game. That's what Sony aims for with their first party titles and its disappointing that their only big AAA release for VR is more of a mixed bag.

People make fun of meta for how much money they're burning on the metaverse but that's exactly what Sony should be doing if this medium has any hope of surviving. Another average 7 hour game just tells me they're not wholly invested.

I'm out honestly. Was going to get this day one but i'm not seeing any real commitment.

 

[SlimySnake]

Watching a review. 70% climbing. 30% fighting Robots. Just why?

At least Aloy is in this. You get to see her in first person VR. Big missed oppurtunity here. Shouldve let us have sex with her in VR. This thing wouldve sold out in minutes.

 

[Markio128]

I don’t think the score is surprising or disappointing. I still think Sony should have given this game for free though. I’ll purchase the game when it gets discounted because I’ll be busy with GT7 come launch day.

 

[Romulus]

People make fun of meta for how much money they're burning on the metaverse but that's exactly what Sony should be doing if this medium has any hope of surviving. Another average 7 hour game just tells me they're not wholly invested.

I'm out honestly. Was going to get this day one but i'm not seeing any real commitment.

I mean since day 1 of the vids, how was it not apparent this was more of a technical showpiece?

 

[Ass of Can Whooping]

I mean since day 1 of the vids, how was it not apparent this was more of a technical showpiece?

Nothing apparent about it at all

 

[Pedro Motta]

Looks good, will play it when I get a VR2.

 

[Varteras]

The reality is that at $900 or more just to have the equipment to play these games, you need either a lot more than 30 games or you need a few absolute Half-Life Alyx bangers. The hardware is outstanding but the games have to be as well at that price. VR games are clearly more difficult to make 9/10 experiences on but we've seen it done. From one of Sony's own studios no less. Now, even 8/10 games like Blood and Truth, The Persistence, and Firewall are really good experiences but they came out on cheaper hardware too. I'm sure Call of the Mountain is a very fun experience but PSVR2 needs a lot more AstroBots. Call of the Mountain was their flagship launch title and these reviews are not painting a picture of PSVR2 having a must-have, even from their most hyped title. That being said, PSVR2 IS giving us Lady D's chesticles in full VR glory and I think that's worth the $900 admission fee. Don't you?

 

[Unknown?]

Who pays $550 for "decent review" games?

People who buy new GPUs or the PS5 or any Xbox system outside the OG at launch? Heck people buy Nintendo consoles for only one good game.

 

[Romulus]

Nothing apparent about it at all

To me it looked fine, but a typical climb the mountain, fight an enemy in a small arena, rise/repeat. Just wrapped in nice visuals.

 

[Punished Miku]

Who wanted a climbing simulator out of a horizon game?

What's more obvious to people who already play VR is that there's really only a few obvious templates for games that work. The Climb 1 and 2 are well known VR games. Bow games are numerous. Seems like they just combined those two existing things. What that tells me is that they didn't invest a ton of time or money into creating truly unique VR games just yet. But maybe it's just not ready for launch.

 

[rofif]

What's more obvious to people who already play VR is that there's really only a few obvious templates for games that work. The Climb 1 and 2 are well known VR games. Bow games are numerous. Seems like they just combined those two existing things. What that tells me is that they didn't invest a ton of time or money into creating truly unique VR games just yet. But maybe it's just not ready for launch.

Yep. I played ton of vr. You get tired of arcade games quickly and only look for alyx type stuff which don’t exist

 

[SlimySnake]

What's more obvious to people who already play VR is that there's really only a few obvious templates for games that work. The Climb 1 and 2 are well known VR games. Bow games are numerous. Seems like they just combined those two existing things. What that tells me is that they didn't invest a ton of time or money into creating truly unique VR games just yet. But maybe it's just not ready for launch.

Didnt Half Life Alyx come out 2-3 years ago? Shouldve used that as a template.

 

[Punished Miku]

This is $60? Ouch.

I've been saying this for a long time, but most people don't pay more than $15-40 for any VR title. Will be interesting to see sales I guess.

 

[nial]

It seems like a good time, but yeah, Gran Turismo 7 is the REAL killer app on the platform.
However, I'm still disappointed by the fewer first-party games at launch compared to the original PSVR, even if GT7 is ultimately the best game on both lists:

NA and PAL (Japan had a slightly different lineup) PSVR launch, October 13, 2016:

Bound
Driveclub VR
Here They Lie
Hustle Kings VR
PlayStation VR Worlds
RIGS: Mechanized Combat League
Super Stardust Ultra VR
The Playroom VR
Tumble VR
Until Dawn: Rush of Blood

PSVR2 launch, February 22, 2023:

Gran Turismo 7
Horizon Call of the Mountain

 

[Punished Miku]

However, I'm still disappointed by the fewer first-party games at launch compared to the original PSVR, even if GT7 is ultimately the best game on both lists:

https://www.videogameschronicle.com...dies-will-take-the-risks-on-playstation-vr-2/

It's pretty much what I expected. It'll still be fun for people new to VR.

 

[SlimySnake]

Ok, watched one of the reviews.

Summary:
- 7 hours long. Enough secrets to warrant a second playthrough.
- 70% climbing. 30% combat.
- Combat is on rails. You can only dodge left and right.
- Combat with smaller enemies is exhilarating. Way more intense than 1v1 with bigger enemies
- Stealth sections when failed will let you move around and fight. I.e., not on rails.
- Story are protagonist are forgettable.
- Visuals are stunning. Best ever in a VR game.
- Climbing requires you to move your arms above your head for every rock you climb. Expect to be sore afterwards.
- Lots of cool interactive elements like interacting with rocks, snowballs, breakabale pots and other world items. Probably shouldve made it a puzzle game with physics elements instead of climbing.
- Couple of bonus modes that unlock as you play through the game.
- Despite his complaints, he loved the game and recommends it as a true AAA VR showcase.

 

[Ass of Can Whooping]

Ok, watched one of the reviews.

Summary:
- 7 hours long. Enough secrets to warrant a second playthrough.
- 70% climbing. 30% combat.
- Combat is on rails. You can only dodge left and right.
- Combat with smaller enemies is exhilarating. Way more intense than 1v1 with bigger enemies
- Stealth sections when failed will let you move around and fight. I.e., not on rails.
- Story are protagonist are forgettable.
- Visuals are stunning. Best ever in a VR game.
- Climbing requires you to move your arms above your head for every rock you climb. Expect to be sore afterwards.
- Lots of cool interactive elements like interacting with rocks, snowballs, breakabale pots and other world items. Probably shouldve made it a puzzle game with physics elements instead of climbing.
- Couple of bonus modes that unlock as you play through the game.
- Despite his complaints, he loved the game and recommends it as a true AAA VR showcase.

Time to drop climbing in VR games. It's not fun.