Horizon Zero Dawn: Through The Eyes of the Machine — Photomode Review [Gallery]
Raves
Rants
Yes, we get it. Horizon Zero Dawn is incontrovertibly brilliant. No doubt, one of the best exclusives to ever grace this generation. You’d be remiss to let this title slip by etcetera etcetera. We won’t be wasting time telling what you already know, instead, we focus our lenses in one of Horizon Zero Dawn’s most fascinating feature. One that has snared countless gamers into its hypnotic domain: Photo Mode.
Photo Mode is a game concept found in some three-dimensional games that allow you to pause the action and fine-tune a scene for screen capture, often allowing you to rotate the camera, adjust the depth-of-field, apply filters and more. First seen in Gran Turismo 4 (PS2), this concept has increasingly become common in this modern console generation, made popular in part by Sony, incorporating the feature in their more visually vibrant titles.
Yes is our answer to whether or not Horizon Zero Dawn is worth buying, there’s not a sliver of a doubt in its ability to entertain. We instead, dedicate the better part of our insight on its graphical prowess and offer our verdict on its peculiar photo mode feature. We’ve also taken it upon ourselves to show-off the best fruits of our video game photography labor, checkit!
Dian Raval
Contributor — Gaming, Tech, Music, and Collectibles
“I relish, and at the same time, curse the fact that Horizon Zero Dawn shipped with Photo Mode right off the bat. As I start a new game, I was instantly engulfed by the visual vibrancy of Horizon’s world. I had to pause the game and allow myself to take it all in. That’s when I saw it; The precious Photo Mode option. Just like that, my first 15 minutes was spent with the action paused and my hard drive filled not long after.
I don’t ever judge a game solely on its visuals, but I’d be lying if I wasn’t a sucker for good graphics. Since Infamous: Second Son, I’ve been a huge fan of Photo Mode and wished more games had it. Only now do I realize the potentially adverse effect it can have on immersion. To put it simply, Photo Mode is brilliant to a fault. I have taken dozens of kick-ass photos in Horizon, but not without yanking me out of the immersion the game had also intended. Then again, photo mode itself is immersive and not to mention incredibly fun. In the end, I would much rather prefer a game this gorgeous come with Photo Mode than not at all.”
As much as I’d hate to admit it, Photo Mode made up almost 70% of my playtime. Here’s but just some of my favorites from a pool of over 500 total shots. Yikes.
Ryan Louie Villanueva
Managing Editor — Gaming, Tech, Music, and Collectibles
“Undoubtedly, Horizon Zero Dawn is the best game to come out of 2017 to date. The hype is real, this is a gem of a game. It’s a mixture of all the open-world action adventure games that were released. Imagine playing Metal Gear Solid, Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry and Monster Hunter all in one. That reason alone should pique your interest.
We wouldn’t delve so much as to how great this game is, instead we would show it to you through its in-game photo mode. We spent most of the time, tinkering with this game feature instead of actually playing the game that’s why we weren’t able to progress at all. lol. Not only does this feature capture great screenshots but this is also good for photography enthusiasts to practice their craft. There’s so much you can do with the in-game photo mode.
I haven’t played a game that had consumed my adult life in years. Horizon Zero Dawn is a must buy if you own a PS4. Let these pictures show you why. “
Sony’s Dualshock 4 controller comes with a share button for a reason. We live in the social media age. I wouldn’t be surprised if future titles continue to follow suit. Regardless of whether you welcome this concept, Photo Mode is here to stay. Video games are becoming more and more realistic with each passing year. And like the many wonders of the real world, who wouldn’t want to take a picture?
Dian Raval
