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Best looking open world game this generation; Horizon Zero Dawn Vs. Red Dead redemption II
- Thread starter RevengeTaken
- Start date
To be fair to HZD, they gave the facial animations a definitive coat of improvement for the DLC.
Horizon Zero Dawn, but only just. Both are the two very best looking games this gen imo. Horizon pips it by the smallest of margins because for me it still has a slightly more interesting, exaggerated and stylised palette, art direction and models, that offer slightly more striking aesthetics. I do however think RDR2 is more technically accomplished overall, though it isn't without its blemishes either, eg gameplay character models and certain textures up close, as well as the use of TAA. I re-played HZD (Frozen Wilds and campaign) directly after RDR2 and they trade blows tbh. Side note, Forza Horizon 4 is also up there as one of the best looking open-world games this gen too.
Horizon | PS4 Pro gameplay
Horizon | PS4 Pro gameplay
Horizon Zero Dawn, but only just. Both are the two very best looking games this gen imo. Horizon pips it by the smallest of margins because for me it still has a slightly more interesting, exaggerated and stylised palette, art direction and models, that offer slightly more striking aesthetics. I do however think RDR2 is more technically accomplished overall, though it isn't without its blemishes either, eg gameplay character models and certain textures up close, as well as the use of TAA. I re-played HZD (Frozen Wilds and campaign) directly after RDR2 and they trade blows tbh. Side note, Forza Horizon 4 is also up there as one of the best looking open-world games this gen too.
Horizon | PS4 Pro gameplay
Beautiful shots. Seriously nib, these are really stunning.
I just got the complete collection of Horizon to do the DLC and when I initially loaded it I was in awe for about 5 minutes. Then the god awful dialogue at the start of the DLC and strange animations, super easy climbing...overall look of how it all moves really tarnished the game instantly for me. Love the sound design but man....I have some issues with Horizon.
Overall, Red dead 2 by a large gap.
Overall, Red dead 2 by a large gap.
Both are the top of their leagues but in respect to different aesthetic goals. RDR2 is going for cinematic realism, but HZD is clearly shooting for a hyperreal aesthetic -- in fact, I seem to recall the creative team designing the game around the idea that every location and time of day is the most idealized presentation of that biome and time of day possible.
In that sense I don't really feel like the two games are competing with each other visually outside of just trying to throw as many effects and details on the screen as possible. HZD's closest analogue IMO is something like Assassin's Creed Odyssey.
In that sense I don't really feel like the two games are competing with each other visually outside of just trying to throw as many effects and details on the screen as possible. HZD's closest analogue IMO is something like Assassin's Creed Odyssey.
Yes but not many people even played the dlc to see the improvements.
I would say RDR 2 overall. It is just consistent across the board from a macro to a micro perspective...helped by both great LoD and also a lot of unique assets. I would say character models are better in Horizon, but they didnt quite get sense of scale and the intergration of biomes as convincing as RDR 2. That game has a sense of place which I have rarely seen in games.
That said, RDR 2 also highlights that there is a lot of room for improvement. General geometry has a room for a very large amount of improvement. I would say Deathstranding for instance has more convincing topography and geology. RDR2 has fairly blocky mountains cliffs, etc.
That said, RDR 2 also highlights that there is a lot of room for improvement. General geometry has a room for a very large amount of improvement. I would say Deathstranding for instance has more convincing topography and geology. RDR2 has fairly blocky mountains cliffs, etc.
Which is a crying shame.
The DLC is fantastic and even though it doesn't continue from the ending of the main game, it adds a lot to the world and some key characters (Sylens)
Thanks for introducing to me this lovely youtube channel.
Complaining about climbing and movement in comparison to RDR2 seems super weird to me, given RDR2 has considerably more tanky, imprecise and often times janky controls and movements, to the point where falling a few inches can sometimes lead to a 5-second long unrealistic collapsing animation, and other times it takes multiple attempts to do even simple things like roping your horse to a post, due to how cumbersome the process can be.
It may feel janky to you but the world and animation feels and looks better imo. In horizon it feels like there are robots in so many places, like every two steps.
It's like rockstar have the confidence and experience to let the world breathe while Horizon is a constant attack on the senses. You can't just enjoy the world IMO, and ultimately feels false for it. The uncharted push up to climb this entire section is so immersion breaking for me that it ruins the overall experience.this affects my overall view of the world as the animation and feel of the game just doesn't make the world feel real.
I still like Horizon and I platinum-ed it, but it does not compare to RDR2 at 4k imo.
Seldomly have I read something this false on this site.
The repetitive, samey, procedual and copy-paste world of Horizon Zero Dawn:
Loved HZD and Decima is a real powerhouse but easily and without a doubt RDR2, its not even close.
uh, what? Check again. Didn't edit anything.
Edit: Oh...
Congratulationsyouplayedyourself.gif
:p
Seriously though, HZD looking repetitive is one of the weirdest complaints against the game lol. You wanna talk repetitive ? most of RDR2's meadows and grasslands look almost the same. And, once you are able to get down to the southern half of the worldmap .. that area looks incredibly drab and dull.
RDR2 for me which is odd, because i usulally go for colour and artistic direction over realism.
But HZD looks incredible, but sometimes it's a bit too 'much'? if that makes any sense. Like theres alot going on.
Red dead consistently made me go 'fucking hell this looks to real' and felt like the world was alive.
But HZD looks incredible, but sometimes it's a bit too 'much'? if that makes any sense. Like theres alot going on.
Red dead consistently made me go 'fucking hell this looks to real' and felt like the world was alive.
Your post is conflating completely different points. I wasn't referring to game and world design, but climbing and movement, which is what you referenced.
And perhaps having more fluid and accessible controls and movement mechanics is a negative point to you, but those things are positives for me. Quick climbing is also no more or less immersion-breaking than RDR2's unrealistically cumbersome controls and movements, nor the auto-aim shooting. Hell, Arthur Morgan controls and moves like a 70-year-old drunk in comparison to Aloy's athleticism, fluidity and precision.
From a gameplay perspective, the control limitations in RDR2 were far more stifling, since it sometimes made simple climbing and exploration oftentimes unnecessarily frustrating, and in fact, far more difficult than some of these things would be to do in real life.
Don't get me wrong, I loved and enjoyed both games, but HZD's controls and movement are considerably more polished, refined and well-implemented imo. Seems like a weird complaint to me versus RDR2 of all games, a title that is known for having cumbersome and unrealistically frustrating controls and movement.
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RDR2 is technologically superior because it brings the whole package ( and finally we get to play a massive open world game with barely noticeable pop in, about damn time !! ) but I don't know, i found HZD more impressive visually. I barely took any pictures of RDR2 but I took hundreds of HZD, the world looks so good, and that vegetation though.
Gotta go with my heart and say Horizon. RDR2 is probably pushing out stronger tech, but it also looks pretty boring. Horizon is way more my style.
I completely get where you're coming from, I can see how so many had issues with Red Dead 2. For me it was a strange thing, it just felt right for me. I didnt expect him to be agile and I think it worked for RDR2. I am one of the strange people that rarely had issues with RDR2 and for as many times as I stumbled with a quick turn etc I had similar issues with aloy getting stuck on a rock or something while trying to spear an enemy. I often had strange things in Horizon.
But yeah, for me overall look and movement and everything leans heavily to RDR2 for an incredible looking open world game. It's genuinely breathtaking with it's vistas etc and looks like a painting.
Horizon is great looking but outside of the robot designs, which are phenominal I don't think it's any where near as impressive as RDR2.
The AA method both in Horizon and rdr2 is really quite awful, makes them look so soft and blurry, gives it that 1990s cgi look.
But rdr2 in native 4k looks better, hzd on the pro looks almost noisy in motion and some textures are really ugly.
But rdr2 in native 4k looks better, hzd on the pro looks almost noisy in motion and some textures are really ugly.
Art direction is part of the graphics of a game. Graphics are the visuals of a game, everything you see on your screen, artistical and technical aspects.
I think RDR2 just tops it for me, they have Naughty Dog tier animation quality in a massive open world. RDR2 is probably the most how da fuck did they pull this off game ever for me. I know the answer is a fuck load of time, talent and money.
I think Horizon 2 would massively benefit from either larger biomes or subtler ones. The transition between desert/woodland and mountains is just a bit too sudden whereas larger games like RDR2 or Wildlands really nail the natural transition.
Horizon.
I'm still shocked by how good the world looks and feels.
I do like RDR2 realistic approach
I'm still shocked by how good the world looks and feels.
I do like RDR2 realistic approach
Without a question, Horizon takes the crown on the technical perspective. Resolution, texture quality, performance, 3D models, post fx are far more impressive.
On the Artistic side, Red Dead Redemption has way more nuances of lighting, natural interaction, it has more, but not better for my perspective.
It's just a matter of quality and quantities. And when I mean quality, both of them are excellent in that department. Quantity.... RDR2 is way bigger.
On the Artistic side, Red Dead Redemption has way more nuances of lighting, natural interaction, it has more, but not better for my perspective.
It's just a matter of quality and quantities. And when I mean quality, both of them are excellent in that department. Quantity.... RDR2 is way bigger.
Thank you. I don't know what's wrong with people sometimes. It's like they try as hard as they can to not like something.
I respect RDR more because it is attempting to be authentic
But seeing the transparent leaves where the moonlight is seeping through left me in awe when playing HZ:D
But seeing the transparent leaves where the moonlight is seeping through left me in awe when playing HZ:D
RDR2 is more impressive from a detail level overall even though the sci-fi enemies are more unique and interesting in HZD.
While RDR2 is probably better specially in how big it is, Horizon is the most awe inspiring game of this gen imo so I voted for it.
Some amazing Horizon Zero Dawn environment shots by xenogenesis:
I hope I never hear the game world is "samey", "procedual" and "copy-paste" again, lol.
I hope I never hear the game world is "samey", "procedual" and "copy-paste" again, lol.
On HDR sets HZD is way better looking than RDR2. Even on the new "Game" HDR setting it's off the mark, everything is too colorful but there's a bit more range in brightness, but HDR is still pretty medicore in RDR2.
It's a strange poll though, you know everyone that doesn't own a PS4 is jumping hitting in that RDR2 radio button. A poll for PS4Pro owners that played both games thoroughly would be a better sample. This is coming from a big fan of RDR2 that is a few hunting requests away from 100% (damn you Algernon). Longtime Rockstar fan since GTA:VC. HZD looks better.
It's a strange poll though, you know everyone that doesn't own a PS4 is jumping hitting in that RDR2 radio button. A poll for PS4Pro owners that played both games thoroughly would be a better sample. This is coming from a big fan of RDR2 that is a few hunting requests away from 100% (damn you Algernon). Longtime Rockstar fan since GTA:VC. HZD looks better.
