Gates of Horizon
- December 17, 2014
- Hex Keep
"Gates of Horizon" is a first-person shooter game set in a futuristic, dystopian world. As a member of the elite Hexkeep squad, players must fight to protect humanity from a mysterious and powerful enemy. The game features fast-paced combat, a variety of weapons and abilities, and a rich, immersive storyline.
Reviews
- The game has a unique concept of managing a space corporation with multiple agents and ships, allowing for diverse gameplay.
- The community is friendly and helpful, providing support for new players and enhancing the overall experience.
- The developers are active and responsive, frequently updating the game and addressing player feedback.
- The game suffers from a lack of content, with minimal missions and a heavy reliance on grinding for progression.
- The user interface is confusing and not intuitive, making it difficult for new players to get started and manage their gameplay effectively.
- The game has a dead player base, with very few active users, leading to a lack of multiplayer interaction and engagement.
- gameplay21 mentions
- 14 % positive mentions
- 71 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
Gameplay reviews highlight a mix of frustration and enjoyment, with many players criticizing the lack of missions, poor NPC combat, and simplistic ship mechanics that hinder engagement. While some appreciate the complexity of managing multiple ships and the potential for strategic gameplay, others feel that the current PvP system is inadequate and that the game lacks sufficient content to sustain long-term interest. Overall, the game shows promise but requires significant improvements in mechanics, balance, and user experience to enhance its appeal.
“I really enjoy the gameplay and the micromanaging and the complexity of the strategies that can be implemented.”
“I understand that a small sandbox MMO doesn't need to have the same PvP mechanics as one of the largest, and GOH is doing a lot of things right (for example, you control a fleet of 1-7 ships instead of a single ship, which is a fun deviation from typical MMO design).”
“This system of leveling, combined with playing multiple agents at the same time, gives you the opportunity to switch between different types of gameplay.”
“At the rate the so-called 'updates' for in-game gameplay improvements are going, coupled with the fact there are still no missions or quests for decent XP and currency rates, boring NPC fights, and stupidly expensive weapon, armor, shield, and ship costs, it feels like a grind. There's no PvP, and when I asked about creating a pirate-type PvP guild, I was told that players who tried were hunted down by the 'carebears' in the game. Honestly, I've been playing this game on and off for a few months now, and the XP rates for NPC battles are awful, along with the loot drops.”
“How is it possible to invest so many hours into testing, graphics, and design and completely forget about gameplay?”
“The ship mechanics and build strategies are extremely simplistic; the different faction ships are carbon copies mechanically with only cosmetic differences, and there is simply not enough to do to make this even a sandbox.”
- graphics14 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally described as simplistic and sub-par, with many reviewers noting that they are functional but lack depth and detail. While some players appreciate the game's ability to run on various devices, including mobile platforms, others feel that the graphics do not enhance the overall experience. Overall, the visuals are considered basic, yet they do not detract significantly from gameplay for those who enjoy the genre.
“Good graphics that any laptop or PC can run.”
“The graphics are far cry 4-like for sure, but I don't think this is a drawback as you can play it on every device possible (PC, tablet, or even phone).”
“This game is more complex than it appears, and while the graphics might look minimal, it seems to have a level of customization and depth that requires time to master.”
“How is it possible to invest so many hours into testing, graphics, design and completely forget about gameplay?”
“- sub-par graphics and graphical effects”
“The graphics are very simplistic.”
- story6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game's story aspect is criticized for its lack of engaging content, with players noting the absence of missions and quests that would provide meaningful progression and rewards. While some appreciate the freedom to create their own narrative, many feel that the game fails to guide new players effectively, leading to a frustrating experience characterized by tedious grinding and a complex interface. Overall, the desire for more structured storytelling and content is a common theme among users.
“While I enjoy the 'make your own story' approach to gameplay, a little bit of handholding as far as where to get blueprints, how to explore, and where to look for new ships would have been nice.”
“You hire agents, select their abilities, send them on missions, level them up, change their loadouts, etc. It plays more like an RTS than any sort of simulator, so don't expect careful maneuvering.”
“At the rate the so-called 'updates' for in-game improvements are going, coupled with the fact that there are still no missions or quests for decent XP and currency rates, the gameplay feels stagnant. The NPC fights are boring, and the costs for weapons, armor, shields, and ships are ridiculously high compared to the effort required to earn the money to buy them. There's no PvP, and when I asked about creating a pirate-type guild, I was told that players who tried were hunted down by others, forcing them to log out. I've been playing on and off for a few months now, and the XP rates for NPC battles are awful, along with the loot drops.”
“I like the idea of a free-to-play EVE-style game, but we all know you can step up your game and start adding some real in-game content. There should be missions, better loot drops, and more rewards instead of just ore. Yes, there might be some of this in the endgame or high-level encounters, but there's nothing for new players.”
“After you finish the tutorial, the complex GUI and the lack of missions just leave you feeling abandoned. Some people might enjoy this, but I certainly do not.”
- grinding5 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players consistently highlight that grinding is a central element of the game, often feeling excessive and repetitive. Many express frustration over the lack of diverse activities beyond leveling up and acquiring new agents, with combat grinding yielding minimal rewards, necessitating additional grinding through mining to fund repairs and upgrades.
“One of the pitfalls of this game is that there's not much to do outside of grinding levels and experience for new agents.”
“There seems to be lots of grind just for the sake of grinding.”
“Since combat grinding doesn't net any considerable amount of money, if a ship dies, you have to go mining to earn the money to buy another combat hull.”
- music5 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally considered good but becomes repetitive quickly, leading some players to mute it early on. While there are moments that evoke a lively atmosphere, such as a disco-like feel during certain actions, the overall sound quality and depth have been criticized, with some players finding the sound effects lacking.
“The music is all pretty good, but then I fired a laser at someone and thought I had just cruised into a disco.”
“I muted the music in the first 20 minutes.”
“The music gets played out quickly.”
“The music is very repetitive, and the sound effects are like a Casio keyboard. I shut both of them off in the first 5 hours just to save my sanity.”
- stability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game is reported to be highly unstable, with numerous bugs affecting gameplay and communication features. Users express significant frustration with these issues.
“The game is buggy as hell.”
“The chat feature is extremely buggy.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is generally well-received, with players finding it amusing and relatable, particularly those familiar with the community's complaints. The comedic elements are seen as a promising aspect that resonates with veteran players.
“Funny and very promising.”
“At first, I thought it was funny, being an EVE veteran, and had heard much of the same whining from the EVE player base.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -300 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game is considered a good value at ten dollars, particularly because it does not include any microtransactions.
“The game is worth ten dollars, especially considering it doesn't have any microtransactions.”
“The game is worth ten dollars, especially seeing as how it doesn't have any microtransactions.”
“The monetization model feels exploitative, pushing players to spend more than the initial purchase price.”
“I was disappointed to find that essential features are locked behind a paywall, making it hard to enjoy the game fully without spending extra.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that while the emotional aspects of the game show potential, they require further refinement to fully resonate with players.