Horizon Call of the Mountain
- February 22, 2023
- Firesprite Ltd
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.
Get on PS Store"Horizon Call of the Mountain" is a PlayStation®VR2 game set in the world of Horizon, where you play as a new character named Ryas. Experience stunning vistas and interact with the environment as you climb, hunt machines, and craft items. Immerse yourself in a living world of danger, lore, quests, and characters, and share the adventure with friends and family.
Playstation 5
Virtual Reality
PlayStation
PlayStation VR
PlayStation VR2
Reviews
- Stunning visuals and immersive environments that showcase the capabilities of the PlayStation VR2.
- Engaging climbing mechanics and satisfying combat that enhance the overall experience.
- Robust accessibility options and a compelling campaign make it a great introduction for new VR players.
- Combat controls can be awkward and sometimes feel restrictive.
- The narrative lacks depth and is forgettable, making it less engaging for some players.
- Repetitive climbing mechanics and limited exploration compared to mainline games can detract from the experience.
- gameplay6 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The gameplay in "Horizon Call of the Mountain" is highlighted for its clever integration of climbing mechanics and engaging combat, offering a compelling campaign with stunning visuals. While some reviewers note that the climbing can become monotonous, the overall execution and evolution of gameplay elements keep it enjoyable and make it a must-have for PlayStation VR2 owners.
“Clever VR spins on the series' staple gameplay systems, a compelling campaign, ridiculous production values, decent replay value, and a genuine sense of wonder make it essential playing for absolutely anyone picking up Sony's next-generation VR headset.”
“Horizon Call of the Mountain is a must-buy for any PlayStation VR2 owner, featuring a full-length adventure with thrilling climbing mechanics and engaging combat.”
“The core climbing gameplay is impressively executed, and it evolves just enough over the course of the campaign to remain fulfilling.”
“Gameplay is standard VR fare and there's nothing unique in there.”
“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.”
- graphics3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game are widely praised for their jaw-dropping visuals and immersive environments, featuring crisp 4K HDR detail that enhances the overall experience. Players appreciate the sense of scale and the integration of haptic feedback, which together create a captivating and interactive world, making activities like climbing and combat feel particularly engaging. Overall, the visuals contribute significantly to the game's appeal, making it a standout in the VR genre.
“The interactive world is wonderfully immersive, climbing in VR feels fantastic, and the jaw-dropping visuals and environments enhance the fun combat with bow and arrow.”
“Crisp, gorgeous visuals combined with a simple yet solid narrative create a suite of incredibly immersive features, showcasing an insane sense of scale.”
“From the retina-searing 4K HDR visuals that are generously filled with detail and fidelity, to the deft use of haptic feedback and adaptive triggers in the PSVR2 Sense controllers, players are utterly immersed in the climbing, exploration, and combat within its world.”
- story3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The story is generally considered forgettable and flat, with many reviewers noting its complexity and lack of engagement for those not familiar with the franchise. Additionally, the combat mechanics are criticized for being overly complex, which detracts from the overall experience.
“The story is forgettable, and the puzzles aren’t very challenging.”
“The story is flat, the hero is uninteresting, and the VR interactions are finicky, along with overly complex combat.”
“We're not a huge fan of the combat, and the plot is practically impenetrable unless you're a franchise die-hard.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -300 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game offers strong replayability through innovative VR adaptations of classic gameplay mechanics, an engaging campaign, and high production values, making it a must-play for users of Sony's next-generation VR headset.
“Clever VR spins on the series' staple gameplay systems, a compelling campaign, ridiculous production values, decent replay value, and a genuine sense of wonder make it essential playing for absolutely anyone picking up Sony's next-generation VR headset.”
“The game offers a clever spin on the series' staple gameplay systems, but the replay value is lacking, making it hard to justify multiple playthroughs.”
“While the campaign is compelling and the production values are high, I found the replayability to be quite limited, which is disappointing.”
“Despite the initial excitement, the lack of meaningful content for replaying the game makes it feel like a one-time experience.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game is praised for delivering stunning VR landscapes and exciting machine battles, with smooth performance on PSVR2, enhancing the overall experience in the familiar Horizon world.
“The stunning VR landscapes and exciting machine battles are complemented by smooth PSVR2 performance, making the optimization truly impressive.”
“The familiar horizon world feels incredibly immersive, thanks to the game's excellent optimization.”
“The optimization of the game allows for seamless transitions and fluid gameplay, enhancing the overall experience.”
Critic Reviews
Horizon Call of the Mountain
Impressive efforts with a few noticeable problems holding them back. Won't astound everyone, but is worth your time and cash.
80%Horizon: Call of the Mountain PSVR2 review — “Survival requires perfection
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.
100%Horizon Call Of The Mountain Review – A Thrilling AAA VR Experience
Horizon Call of the Mountain is exactly the killer app that the PlayStation VR2 needed to really sell the promise of its hardware and feature set, even with a couple of stumbles. Clever VR spins on the series' staple gameplay systems, a compelling campaign, ridiculous production values, decent replay value and a genuine sense of wonder make it essential playing for absolutely anyone picking up Sony's next-generation VR headset.
85%
