Horizon Call of the Mountain

“Horizon Call of the Mountain has value in the sheer fact that it puts you behind the eyes of a character in the Horizon universe that’s not Aloy. Taking in the beauty around me at all times was a treat in this game and I liked the interactivity Guerrilla and Firesprite implemented in this experience. I liked bonking drums and throwing pottery around as much as I liked assembling fire arrows and shooting them into a machine’s opticals. I wish the game didn’t rely so much on climbing, but even in that, it provides a pretty intense and immersive experience. The game isn’t without hiccups, and it won’t give you the same vast freedom the mainline games do, but Horizon Call of the Mountain is still a breathtaking VR adventure, a fun side chapter in Horizon lore, and a great kickoff to the PS VR2’s original lineup of games.”

“Impressive efforts with a few noticeable problems holding them back. Won't astound everyone, but is worth your time and cash.”

“Horizon Call of the Mountain works as an impressive PSVR2 tech showcase, but overambitious ideas make it less appealing as an action-adventure game.”

“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.”

“Horizon Call of the Mountain is a good showcase piece for PlayStation VR2. It is the game to use if you want to show off your new technology to friends and family. There is even an unlockable mode perfect for this, which is a passive journey on a canoe through a robot-infested jungle. What holds the game back tremendously, though, is Call of the Mountain's overreliance on climbing. The smaller parts of the game, fighting robots, making items, and looking around, are highlights. Pulling yourself up a mountain isn’t, and that’s where you spend most of the approximately six hour experience.”

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

“I’m sure you’ve glanced at the review score below and made a judgement on Horizon Call of the Mountain, but despite that score I still think all PSVR2 owners should pick this up. It’s undoubtedly the most spectacular VR game I’ve ever played, it’s got plenty of cool gameplay moments that show off the controllers, and it’s a full-on game to play through, but it’s also a bit tedious at times, and boring at others.”

“Horizon Call of the Mountain is a great launch title with impressive tech shown off at every corner, only let down by some of the climbing.”

“Horizon Call of the Mountains is an incredible title to test the potential of the PS VR2. The immersion that the game achieves thanks to its setting and its graphic level is incredible. In addition, the mechanics that it incorporates such as climbing or the use of the bow, make you enjoy from your home and feel inside each battle. A game that generates very positive sensations and that also does not settle for being a technical demo, but aspires to be a weight game, being even sometimes more ambitious than the deliveries we know in some of its areas.”

“Horizon Call of the Mountain is an ideal showcase for what PlayStation VR 2 can do. Stunning PS5-powered vistas and a great blend of intuitive climbing and combat make this a must-play game for anyone picking up the next generation headset.”

“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.”

“Horizon Call of the Mountain is the first major PS VR2 exclusive, and it does its job to show the possibilities of the new viewer, from the spectacular and sharp graphics to the functions of the controls. It shines especially in the combats against the machines, although at times it feels a somewhat corseted experience.”

“A must-buy for any PlayStation VR2 early adopter, the new spin-off in the Horizon saga offers a linear yet unique experience focused on climbing, fighting big Machines, and exploring a gorgeous world.”

“Call of the Mountain succeeds where so many other ambitious VR projects stumble for one reason — it keeps it simple. Core mechanics like traversal and combat have a generous margin of error, and can be customized extensively depending on your appetite (or lack thereof) for a challenge. This keeps the focus on immersion and exploration, rather than fiddling with finicky button inputs and timing.”

“Horizon Call of the Mountain sets the bar high for PlayStation's biggest franchises adapted to VR with stellar visuals, engaging gameplay, and jaw-dropping moments.”

“Sony's flagship launch title utilises all of the new headset's tricks to create a wonderfully immersive standalone adventure”

“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.”

“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.”

“As a technical showcase for what's possible with PSVR2 Call of the Mountain excels, even if its world and mechanics sometimes fall short.”

“Call of the Mountain has wonderful elements to it, and it lands the most important part - the physical experience of climbing - perfectly. Trailers and even my own video capture don't quite convey the speed and agility you feel while scrambling. Unfortunately, other parts of the game are too thin, with the inability to wander back the way you came and the constant stop-start nature of its thin narrative working against its own appeal. With some fresh ideas, huge scope, and clever adaptation of an existing property without relying on a simple remake, Horizon Call of the Mountain is an important game for VR. However, I'm not sure it's a great one.”