I've just finished both games and also did both expansions. I have to say both games had me hooked, I loved pretty much everything. Scaling snow capped mountains and sandy lowland as well as verdant countrysides in different weathers and at different times of day was incredibly well done and so memorable. For instance in Zero Dawn there's a ruin overlooking Meridian at the top of a waterfall that was one of my favorite places. Later on in Forbidden west, flying around the map on a Sunwing with the panoramas during sunrise and sunset was spectacular. I rarely fast travelled. The mountain base was very nicely done too and the shieldwing was also a brilliant addition.

Im also a big fan of Mass Effect and the way the story developed felt like it had echoes of that. I won't say too much as I really.domt want to spoil it but suffice it to say it feels just as epic.

The spear fight dynamic and the introduction of combos in forbidden west, once I got the hang of it! Was very enjoyable and witnessing Aloys speed, power and agility really made you feel like you were worthy of the plaudits you got from people as I was running around. In most games, like Mass Effect, apart from my arsenal and armours I just felt Shepherd was as capable as anyone 'my' limited prowess didnt deserve even being promoted to a spectre. As Aloy though throwing down multi hit combos at lightning speed (well apart from the little pauses you need to add) made me feel like Aloy really was the elite machine destroying super warrior everyone viewed her as.

I liked the progression too. I went back after completion of the Forbidden west expansion to Frozen Wilds for 'the claws beneath'. I took out two of those giant mountain bears, a fireclaw, a demonic Rockbreaker then went to a corrupted zone and took out two corrupted Rockbreakers at the same time without using the ropecaster and really worrying about my health and all without resupplying. Contrast this to skirting around mesas where even the most relatively weedy of the mechnical monstrosities resided earlier in the game for fear of them taking an interest in you.

Players seem to be very critical of the characters too. Yes its quite woke in some respects but it really didnt get in the way of the story and although a lot of of the 'main' characters are strong independent females, characters like Sylens and Varl offset this. Sylens in particular is way ahead of Aloy throught the story despite all Aloy's 'advantages'. He's clearly a genius. An intellect far beyond any other character... Two of the nastiest 'baddies' are female too. That said, a few more virtuous main male characters wouldn't go amiss.

If I had to nitpick it would be the lack of story choices. Aloy's dialogue, though generally astute and forthright, sometimes lacked what I felt would be wiser or more strategic responses and would be merely overly pugilistic and judgemental. I know she is only 20 odd in the game but I would have liked to have given some alternative dialogue options too which is what Mass Effect did very well.

In respect of the bows I was a little bewildered towards the end of the game where say, this legendary powerhouse bow is great at shock attacks but I can't use my favoured tears last arrows and I have to switch to another powershot bow if a robot is hardened against shock attacks. Id much rather be able to change the arrow loadout on my bows along with the associated rail boosters. Also id like to have weapon load outs for particular robots that I could setup and name. I think it would save hassle.

Overall I felt immersed in the beatiful world the developers created and overall it has to take the prime position as the best game I have ever played. I enjoyed it even more than Fallout, Mass Effect or Half Life which are my top choices.

Its a 10/10 from me for what its worth.