I thought buying this game on GOG will be a blessing after returning it on Steam - unfortunately, it was not. Game still wants to completely spy on you (including your web activity, even when the game is off!) so this is a massive no-go for me. This one got me really dissapointed GOG, offline installers are a cool thing, sure, but offering games with spyware included and declaring it as DRM free is kinda nonsense.
Launch the game, view intro cinematic, then get bombarded with a dialog to enable full or limited data collection with no way to opt-out or disable.
For a supposedly single-player game, this is absolutely disgusting. I don't know which is worse: This invasive data collection or if this game actually had DRM!
At this point, I have zero interest in whatever interesting story or gameplay or graphics this game has to offer.
My only regret is finding this out long past the 30 day refund window. One of the perils of a massive un-played game backlog I guess, you don't know about this BS until it's too late!
I picked this up on Steam, and immediately refunded it, and am posting this as a warning. SOE games, come with an unavoidable data collection contract. You can opt for slightly less data collection, but that is all. The moment the opening cinematic ends, you are met with the agreement. And it is appalling! I am dumbfounded how many people are willing to allow this kind of privacy invasion, and for a videogame no less, THAT YOU PAID FOR!
Your first contact with this game is a rather nice intro, with beautiful graphics, engaging music, and what seemed to be an intriguing story.
I can honestly say that I was in, from what I saw.
Sadly, as soon as the introductory cutscene ended, I was confronted with what felt like a ransom note.
I was being INSTRUCTED to pick between having my privacy fully ravaged, or partially ravaged.
Apparently, this publisher think that they have the right to spy on you. It's not even up to debate that this is what they believe, that is precisely the language that they use. It is AGGRESSIVE and it is AUTHORITATIVE.
We have the right.
No you don't.
I didn't even pick one of the options.
Faced with this level of insult, I ctrl-alt-del 'd out of that screen and immediately uninstalled the game and deleted all files.
I only wish that I could still get my money back. My bad, should have read the reviews before I bought. Some do try to warn people against this situation.
What a shame.
Horizon Zero Dawn? More like zero stars.
I already own this game on steam, but I bought it again because I really value GOG's DRM-free games. The game is a ton of fun. It achieves some of the most incredible cinematic moments without ever breaking gameplay. Running for your life away from several giant robot dinosaurs up a cliff, only to jump to a long neck at the very last second with multiple sawtooths clawing at your heels as you make the jump is an experience unlike any other. Waiting in the grass, methodically setting up a multitude of traps, then successfully springing your traps exactly as planned is always incredibly satisfying. And all those precision shots to a robot's weak points are made all the more easier with mouse aiming.
As far as performance issues go, they're there, but since the initial steam launch they've made a number of improvements. I'm still rocking a 970 at time of writing and I'm still able to have a ton of fun with the game, it hasn't ever been enough to impede on my fun (then again, I enjoyed Arkham Knight at launch, so take that with a grain of salt)
Also, this game is releasing on GOG on my birthday, so I'm choosing to believe that Guerilla, Playstation, and GOG are doing this specifically for me, so thanks y'all! /s
Seriously though, can we get Bloodborne and God of War next? Please? Spiderman would also be nice
