23 hours in and level 21. I feel I can now give a good assessment of the three pillars that make this game truly great:
The open world: Probably my favourite open world for an RPG bar none. Simply breathtaking it is not superficial, it has lots of depth through its ambiance and the weather effects. The sandstorm blowing through the desert and the wind in the forest add so much to the personality of this world. Absolutely incredible foliage that makes the world feel alive and a pleasant experience to blend into. A ton of diversity with mountains,forests,jungle,deserts,canyons,lakes and so on. A good array of interesting towns and villages to explore depicting each tribe differently and Meridian is also a very cool place. But it is the stories in the world that really adds another layer to the game. Walking through the deserted and destroyed cities,ruins of the old ones and exploring the cauldrons; the sense of wonder and mystery is in so many locations.This is world you want to explore rather than fast travel.
Controlling Aloy and combat: This is not even about how cool of a character she is - which does add to it - but more about the fluidity of combat and traversal of Aloy. The satisfaction you get from shooting the bow and getting a great shot or the delight you feel when you place a set tripwires it comes off. The wry smile that comes across ones face every time performing a silent kill. The sheer joy of rolling and dodging enemies as well as traversing up mountains. The progression tree on the face of it seems boring but most of the skills are very useful and will be beneficial in tougher battles and there will always be a skill you look at and think I could do with that ability.
The machines: Undoubtedly some of the coolest and most unique enemies faced in a game. Each machines is different, they coexist in the world so well and every time you explore the world there is always a constant presence of danger. Even watchers and grazers will give you trouble if you misfire too many arrows. Every time you come across a new machine, I have a palpable feeling of concern and cautiousness to the fight as you never know what weapons or attacks they could inflict on Aloy. Seeing a thunderjaw in the distance in a canyon or a sawtooth prowling in the night and sound of the mechanical feet trudge through a forest is always a heart pounding moment. As the game tells you: respect the machines.
These 3 elements truly make the game special for me. I like the story and I have found some great side quests but I cannot say yet whether it is worth buying the game just for the story yet. Buying it for the world,combat and machines though is worth it.