With the past month’s news cycle jam-packed with Horizon: Zero Dawn updates and announcements – from a new cinematic trailer and the game’s full world map being revealed to publisher Sony Interactive discussing a possible Horizon: Zero Dawn franchise – stakes for the upcoming game to perform well were at an all-time high. And the view from the top where Zero Dawn was perched threatened a long, hard fall.

Thankfully for developer Guerrilla Games and the entire creative team behind the game, it appears Horizon: Zero Dawn avoided that dreaded ledge and instead stepped into the sunshine, bringing with it a healthy dose of the elements that make an open-world title fun and fresh. Here’s the early consensus on whether life after the apocalypse can actually be enjoyable, and if Horizon: Zero Dawn is worth a purchase.

Game Rant (Anthony Taormina)

Score: 4.5/5

Gamespot (Peter Brown)

Score: 9/10

IGN (Lucy O’Brien)

Score: 9.3/10

Eurogamer (Martin Robinson)

No score given.

Destructoid (Chris Carter)

Score: 7.5/10

USGamer (Caty McCarthy)

Score: 2.5/5

Polygon (Philip Kollar)

Score: 9.5/10

By the looks of it, it seems Horizon: Zero Dawn has stolen the breath from many, blending together some of the best aspects of open-world titles; a strong narrative with an interesting protagonist; beautiful graphics; and electric, energetic gameplay. It looks like Guerrilla Games launched greatness into the gaming world with Zero Dawn, and critics received it fittingly well. However, as evidenced, this hasn’t been the case for everyone.

What future Horizon: Zero Dawn players may pay close attention to as the embargo-to-release window closes over the next week are the minor references to the game’s repetitiveness and lack of punchiness. Of course, this comes down to a player-to-player preference that will be established once the masses can get their hands on the game, but it is still undoubtedly interesting to consider.

Despite a few contentions with the game stated in these early reviews, the majority’s response to Horizon: Zero Dawn has been overwhelmingly positive and earnestly enthusiastic. It certainly seems Guerrilla Games has something quite special on its hands.

Horizon: Zero Dawn will release for the PlayStation 4 on February 28, 2017.