Horizon Zero Dawn Hunting For The Lodge

Okay, hear me out. I'm talking about Horizon Zero Dawn. Specifically, hunting for the Hunting Lodge.

Everyone loves Aloy. That's not the unpopular opinion. She's awesome, a total badass.

It's the Hunting Lodge trials I'm side-eyeing. Anyone else feel me?

The Trials... Oh, the Trials!

The Hunting Lodge? Sounds cool, right? Like some elite hunter club where Aloy gets to brag.

But first, you gotta prove yourself. Via a series of...trials.

Trials that feel like a robot dinosaur circus designed by a committee. A committee that secretly hates fun.

Stealth? More Like Stress

Sneaking around Watchers? Fine. I can handle it. Maybe.

But then you're tying down a Thunderjaw with a ropecaster while dodging laser beams. Seriously?

I swear my stress levels spiked higher than when my internet cuts out during a crucial boss fight in other games.

Time Limits: My Arch-Nemesis

Oh, and did I mention the time limits? Because there are time limits.

Nothing makes me sweat more than a ticking clock in a video game. Except maybe forgetting to defrost chicken for dinner.

The precision needed! The perfect execution! It's all too much. I just want to shoot robots, not perform brain surgery on them with arrows.

Is it Just Me?

Look, I get it. The trials are supposed to be challenging. To show Aloy's skill.

But isn't saving the world enough? Does she really need a fancy badge from the Hunting Lodge to validate her existence?

Couldn't she just show them a highlight reel of her fighting a Corruptor single-handedly? I feel that's sufficient.

The Rewards (or Lack Thereof)

The reward, supposedly, is access to better gear. Okay, that's fair.

Except... the gear often feels underwhelming. Is it really worth the mental anguish of that stupid Fireclaw trial?

I started questioning my life choices. Spending precious gaming hours battling a machine bear for a slightly shinier bow.

My Unpopular Opinion

Maybe I'm just bad at the game. Maybe I lack the hunter's instinct.

But I stand by my (possibly) unpopular opinion: the Hunting Lodge trials are overrated. They induce rage. Rage at robots.

I'd rather spend my time exploring the beautiful world, taking photos of robot wildlife, and helping random villagers with their mundane problems.

Give me a simple quest! Let me hunt some grazers! Anything but another time-limited challenge.

So, am I alone in this? Or are there other Horizon Zero Dawn players out there who secretly skipped the Hunting Lodge grind and just went straight to fighting bigger, meaner machines without the fancy tribal approval?

Let me know. I need validation. And maybe a hug. After that Fireclaw trial, I deserve it.

Because honestly, sometimes, saving the world is enough. Right?