Although the return of a couple of familiar series trappings and a noticeable lack of freeform climbing never threatens to derail the enjoyment, it does leave it falling frustratingly short of something revolutionary. What We Said About Horizon Forbidden WestĪ triumphant combination of enthralling combat, top-tier creature and character design, and a captivating open world, Horizon Forbidden West is an absolute blast and fantastic showcase for the power of the PS5. The returning Ashly Burch is as good as ever as Aloy, but special mention has to go out to Kylie Liya Page as Seyka, who does a fantastic job at creating an engaging and believable three-dimensional character in a relatively short amount of time. Seyka proves a valuable companion not only in combat, but also by easing the plot burden from Aloy – crucially giving her someone to talk with and, mercifully, less time telling you about what she's putting in her stash. The advancement of her character arc comes primarily thanks to the introduction of Seyka – someone similarly insular to Aloy – and the duo helps each other unlock themselves.

However, it never forgets to focus on the humanity of the situation, further fleshing out Aloy as an endearing and relatable character.

This is a fun adventure that ends with a clumsy thud both mechanically and in the story, which does fall foul of some of Horizon's sci-fi trappings. A stuttering sin when compared to Horizon’s trademark fluid combat, it's a disappointing finale that feels at odds with most of Burning Shores' runtime. Then there's the huge-scale final encounter, where the clunky action just can't match the spectacle as you're bounced around the arena like a ragdoll while trying to find damage-dealing windows. An arrow-sponge boss battle midway through its five-hour story is a particular annoyance, for example. The majority of the fights are a thrill, which makes it a deflating anticlimax when, in its big moments, Burning Shores falls a bit flat. It wastes no time in throwing you into that danger, either, plunging you straight back into the rousing rhythms of Horizon combat. It’s a smart decision to echo Forbidden West's standout location – the sand still sparkles and water glistens – but here lava flows in a natural representation of the increased danger that lurks in the Burning Shores. The titular Burning Shores are an archipelago roughly four times the size of the San Francisco area of the main map, and shares a lot of that region’s visual identity. Burning Shores is for the most part a great time, and clumsily engineered ending aside, a worthy addition to the Horizon series.Īfter the conclusion of the main campaign, this DLC summons you to LA in order to hunt down a lead that may be helpful against the looming threat introduced at the end of Forbidden West's story. But Guerrilla has done much more here, adding in surprises with new machines to discover and introducing even more fun ways to take them down.

You'll once again be fighting machines, solving puzzles, and yes, climbing tall structures. And in some ways, the Burning Shores DLC is exactly that: a distilled helping of what made the core game so great – an elevated sci-fi story in a pulpy wrapping, tied with a bow made from high-octane action. It would have been relatively easy for Guerrilla Games to rest on their laurels and put out a Horizon expansion that was just more Forbidden West.

Horizon burning shores ps4